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

Final Stages of the German War: Remagen Bridge
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1945
image: a landscape with a railway track running across the foreground. The Rhine runs through the centre of the image with Remagen on the right bank. The Ludendorff bridge can be seen in the distance, the centre collapsed into the water. A temporary...
Sketch book- Second World War Scenes of Germany and the Netherlands
(art) Made by: Eadie, Ian G M (artist) 1945
image: scenes of ruined and bomb damaged towns and landscapes in the Netherlands and Germany. The sketchbook also contains some drawings of military vehicles and caricatures of civilian and military personnel.
Sketch book- Second World War Scenes of Germany and the Netherlands
(art) Made by: Eadie, Ian G M (artist) 1945
image: scenes of ruined and bomb damaged towns and landscapes in the Netherlands and Germany. The sketchbook also contains some drawings of military vehicles and caricatures of civilian and military personnel.
Sketch book- Second World War Scenes of Germany and the Netherlands
(art) Made by: Eadie, Ian G M (artist) 1945
image: scenes of ruined and bomb damaged towns and landscapes in the Netherlands and Germany. The sketchbook also contains some drawings of military vehicles and caricatures of civilian and military personnel.
Sketch book- Second World War Scenes of Germany and the Netherlands
(art) Made by: Eadie, Ian G M (artist) 1945
image: scenes of ruined and bomb damaged towns and landscapes in the Netherlands and Germany. The sketchbook also contains some drawings of military vehicles and caricatures of civilian and military personnel.
Sketch book- Second World War Scenes of Germany and the Netherlands
(art) Made by: Eadie, Ian G M (artist) 1945
image: scenes of ruined and bomb damaged towns and landscapes in the Netherlands and Germany. The sketchbook also contains some drawings of military vehicles and caricatures of civilian and military personnel.
Sketch book- Second World War Scenes of Germany and the Netherlands
(art) Made by: Eadie, Ian G M (artist) 1945
image: scenes of ruined and bomb damaged towns and landscapes in the Netherlands and Germany. The sketchbook also contains some drawings of military vehicles and caricatures of civilian and military personnel.
Sketch book- Second World War Scenes of Germany and the Netherlands
(art) Made by: Eadie, Ian G M (artist) 1945
image: scenes of ruined and bomb damaged towns and landscapes in the Netherlands and Germany. The sketchbook also contains some drawings of military vehicles and caricatures of civilian and military personnel.
Sketch book- Second World War Scenes of Germany and the Netherlands
(art) Made by: Eadie, Ian G M (artist) 1945
image: scenes of ruined and bomb damaged towns and landscapes in the Netherlands and Germany. The sketchbook also contains some drawings of military vehicles and caricatures of civilian and military personnel.
Sketch book- Second World War Scenes of Germany and the Netherlands
(art) Made by: Eadie, Ian G M (artist) 1945
image: scenes of ruined and bomb damaged towns and landscapes in the Netherlands and Germany. The sketchbook also contains some drawings of military vehicles and caricatures of civilian and military personnel.