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

Torpeamento Aéreo Pela Marinha Real [Air Torpedoes for the Royal Navy]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the three images occupy the majority. The title and text are separate and positioned in the centre left, in white, held within a blue inset. All set against a white background. image: three photographs of a British RAF Fairey Swordfish. In the...
Cypriots Serving with the British Forces
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the 11 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, also in black. The coat of arms of Cyprus is located at the top edge centre....
Britain on the Offensive - Italian Air Losses
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941
whole: the image is positioned in the lower two-thirds. The title is separate and located along the top edge, in white, held within an orange inset. The subtitle and text are separate and located in the upper third, in black and orange. Further text is...
Gloria della Milizia [Glory of the Militia]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half. An emblem of a 'V' held within a circle is positioned in the lower left. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in white, held within a blue inset. The text is separate and located in the...
La Voce
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title is positioned across the top edge, in black, held within a black border. The text is separate and occupies the remainder, also in black. All set against an orange background. image: text only. text: N. 12 - SPEDIZIONE IN ABBONAMENTO...
[Arabic text] [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction a raid by British heavy bomber aircraft on a northern Italian...
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction a raid by British heavy bomber aircraft on a northern Italian...
[Persian Text]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction a raid by British heavy bomber aircraft on a northern Italian...
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....