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

Land and People: One
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1946-06
whole: the seven images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black, held within an orange inset. The text is separate and placed down the centre, in black, and with each image as a caption, in orange. All set...
Land and People: Six - Suez Canal
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1947-02
whole: the nine images occupy the majority, with the upper right image held within a narrow brown border. The title is integrated and positioned in the top left corner, in red and in brown. The text is separate and placed in the upper left and lower...
Our First Glimpse of the Desert near Suez 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: Through a network of rigging a sailor looks towards a mountainous coastline. A light anti-aircraft gun facing the sky is immediately to his right and four ships lie in the water before the coastline.
Help the R.F.C. in the Near East
(posters) Made by: Hugh, Bernhard (artist) 1917
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned upper right, in white outlined black. Further text is separate and positioned across the bottom, in black against a white background. All held within a black border. image:...
An 8th Army Brigade Preparing for an Attack : July 1942
(art) Made by: Copnall, Edward Bainbridge 1942
image: A desert landscape with a row of tanks in the foreground with soldiers standing in the bridge of the tank nearest the viewer. Plumes of smoke are rising on the horizon.
The Withdrawal over Halfaya Pass
(art) Made by: Copnall, Edward Bainbridge 1942
image: A hilly desert landscape with a line of vehicles winding off in to the distance around the hill, leaving a trail of dust.
Halfaya Pass
(art) Made by: Chaddock, Jack 1942
image: A view of the back of a tank driving along a desert road, closely followed by a military motorbike. They appear to be following a convoy of vehicles driving ahead on a road that winds around some hills in the distance. Along one side of the road...
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,...
The Battle of Egypt, 1942: Desert Scene
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: A desolate, desert scene with a scattering of tents, military vehicles and a solitary Hurricane aircraft.
The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image covers the main, headed by the regiment badge and held within a border of regimental tartan embellished with a roll of honour. The title is positioned across the top in green, with further text placed along the bottom also in green. All...