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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Collections search

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...
One by One, his Legs will be Broken
(posters) Made by: Kimon Evan Marengo aka Kem 1941
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in orange and yellow. image: a caricature of Adolf Hitler's head, shown with the body of a spider, sits at the centre of a European map. Hitler's legs...
[We Fought the Enemy with Lances]
(posters) Made by: KUKRYNIKSI (artist) 1941-12-25
whole: three images are arranged vertically, one after the other. The title and text are placed between the images, in red and black. A text panel in English is positioned lower right. image: the top image depicts a decapitated Teutonic Knight impaled on...
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...
[Persian text] [These Pictures Need No Comment]
(posters) Made by: Marengo, Kimon Evan
PST 21505 is a French text version Produced in Britain for use abroad
Ces Images se passent de Commentaires [These Pictures Need No Comment]
(posters) Made by: Marengo, Kimon Evan
PST 21506 is a Persian text version Produced in Britain for use abroad
[Arabic text] [One by One, his Legs will be Broken]
(posters) Made by: Kimon Evan Marengo aka Kem 1941
One of a set produced in various languages, for use abroad PST 14808 is an English version PST 21589 is a French version
Une à Une, on lui Brisera les Pattes [One by One, his Legs will be Broken]
(posters) Made by: Kimon Evan Marengo aka Kem 1941
One of a set produced in various languages, for use abroad PST 14808 is an English version PST 21590 is an Arabic version
Join the Tanks Victory Club! - Stamp on the Blighter
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
No description available
'And the Action was Entirely Successful' -Because No One Talked!
(posters) Made by: Messor, B [?] (artist) 1942
3084/PMEE/1-10,000-4/42 One of a series of related posters - see PST 13932, PST 16741, PST 16742, PST 19736