The Battle of Britain

The battle begins, summer 1940
The battle begins, summer 1940

After defeating France in June 1940, Hitler assumed Britain would sue for peace but ordered his armed forces to prepare for invasion. Hermann Goering assured him that a sustained air assault would destroy the RAF, winning the air superiority needed.
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940
A Heinkel He 111 bomber flying over London, September 1940

July 1940 saw German planes target shipping in the Channel, drawing the RAF into combat, before radar stations, communications centres and airfields faced round-the-clock bombing in August. The battle reached a climax with attacks on London in September.
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF)

Joan 'Elizabeth' Mortimer, Elspeth Henderson and Helen Turner of the WAAF. All three received the Military Medal for courageous conduct during attacks on Biggin Hill airfield. Biggin Hill suffered a total of ten major attacks between 30 Aug and 5 Sept.
Non-British personnel in the RAF
Non-British personnel in the RAF

A group of pilots of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron RAF return from a sortie. The first Polish squadrons were formed in the summer of 1940. Pilots came from several other countries, including Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, New Zealand and the USA.
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford
Sector 'G' Operations Room at RAF Duxford

RAF Duxford was a Sector Station in 12 Group, responsible for defending the Midlands and East Anglia. As the fighting intensified, Duxford's squadrons were called on to support 11 Group's defence of London and the south-east.
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF
Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF

Despite incessant attacks, the RAF's defences held. The Luftwaffe could not continue, and in the autumn switched to 'nuisance' raids and night operations. The failure to defeat the RAF convinced Hitler to postpone his invasion plans indefinitely.

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Victory in the West
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
whole: the 12 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in white, held within an orange inset. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, in white held within orange insets, in orange and...
Church Army - Open to all
(posters) Made by: Holloway, Edgar A (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper centre, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the centre, also in black. Further text is integrated and positioned in the upper left, in black. All set...
West Africans Serving with the British Forces
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the eleven images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge, in black. The text is partially integrated and placed across the lower three-quarters, in black. All set against a white background. image: the images...
The War Told for You in Pictures
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940-11-22
whole: the 14 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in green. The text is separate and located in the upper centre and beneath each image as a caption, also in green. All set against a white background....
The War Told for You in Pictures
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941-01-23
whole: the 14 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in green. The text is separate and placed in the upper centre, held within a narrow green border, and beneath each image as a caption, in green. All set...
A Reminder
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917
whole: the image is positioned in the centre and upper centre, held within a narrow black area. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge, in yellow, held within a black area. The text is separate and occupies the majority, in black, and in...
A Reminder
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917
whole: the image is positioned in the centre and upper centre, held within a narrow black area. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge, in yellow, held within a black area. The text is separate and occupies the majority, in black, and in...
A Reminder from France
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917-05-18
whole: the image is positioned in the centre and upper centre, held within a narrow black area. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge, in yellow, held within a black area. The text is separate and occupies the majority, in black, and in...
The World's Verdict on Germany
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge, in red. The text is separate and positioned across the majority, in black and in red. All set against a white background. image: the flags of the Allied...
Wiedergutmachung von Unrecht? [Compensation for Injustice?]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the majority with text is partially integrated, in black. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge, in black. Image and text are held within a narrow black border. All set against a white background. image: a map...