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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Zeppelins Over Your Town
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper half, and the text integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, both in white outlined black. A blank text box with a white background and held within a black...
The Latest Despatch - Send More Men
(posters) Made by: Keene, Norman (artist)
whole: the image covers the whole, with the title incorporated and positioned across the top, and the text incorporated and positioned across the bottom, both in black. All held within a red border. image: a full-length depiction of an Australian...
His Future - Make it Sure
(posters) Made by: Northfield (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned upper right, and the subtitle separate and positioned along the bottom in stippled yellow, outlined black. All set against stippled brown background. image: a returning...
Enlist!!
(posters) Made by: Dawkins, Mabel G (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned lower right, and the text integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, both in black. All held within a black border. image: a stylised depiction of the Egyptian desert,...
Buy Peace Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title arranged from the top left to the centre, in red outlined yellow and dark blue. image: an Australian soldier and a young civilian woman stand in the countryside looking towards war ruins in the...
Australia Calls
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917
whole: the image covers the whole, with the title and text placed centre right within a circular design. image: a classically dressed female figure holds an Australian flag and carries an enlarged coin acting as a shield and bearing the text. In the...
Well Boy You've Done Your Bit
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned across the top, in red outlined black. Further text is integrated and positioned across the bottom right, in white outlined black and red outlined black. All set against a dark...
Subscribe to the Peace Loan
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned upper left, in blue and red, outlined blue. All held within a black border. image: an Australian pastoral scene, with a half-length depiction, in the foreground right, of a...
The Road to Victory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and placed across the top, in red outlined blue. Further text is incorporated into the image and positioned across the centre, in red outlined blue. Additional text is placed across the...
Women - Help Australia's Sons Win the War
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title positioned across the top in blue and yellow. Further text is positioned along the bottom in red. image: a three-quarter length depiction of a middle-aged woman facing the viewer, standing beneath an...