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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Royal Flying Corps
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917-12
whole: the title is positioned across the top edge, in red, with the text below occupying the remainder, in black and in red. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: ROYAL FLYING CORPS. A MEETING WILL BE HELD AT [blank] LIEUT. ALSTON...
Your King and Country Need You
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the title, beneath the Royal Charter, is positioned across the top, with the text below occupying the remainder, both in blue. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter] YOUR KING AND COUNTRY NEED YOU EVERY...
Untitled
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-09
whole: image occupies the whole, set against a black background. image: a full-length photographic image of a Grenadier Guards recruiting sergeant gesturing to the viewer. text: PUBLISHED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY RECRUITING COMMITTEE, LONDON. POSTER No. 129...
Be a Sportsman and Lend a Hand to the Lads at the Front
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in white cursive script, set against a purple background. image: text only. text: Be a Sportsman and lend a hand to the lads at the front. They want your help! ISSUED BY THE PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT, CENTRAL LONDON...
Every Man -There's a Vacant Place for You My Lad!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: a small monochrome image is positioned across the top. The title is placed below the image in blue, with the text arranged over the remainder, in red and blue. All are set against a plain light orange-brown background. image: two union flags flank...
To Every Young Briton - Let Each Man do His Bit
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the design is headed by the Royal Charter. The title located in the upper half in red, with the main text arranged over the lower half in red and blue. Additional text is positioned above the title in blue. All are set against a plain white...
The Military Service Act, 1916
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: the title is positioned across the top edge, with the text below occupying the remainder of the poster, both in blue and set against a white background. image: text only. text: THE MILITARY SERVICE ACT, 1916 Applies to Unmarried Men who, on August...
Come Lad Slip Across and Help
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the image covers the whole, framed within a dark brown border. The title is incorporated into the the image and superimposed across the bottom in dark brown. image: a British artilleryman, standing on a yellow map of France and Belgium, links...
Single Men
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-08
whole: the upper image is positioned across the top and the lower image is positioned across the bottom, both held within blue borders. The title is separate and positioned below the upper image, in red outlined blue, with the text below, in blue, and in...
Untitled
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the central section and lower right. It is set against a white background and held within a red and blue decorative border. image: a full-length depiction of a British Royal Artillery sergeant, holding a swagger stick in his...