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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Plan Your Future - Save With a Plan
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
whole: the six images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in black. The main text is partially integrated and placed with each image as a caption, in red held within white insets, and separate and located in...
Why Spend Your Money Like This?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943-05
whole: the two images are positioned in the upper four-fifths. The title and text are separate and positioned in the upper fifth, in green, centre right, in red, and in the lower fifth, in white held within a green inset. All set against a white...
Land and People: Four - Greece
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1946-08-24
whole: the eight images occupy the majority, with the seven upper images each held within a narrow brown border. The title is separate and positioned in the upper fifth, in red and in brown, held within a decorative red and brown border. The text is...
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...
Defend Your Freedom
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, held within a narrow white border. The title is integrated and placed along the top edge, in burgundy. The text is partially integrated and located in the lower half, in burgundy and in blue, held...
Pro Patria
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914
whole: the image occupies the left half. The title is integrated and positioned across the top edge left, in black. The text is separate and placed in the right half, also in black, and set against a white background. image: a full-length depiction of a...
Who'll Help Mrs Harrison?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half, with the title and text are separate and placed in the lower half, in black. All set against a white background. image: a shoulder-length depiction of a young girl sewing. The background behind her is...
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-...