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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Canal near St. Venant, May 1918
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1918-05
image: a view along a ruler-straight length of canal, lined with tall poplar trees to the left and small bushy trees to the right.
Haverskerque, July 1918
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1918-07
image: a sketch view of a village through a small line of trees in the middle ground, and some trees in the immediate right foreground. A church is visible in the centre on the horizon.
Pavé Road, St. Venant - Haverskerque, August 17 1918
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1918-08-17
image: a view along a long, straight pavé road lined on both sides by poplar trees.
Captured German Guns Parked near Bourlon, October 1918
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1918-10
image: a sketch of four German field guns standing in an open landscape, with hills lining the horizon.
Tanks Out of Action Left on Cambrai Battlefield, October 15th 1918
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1918-10-15
image: a sketch of three knocked out British tanks in a flat, largely featureless landscape.
Bourlon Wood, October 15th 1918
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1918-10-15
image: a sketch of the shattered trees of Bourlon Wood, with many trunks and branches covering the ground.
Bourlon Wood, October 18 1917
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1917-10-18
image: a sketch of a landscape with a line of bare tree stumps dotted on the horizon.
Bourlon Wood, October 17 1918
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1918-10-17
image: a sketch view of a shattered landscape, with a wood in the far distance.
Poperinghe, August 15 1917
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1917-08-15
image: a view across a field towards the town centre of Poperinghe, with the spire of a church dominating the skyline.
In Bivouacs behind Ypres, August 19th 1917
(art) Made by: Rose, Geoffrey K (MC) 1917-08-19
image: a sketch of a a line of bivouac tents pitched in a field, with British infantrymen standing amongst them. One man stands in the immediate foreground, looking straight at the viewer. Trees line the horizon.