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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Knights of the Air
(posters) Made by: Van Dusen, Howard
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a narrow black border. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and positioned across the bottom edge, also in black. image: full-length caricature...
Soldaten-Frühlings-Fest [Soldiers’ Spring Fête]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the image occupies the upper third, partially held within a black border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the lower two-thirds, in red and in black. All set against a white background. image: full length depictions of a German...
Tablet Day!
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey
whole: the poster has a white background. The image is positioned in the centre of the page with two lines of red type at an angle in the lower left corner. image: a soldier wearing desert gear, holding a mess tin in one hand and an enamel mug in the...
Atebrin: Don't be a menace to your friends!
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey
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Mosquitoes Find The Smallest Tear-So Keep Your Nets In Good Repair.
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey
whole: the background of the sheet is white. The image is positioned in the centre of the upper portion of the page. Beneath the image are four lines of black, scripted text. image:a soldier wearing a tin hat examining his mosquito net. text: 'Hopper...
It's The Cream That Makes Them Squeam!
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey
whole: the background of the sheet is white. The image is positioned in the centre of the upper portion of the page. Beneath the image are three lines of black, scripted text. image:a soldier whose upper body is made from a tin of anti-mosquito cream...
Tablet Day! The Man Who Forgot
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey
whole: the background of the sheet is white. The image is positioned in the centre of the page with a centred line of red type above and a line of black type, orientated left, at the bottom of the page. image: five soldiers standing to attention: four...
Your Release Can Be Delayed with V.D.!
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey
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Dysentery and Diarrhoea
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey 1945
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Typhus. How Is It Spread?
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey
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