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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Harris, Walter 'Wally (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000
British NCO served with Light Aid Detachment, Royal Army Ordnance Corps attached to 168 Bde in GB, 1939-1941; served with LAD, RAOC/Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers attached to 90th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Iraq, Egypt and Sicily in GB...
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
British Land Army girls and members of the Women's Royal Air Force (WAAF) dance with men of the US Eighth Army Air Force in Suffolk during 1943.
Chapman, Harry (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2004-07
British NCO served with with 9th Bn, Manchester Regt in GB, North West Europe, Iceland, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Greece and Austria, 1930-1945
THE HARVEST SHALL COME [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Imperial Chemical Industries (Production sponsor) 1942
A film that calls upon the British people to maintain their wartime commitment to agriculture and the prosperity and well-being of everyone who works on the land after the war by telling the story of Tom Grimwood, an ordinary Suffolk farm labourer...
SPRING OFFENSIVE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Cameron, Ken (Production individual) 1940-10
A Suffolk example shows how the Government used County Committees to coordinate farmers, and to organise the ploughing of maximum acreage to ease the wartime food situation.
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
'Gun houses' under construction at Kessingland in Suffolk, 8 August 1941. Designed to look like holiday camp buildings they were used to camouflage coastal gun batteries.
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
Matilda and Valentine tanks of 6th Armoured Division stage a march past in front of the King and the Duke of Gloucester, near Brandon in Suffolk, 12 September 1941.
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
15-cwt trucks, carriers and motorcycles of a motor battalion in 6th Armoured Division, lined up for an inspection by the King near Brandon in Suffolk, 12 September 1941.
THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1939-45
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer
Valentine tanks of the 17th/21st Lancers, 6th Armoured Division, lined up for an inspection by the King near Brandon in Suffolk, 12 September 1941.
Stanley, Vera (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-02
British civilian worked with Women's Land Army Timber Corps in Suffolk and Wales, 1942-1946