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...
Our Bogies Needed to Crush the Nazi Bogey
(posters) Made by: Bannister, A C W (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds. The title is partially integrated and placed in the upper quarter and lower half, in red and in black. The text is separate and located in the lower quarter, in blue-grey, held within a black and...
Voilà les Américains! [The Americans are here!]
(posters) Made by: Saunier (?) (artist) 1918
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with six smaller images positioned across the bottom edge, each held within a narrow black border. The title is integrated and positioned across the top edge, in red. The text is integrated and positioned...
Kein Krieg Mehr? [No More War?]
(posters) Made by: Griffel, L (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper centre. The title is partially integrated and positioned in the upper centre and centre, in red. The text is separate and positioned in the lower half, in black and in red. All set against a white background....
Avant la Guerre - Après la Paix [Before the War – After the Peace]
(posters) Made by: S E L (artist)
whole: the first image is positioned in the upper half, held within a narrow blue border. The second image is positioned in the lower half, also held within a narrow blue border. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper left and in the lower...
Die Parteien! [The Parties!]
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1919
whole: a series of seven groups of images are positioned in the upper centre, centre and lower centre. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black gothic script. The text is separate and positioned down the left half and right half...
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
Keep Punching - Every Day!
(posters) Made by: Seaman (artist) 1943
WPB Poster No.39
BOWL THEM OVER - MORE PRODUCTION
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
image: three wooden bowling pins, each bearing a likeness [from left to right:] Hitler, Mussolini and a Japanese. They are being struck by a large black bowling ball, bearing the legend 'More Production' in white lettering. text: BOWL THEM OVER MORE...