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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Calais Nord : 7th November 1944. Royal Engineers removing debris.
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay
image: Two sets of horses and carts move in convoy through a flat, war-ravaged landscape with ruined buildings on either side. A line of soldiers can be seen foreground right passing debris to one another, clearing a ruined building.
HMS Hunter: Sunderland Aircraft at Glugor, Penang: 5th September 1945
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay 1945-09-05
image: three distinctive white Short Sunderland flying boats afloat in the water of a harbour at Glugor, on the Malaysian island of Penang. Various items including a buoy and a rowing boat are on the shore in the foreground. A group of people has...
A Small Flying-bomb Site at Château de Montigny, near Rouen
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay
image: A track running through a wooded area. A second track runs across the foreground of the drawing. Next to this is the entrance and steps down to an underground room in the forest floor. Behind this is a bunker on the left.
The Pier at Hvitanes with a Collier and Drifters
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay 1943
image: a view of the pier at Hvitanes in the Faroe Islands and the harbour side. In the foreground the shore is littered with timber and various equipment. A collier is moored at the pier, with several smaller vessels also moored. A picturesque hilly...
An AA Battery in Holland: January 1945
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay 1945
image: a British anti-aircraft battery in a flat, snow-covered Dutch landscape. Two guns are on the right, with their crews busying themselves amongst them. Further back in the middle of the composition is another AA gun.
A Dutch Concrete Strong Point at Nijmegen
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay 1944
image: a view across a Dutch landscape, with a large concrete strongpoint in the middle of the composition. In the background to the left, the distinctive metal bridge of Nijmegen is visible. A single figure is shown climbing the hill on the left.
Troops Quartered in the Pyimbongi Pagoda
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay 1945
image: A group of soldiers sheltering under a tarpaulin in front of the temple.
Troops going Ashore over a Pontoon, Normandy : June 1944
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay 1944-06-01
image: View along a pontoon towards the coast. On the shore are D Day landing craft. Troops are on the pontoon and the shore.
Antwerp from Kattendijkdok
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay
War Artists Advisory Committee commission
Nijmegen Bridge
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay
image: a view of the bridge at Nijmegen from the bomb-damaged river bank strewn with rubble, twisted fencing and charred wood. Further along the bank, towards the bridge there is a gun emplacement.