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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Our First Glimpse of the Desert near Suez 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: Through a network of rigging a sailor looks towards a mountainous coastline. A light anti-aircraft gun facing the sky is immediately to his right and four ships lie in the water before the coastline.
Balloons and Scavenger Kites off Aden 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: A coastal landscape; rocky, undulating hills forming the backdrop for a coastal town. In the foreground, small passenger and fishing vessels sail in the sea.
A Parade of Druze Cavalry at Soueida, Jebel Druze
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: A desolate, desert scene. Two rows of Arab horsemen are lined up playing a musical accompaniment to the parade on the left.
Ain Divar overlooking the River Tigris
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: a view looking down on the Tigris winding through a valley with the sun about to set behind the mountains in the distance. In the foreground there are rocks with scorpions and spiders scurrying over them.
Roman Ruins at Palmyra, Syrian Desert
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: Roman ruins in the desert, consisting of a view down a central avenue with a row of Corinthian columns on either side.
Tank-driving Grounds of the 51st and 56th Army Training Regiments
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1940
image: A road dissects the flat countryside of the Yorkshire Moors. Tanks and other military vehicles drive along the road lined with trees. In the background on the right is a forest and a tank approaches in the centre foreground.
Carriers and Light Tanks on Driving Practice : 51st Army Training Regiment
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1940
image: Four tanks on driving practice climb up a hill on the left. In the left foreground, recruits work on two stationary tanks. On the right is woodland.
Tank-Driving : 56th Army Training Regiment
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1940
image: A tank stands stationary in a desolate landscape with an officer leaning against the side. A cluster of houses lie in the background under a large, empty sky.
With the Royal Corps of Signals : a wireless truck on manoeuvres
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1940
image: Rains falls from the sky; a wireless truck stands stationary in the foreground and officers clamber into the back. An undulating landscape dominates the background with small clusters of houses dotted here and there.
Men of the Royal Corps of Signals at Wireless Practice
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1940
image: A stationary military jeep (numbered 30) with two soldiers in the back and one standing outside. The vehicle faces a large valley containing woodland and a small village.