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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A Shell-hole Group
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a battle scarred landscape, with a track passing between blasted trees and debris. An artillery piece is on the ridge to the left and the damaged entrance to a dug-out is to the right.
In Front Of Hooge
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a battlefield landscape with a large water-filled shellhole in the foreground and several blasted trees.
A Derelict Tank, Ypres
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a bleak battlefield landscape, with a tank in the centre right on the horizon.
German Dug-outs At Le Sars, Somme
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a battlefield landscape with the brick-lined entrances to two dugouts, and other debris.
Looking Towards Montauban
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a landscape of trenches, rough ground, telephone poles and wires, and low buildings.
The Corner Of Bernafay Wood
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a landscape of blasted trees, with a short stretch of trench in the right foreground.
Bécordel Church
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a view of a chuch in a village and countryside setting.
The Wrecked Briqueterie, Near Bernafay Corner
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a view of wrecked industrial machinery and buildings.
In The Valley of the Ancre, 1917
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: a landscape of blasted trees, with ruined buildings in the centre.
Pozières : An Australian Episode
(art) Made by: Hill, Adrian
image: the body of a soldier lies sprawled on a hillock in a devastated battlefield landscape. On the top of the hillock, an Australian headdress is propped on a rifle or stick of wood.