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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Roma
(posters) Made by: Retrosi, Virgilio (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths. Two emblems, consisting of two wreaths containing the letters 'ENIT' and 'FS', are located in the lower left and lower right. The title is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in red, set...
Banco di Roma [Bank of Rome]
(posters) Made by: Craffonara, Aurelio (artist) 1917
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds. The title and text are positioned in the lower third, in white, set against a black background. image: a depiction of the high-angled barrels of Italian heavy howitzers, spouting flames against a...
Banco di Roma [Bank of Rome]
(posters) Made by: Craffonara, Aurelio (artist) 1917
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters. A smaller image is positioned in the lower left, held within a narrow black border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in green. Further text is separate and positioned...
Paul Wyand, War Correspondent
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image: Head and shoulders portrait of the bespectacled Paul Wyand, who is wearing a sand coloured military shirt.
Pro Patria, 1938
(art) Made by: Armstrong, John 1938
image: A tiny, single figure in a fragmented and surreal townscape. The town consists of bomb damaged buildings with peeling wallpaper and political posters, fragments of classical sculptures and twisted trees.
Soldiers Waiting to be Admitted to a Papal Audience, Rome
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1944
image: a number of soldiers wait at the head of a stairway while a party of five Swiss Guards guard the door to the right, upon which the rightmost Guard is knocking.
Troops in the Sistine Chapel, Rome
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1944
image: a view inside the Sistine Chapel looking towards the altar, with Michelangelo's Last Judgement above. On the floor there are standing several groups of soldiers, most of whom are looking up. Two groups have guides who are pointing to the ceiling....
Portrait of a Soldier
(art) Made by: Evans, Merlyn 1945-08-03
image: A head and shoulders portrait of a soldier in British Army uniform.
Portrait of an Officer
(art) Made by: Evans, Merlyn 1945-08-04
image: A head and shoulders portrait of a bespectacled officer in British Army uniform, who appears to be a Major from the single crown insignia on his epaulette.
Portrait of a Soldier
(art) Made by: Evans, Merlyn 1945-08-03
image: A head and shoulders portrait of a soldier in British Army uniform.