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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RAAF Beaufighters in Action
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944-01
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, with a smaller image located in the lower left. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black and in red, set against a yellow background. image: an aerial depiction of two...
Zeppelins Over Your Town
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper half, and the text integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, both in white outlined black. A blank text box with a white background and held within a black...
Join the Women's Land Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943-01
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in red and in dark blue. The text is integrated and placed in the upper right, in black, and across the bottom edge, in light blue. All set against a...
Join the Women's Land Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943-03
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper half, in red. The text is integrated and placed across the top edge, in blue. image: a half-length depiction of a member of the Women's Land Army standing with her...
Join the Women's Land Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943-02
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title and text are integrated and positioned in the upper half, in red and in blue. Further text is separate and placed across the bottom edge, in green. All set against a white background. image: a shoulder-...
The Latest Despatch - Send More Men
(posters) Made by: Keene, Norman (artist)
whole: the image covers the whole, with the title incorporated and positioned across the top, and the text incorporated and positioned across the bottom, both in black. All held within a red border. image: a full-length depiction of an Australian...
The Cemetery At Mont St Eloi
(art) Made by: Hughes-Stanton, Herbert (Sir) (RA) 1918
image: A view across the cemetery at Mont-Saint-Éloi, with several rows of various different crosses. The cemetery is bordered by trees and the ruined twin towers of the church at Mont-Saint-Éloi are visible on the hill in the background.
His Future - Make it Sure
(posters) Made by: Northfield (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned upper right, and the subtitle separate and positioned along the bottom in stippled yellow, outlined black. All set against stippled brown background. image: a returning...
Australians Bathing on V Beach, Gallipoli
(art) Made by: Allfree, Geoffrey Stephen 1915
image: a view across V Beach at Helles in Gallipoli, showing a group of Australian soldiers sunbathing and swimming. In the background is a military camp, with a cluster of triangular white tents pitched before a steep and sandy headland.
Enlist!!
(posters) Made by: Dawkins, Mabel G (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned lower right, and the text integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, both in black. All held within a black border. image: a stylised depiction of the Egyptian desert,...