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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(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, held within narrow black and white borders. The title is separate and placed across the top edge, in black. The main text is separate and located in the lower third, in blue and in black. Further...
When? It's Up to Us!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters. The title is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in white, set against a red background. image: a half-length depiction of Adolf Hitler, with his hands and coat sleeves covered in blood. He...
Neglect Ruins Ammunition
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, set against a brown and black panel. The title is separate and placed along the bottom edge, in brown and in black. The text is integrated and located in the upper half and lower centre, in red, in blue and in...
Arm Him
(posters) Made by: Stafford and Co, Netherfield, Nottingham (printer)
whole: the image is positioned lower right, with text, in black, placed in the top left. A large black arrow below the text and to the left points down towards the image. All is set against a plain white background. image: a British soldier, standing...
Ferched Cymru! Arfogwch Ef o'r Ffatrioedd Arfau
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
No description available
Women of Wales! Arm Him at the Factory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
No description available
Beware - Above All Never Give Away the Movements of HM Ships
(posters) Made by: Lacoste, G (artist)
PST 19629 is a the master copy of a larger format version PST 4935 is the master copy of a larger version with a spray of black ink over the yellow background
You Never Know Who's Listening - Careless Talk Costs Lives
(posters) Made by: Fougasse (artist)
PST 0142 is the same design in a smaller format
Mosquitoes Mean Malaria - No Matter How Tough ...
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey (artist)
AMD poster No 4 Fourth in a series of four posters - master copies PST 9063, PST 20193, PST 20195, PST 20198 51-3439
Beware - Above All Never Give Away the Movements of HM Ships
(posters) Made by: Lacoste, G (artist)
image: half a large cartoon face of Hitler with big ears at the left of the poster, the paper yellow with black speckling, matching the black lines of the cartoon, the text, and the thick black line running down the left hand side. text: BEWARE Whether...