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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Collections search

A Sunken Gunboat in Beyrout Harbour, Palestine
(art) Made by: Maxwell, Donald
image: a view of a harbour with shipping and dock equipment. In the centre the upper parts of a sunken ship are visible above the water.
Sketchbook
(art) Made by: Lloyd, Stanley 1916
whole: Windsor and Newton sketchbook, of sewn construction bound in black leatherette. Contains 19 watercolours and 1 unfinished study in pencil made during the artist's service in France.
Sketchbook
(art) Made by: Lloyd, Stanley 1919
whole: Reeves sketchbook, of stapled construction, bound in red leatherette. An elastic closure has been cut off. Contains 9 ink and watercolour drawings, together with 13 ink and watercolour studies, 1 watercolour, 1 watercolour and pencil drawing, and...
Sketchbook
(art) Made by: Lloyd, Stanley 1918
whole: Cloth bound sketchbook, of sewn construction, with pencil loop and elastic closure. Contains 13 watercolour drawings, together with 4 watercolour studies, 1 unfinished; 2 chalk drawings, 1 too rubbed to be legible ink and watercolour drawings; 1...
Sketchbook
(art) Made by: Lloyd, Stanley (artist) 1917
whole: Cloth bound sketchbook, of sewn construction, with pencil loop and elastic closure. Contains 9 watercolour drawings, together with 2 ink and watercolour drawings, 2 pencil sketches and 5 pencil studies made during the artist's service in France....
Over Damascus, 1919
(art) Made by: Carline, Richard C 1919
image: A watercolour sketch of an aerial view over Damascus and the surrounding landscape.
Dead Sea, 1919
(art) Made by: Carline, Richard C 1919
image: An aerial view of the Dead Sea and the surrounding mountainous landscape.
There Are Sovereigns Rusting by the Roadside - Take them to the Salvage Dump
(posters) Made by: Davidson, C L
France 99 (3) PST 13419 is the master copy of the published poster
What about His Equipment? - Send it to the Salvage Dump
(posters) Made by: Davidson, C L
No description available
The Ramparts, Ypres, from the Menin Gate
(art) Made by: Hill, Rowland H 1919
No description available