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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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...
Half-tracked German Troop Carrier ('Schwere Wurfgerat'), La Marsa
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1943
image: The side view of a wrecked German half-tracked troop carrier standing in front of a group of Moorish buildings, one of which is flying the French tricolor. The sea can be glimpsed in the centre right background.
The Amphitheatre, Carthage
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1943
image: Looking up from the base of the amphitheatre at the floor strewn with the intricately carved remains of pillars. Over the wall to the right is a parked jeep. On the rise above stands a corrugated iron hut draped with camouflage netting. To the...
Carthage, Looking Towards Sidi Bon Said
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1943
image: A view of a tent pitched among the pillars of the ancient ruins of Carthage. A soldier tends to a lorry that is parked in the centre left. There is a village on a rise in the distance.
Wrecked German Vehicles with the Palace of the Bey of Tunis in the Background
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1943
image: A wrecked German army lorry dominates the centre of the composition, and a smashed motorcycle lies to the right. In the left background an imposing Moorish building surrounded by palm trees can be seen, and below this the burnt-out carcase of...
Carthage: View of the Ruins
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1943
image: A view over the ancient ruins of Carthage, showing ruined walls, tessellated pavements and the remains of carved pillars. The town of Carthage can be seen in the upper right of the compositon, the Mediterranean to the left.
Carthage: Tank Landing Craft Setting Out for Sicily
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1943
image: A view from the ancient ruins at Carthage, looking over a tessellated pavement towards the sea. In the distance there are five landing craft in silhouette, sailing past the hills of Cape Bon.
Farmhouse at Reigate, SE Command. Fatigue Duties.
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1942
image: A farmyard scene. A pig stands in a ramshackle sty to the left of the composition. In the left background there is a bare tree, a cow, a tractor, and a pale winter sun in the upper centre. A paling fence runs through the centre of the composition...
Strong Point - Sidi Bou Said
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1943
image: A view of an ornate Moorish house with towers, balconies and carved doorways. In the right foreground are the remains of a wrecked lorry lying beside a rutted sandy road and a spiky palm tree. A domed Moorish building stands in the centre right of...
Bouzarea from Beni Messous
(art) Made by: Burn, Guy 1943
image: A view along a road looking towards a North African village sited on a low hill. A sign reading 'LIMIT OUT OF BOUNDS' stands to the left of the composition; behind this at the roadside a soldier washes in a tin tub outside a large canvas tent. To...