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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THIS VACATION VISIT BEAUTIFUL VIETNAM
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1966
text: FLY FAR-FAREASTERN AIRWAYS this vacation visit beautiful VIETNAM image: top section shows a faux 'logo' of a commercial aircraft flying from left to right with the slogan 'Fly Far-Fareastern Airways' written underneath. Under main text section is...
DON'T FRATERNIZE!
(posters) Made by: Troop
image: A caricature head of Hitler, beside a monster German-helmeted deathshead and a swastika peers from behind a curtain, upper left. Below right, a caricatured American soldier is about to retrieve a handkerchief dropped by an alluring blonde woman....
G.I. Joseph Casonova Junior does his stuff.
(art) Made by: Lee, Joseph 1944-09-22
No description available
"He's cleaning up in the posing-for-peanuts racket before the Yanks go back."
(art) Made by: Lee, Joseph 1944-09-29
No description available
Fifth Commando Checkpoint, New Territories, Hong Kong
(art) Made by: Morris, James 1945
No description available
United States Women's Army Corps 1941-1945
(posters) Made by: US National Archives (publisher/sponsor) 1995
whole: The sheet is filled by a black and white photograph, surrounded by a thin gold frame, on a black background. In each corner, in line with the top and bottom of the image, are two gold stars. Below the image is one line of centred gold type. Below...
MY GIRL'S A WOW
(posters) Made by: Treidler, Adolph (artist) 1943
image: Head of a smiling helmeted soldier, holding up for the viewer a monochrome 'photograph' of an attractive woman (head and shoulders, facing right to left) in a headscarf and white shirt with a numbered button badge text: "MY GIRL'S A WOW" WOMAN...
DOING ALL YOU CAN, BROTHER? BUY WAR BONDS
(posters) Made by: Sloan, Robert (artist) 1943
image: portrait of an injured American G.I. with a bloody bandage tied around his head, his gaze directed towards the viewer. A desolate empty battlefield can be seen in the distance to the right of the composition, a heavy grey sky in the background...
LET'S GIVE HIM ENOUGH AND ON TIME
(posters) Made by: Rockwell, Norman (artist) 1942
image: low perspective side view of a seated American G.I. in tattered and bloodied uniform, firing a machine gun, spent cartridges piling up at his feet. Black background, lower section in yellow text: Let's give him Enough and On Time
LET 'EM HAVE IT - BUY EXTRA BONDS
(posters) Made by: Perlin, Bernard (artist) 1943
image: American G.I. in battledress and wearing a steel helmet, both arms raised in a concentrated throwing action, the head turned to the left and the torso arched and ready to throw the grenade held in the right hand. Background of grey and black...