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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The Captain of the ATS
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1940
image: A woman captain is seated in a window, smoking a cigarette and reading a letter. Another officer looks over her shoulder. A padre listens from an armchair.
Prevent Forest Fires! Careless Matches Aid the Axis
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
whole: the image in a box covers the central two thirds of the whole, with a broad white border. Text in black occupies the top and bottom borders. image: the shadowy caricature of a grinning Japanese soldier holds up a lighted match, while stylised...
A Group of Officers and Two Women
(art) Made by: Mozley, Charles
No description available
Montgomery: "Well, why shouldn't I retire into politics too?"
(art) Made by: Cummings, Michael 1958
image: A caricature of Montgomery. He wears a bowler hat and dark overcoat, has a furled umbrella hanging on his left arm, and stands at his front door adjusting his gloves. Turned out towards the viewer, the caption reads 'Well, why shouldn't I retire...
Pilot Officer Prune says - ' A good landing is one you can walk away from '
(art) Made by: Hooper, Bill
image: An RAF officer pilot walking away from a plane, crashed in a field behind. He has his hands in his pockets, and his flying helmet hanging from his wrist. An excited dog bounds along at his feet. The inscription runs along the bottom of the...
You may have begun man, but I Adolf Hitler, will finish him!
(art) Made by: Low, David (Sir) 1939
image: Adolf Hitler stands on the hand of God, extending from the clouds. He is waiving his fist upwards at the sky above. text: 'You may have begun man, but I Adolf Hitler, will finish him. LOW'
SAFETY FIRST KEEPS HIM ON THE JOB
(posters) Made by: Price, H (artist) 1942
image: caricature of a large and beefy barechested factory worker, wearing a big smile and holding an injured thumb, walking towards a sign reading 'FIRST AID' text: SAFETY FIRST keeps him on the job
Ecco Il Nemico [This is the Enemy]
(posters) Made by: Koehler & Ancona (artist) 1942
image: A huge caricature head of a German army officer in peaked cap, monocle in the right eye, a long thin nose and pursed lips. Reflected in the shiny surface of the monocle is the silhouette of a man hanging from a gallows. text: ECCO il NEMICO [Here...