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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Brigadier L Howard-Jones, OBE, REME : 8th Army, 1942-43
(art) Made by: Howard-Jones, Ray 1943
image: A half length portrait of Howard-Jones wearing uniform and a coat with fur neck and cuffs. He is holding a pair of binoculars and there is a hilly desert landscape in the background.
Egypt 1943: Pat from Bradford
(art) Made by: Houghton, Stanley 1944
image: portrait sketch of soldier with moonlit desert background
Egypt 1943: Interior of a Tent [&] Desert Landscape
(art) Made by: Houghton, Stanley 1943
image: [upper] interior of a tent with piles of supplies and three soldiers, one sleeping. [lower] small sketch of a desert camp
Sicily 1944: On the Hill above Augusta
(art) Made by: Houghton, Stanley 1944
image: troops taking cover in a ditch
Egypt 1943: Tent with Ruins and Army Vehicles
(art) Made by: Houghton, Stanley 1943
image: view of ruins with tents and military vehicles
Egypt 1943: Desert Camp at Night
(art) Made by: Houghton, Stanley 1943
image: view of a desert camp at night with soldiers
Italy 1944: Barrage has Begun
(art) Made by: Houghton, Stanley 1944
image: a night barrage, Monte Cassino
Italy 1944: Guard Duty at Night
(art) Made by: Houghton, Stanley 1944
image: two soldiers on sentry duty in moonlight with camouflaged gun emplacement and cratered road
Italy 1944: Artillery - 25 Pounders
(art) Made by: Houghton, Stanley 1944
image: landscape with explosions from artillery fire
Italy 1945: Convoy in the Mountains
(art) Made by: Houghton, Stanley 1945
image: convoy of trucks moving along a mountain road