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.
Chungkai Camp 1943-44: Regimental Christmas Card
(art) Made by: Gimson, George Stanley 1943
image: A view of Father Christmas wearing a red loin cloth and traditional hat. He is climbing through a bamboo fence, carrying a sack on his shoulder.
The Guard in a Block House (two soldiers)
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1940
image: One soldier stands to attention, the other lies on a palette against the embrasure, through which can be seen the countryside. In front of the embrasure there is a theodolite on a tripod. There are rifles stacked against the wall.
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...
Pulling off the Padre's Boots
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1940
image: The Padre, foreground left is in his bedroom, he lies exhausted in a chair. His batman kneeling foreground right, is pulling off his boots.
GHQ has a Nice Taste in Forage Caps!
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1940
image: A carictaure of five officers looking at each other at close proximity. They are all wearing different caps. There are some other soldiers in the background.
Life with the BEF, 1940: Laughter
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1940
image: A head and shoulder portrait of two soldiers, one with his arm around the other, laughing.
WAAF's at Salisbury
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1940
image: A view along the pavement of a street in Salisbury. A middle-aged officer in uniform and holding a swagger-stick stops to look at two passing WAAF's in uniform. As the women walk on, they too turn their heads to glance back at him.