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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Catch 22 Snowden's Funeral
(art) Made by: Lee, Dick 1970
image: A funeral scene, with troops at the grave side, and a chaplain in robes conducting the ceremony. In the background is an Italian landscape, with a city on the hill to the right. In the middle distance a naked figure is visible, sitting in a tree.
An 'Ark' (Bridging Tank) Moving into Position at Dawn
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1944
image: British armoured vehicles moving in orchard country on a misty early morning. In the middle ground to the left are two tanks, with a Bren Gun Carrier slightly before and to the right of them, all ready to move off. In the centre foreground an...
Soldiers Resting by the Roadside
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1943
image: British soldiers rest by an orchard wall, with two soldiers lying on the wall. In the orchard behind, one soldier picks fruit, watched by another who is leaning across the wall. In the background to the left, another soldier relieves himself. In...
View of Salerno
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1944
No description available
The Bailey Bridge built by Royal Engineers over the Volturno River, Italy
(art) Made by: Coldstream, William Menzies 1944
image: View of a bailey bridge over the Volturno River
Refugees at Udine, 1945
(art) Made by: Bawden, Edward 1945
image: elevated view of the compound of a refugee camp, with refugees standing in a large group and a priest standing centre
A 3.7 Anti-aircraft Gun of 393/72 HAA REGT, RA, CMF
(art) Made by: Carr, Henry 1944
image: Four British soldiers man an anti-aircraft gun in almost full elevation, which is housed within a gun emplacement. Another British soldier looks on to the right, with a few empty shell cases strewn on the ground in the right foreground. Mountains...
Divisional Pigeon Loft, Italy 1944
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1944
image: A mobile pigeon loft stands with its doors open, the pigeons free to fly around. The interior of the loft can be seen with the birds perched on their compartments. In the left background is a ruined farmhouse; a village on a steep hillside lies in...
Mount Vesuvius
(art) Made by: Preis, Eli 1944
No description available
Vomero from Castel St. Elmo
(art) Made by: Aldridge, John 1945
image: a view down a road winding uphill towards a fortified town and castle. In the foreground a group of sailors talk, some sitting on the wall that edges the road, others standing. Another group of sailors are standing in the road in the middleground...