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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Landscape with Flowering Trees, 1911-1912
(art) Made by: Rosenberg, Isaac 1911
image: A countryside scene with a village and a tree in the left foreground.
Landscape with River, 1911-1912
(art) Made by: Rosenberg, Isaac 1911
image: A landscape with a river in the centre foreground and farm buildings in the background.
The Road, 1911
(art) Made by: Rosenberg, Isaac 1911
image: A view down a country road with hedges, tall trees and part of a low building in the left foreground.
Trees, 1912
(art) Made by: Rosenberg, Isaac 1912
image: People grouped underneath trees in the countryside.
Sea and Beach, 1910
(art) Made by: Rosenberg, Isaac 1910
image: A beach scene with a groyne and hills in the background.
The Fountain, 1911
(art) Made by: Rosenberg, Isaac 1911
image: A fountain in a park with trees.
Convoy from Malta
(art) Made by: Hailstone, Bernard 1944
image: A view of the port of Augusta, in Sicily, with a convoy sailing through the neck of the harbour. The rural coastal landscape is visible in the foreground, with a few large buildings towards the middle of the composition. The continuing coastline...
Leaving for North Sea Patrol : Dawn
(art) Made by: Henderson, Keith (OBE) 1940
image: a Lockheed Hudson flying over green countryside in the early morning.
Salisbury Plain 1942
(art) Made by: Spender, Humphrey 1942
image: A view of Salisbury Plain, showing its use as an area for military activities during wartime. In the foreground is a paved single track pathway lined with barbed wire and with small metal spikes across the road, demonstrating the existence of anti...
Salisbury Plain 1942
(art) Made by: Spender, Humphrey 1942
image: A view of Salisbury Plain, showing its use as an area for military activities during wartime. Running from the right foreground is a pathway that leads to a hill in the distance. The landscape is full of odd-looking structures mounted on concrete...