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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Mauritians Serving in the British Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the 12 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in black. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, also in black. The coat of arms of Mauritius is located at the top edge centre....
Cypriots Serving with the British Forces
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the 11 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, also in black. The coat of arms of Cyprus is located at the top edge centre....
Maltese Serving with the British Forces
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the ten images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed alongside each image as a caption, in black. The coat of arms of Malta is located at the top edge centre. All...
It's Your Production Against His
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the two images occupy the majority. The title is separate and placed in the upper quarters, in red and in black, and in the lower half, in grey and in orange. All set against a yellow background and held within a grey border. image: the upper...
Honneur et Patrie [Honour and Country]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the main image is positioned in the centre, surrounded by six other images. The title is separate and placed across the bottom edge, in white, set against a blue background. image: a collage of photographs with, at the centre, a half-length...
His Majesty King George VI
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: a colour photgraphic image framed by yellow border. Text set across the bottom edge of the border, in black. image: a half-length portrait of King George VI wearing the uniform of Marshal of the Royal Air Force. He is seated, with his hands held...
Forward to Victory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: a large image with the title placed separately below, in black. All set against a white background. image: a loosely rendered drawing of British RAF fighter pilots scrambling to awaiting Spitfires. text: FORWARD TO VICTORY
Today, Four-Fifths of the World is United Against Axis Tyranny
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
whole: the image occupies the upper two-thirds incorporating text. The main text is set below the image in black and orange-brown ovwer a plain white background image: a lone but resolute British sentry standing beside a barbed wire fence. text: TWO...
Salvage Hastens Victory
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths, held within a red border. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in red outlined black, and in black. Further text is integrated and positioned in the upper half and lower...
Smash Japanese Aggression!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a white background. image: a depiction of Indian troops attacking a Japanese position in a clearing in the...