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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Collections search

Jeanne d'Arc [Joan of Arc]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917
whole: the title is positioned in the upper left, with the text occupying the remainder, in red. All red against a white background. image: text only. text: Sous le haut Patronage de M. LE PRESIDENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE LL. MM. LE ROI ET LA REINE D'...
Le Foyer du Soldat [Soldiers’ Hostels]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title and text occupy the centre and lower centre, in black, with the image forming a decorative border. All set against a white background. image: two classical columns supporting a heavily decorated architrave. The flags of the Allied...
Il Piano Pangermanista [The Greater German Plan]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper centre, held within a narrow black border. The title is separate and placed across the top edge, in red. The main text is separate and located in over the majority, in black and in red. Further text is...
Aircraft National Markings
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942-11
whole: the nine images occupy the majority, each held within a narrow black border. The title and main text is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in black, held within a narrow black border. The text is integrated and placed over the majority...
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...
The War Told for You in Pictures
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941-10-02
whole: the 14 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed in the upper centre and beneath each image as a caption, also in black. All set against a white background....
Catch 22 The Soldier in White
(art) Made by: Lee, Dick 1970
image: A hospital ward. In the foreground are two patients in discussion, both are wearing red dressing gowns and one has a bandaged head. In the far left hand corner of the ward is a patient entirely encased in plaster, with arms and legs sticking up.
Catch 22 Milo's Cotton
(art) Made by: Lee, Dick 1970
image: A naked man sits on tree branches in the upper right foreground. Another man approaches the tree, and offers up something. In the background a funeral is taking place.
Catch 22 Arrest of the Innocent Man
(art) Made by: Lee, Dick 1970
image: A soldier is frogmarched between two military policemen. In the background another soldier watches standing with his back to the window of the room.
Catch 22 Yossarian escapes
(art) Made by: Lee, Dick 1970
image: A square in an Italian town, at night. A man is running down one side of the square his mouth open, pursued by a woman. In the foreground is the upper body of a large man who appears to be sitting at the wheel of a car. Several bright lights from...