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

Sergeant R G Arding
(art) Made by: Kennington, Eric Henri (RA) 1941
image: a half-length portrait of an airman just back from a raid on enemy shipping. He stands in profile looking out to the right of the composition. He is wearing a white flying suit, with a shirt and tie underneath, and holds a leather helmet in his...
Heroes of the XXth Century: Hitler and Mussolini
(art) Made by: Mayen, Eric 1995
image: An Italian postage stamp bearing the images of Hilter and Mussolini. The border is painted in umber acrylic paint and decorated with a flying flag in each upper corner. This is placed just below centre within a white sheet of paper.
Heroes of the XXth Century: Hitler
(art) Made by: Mayen, Eric 1995
image: A German postage stamp bearing the image of Hitler with a painted border in umber acrylic paint. This is placed just above centre within a white sheet of paper.
An Indian Military Policeman, Batavia, 1945
(art) Made by: Rafty, Tony 1945
image: a half-length portrait showing an Indian Military Policeman in uniform, turning towards the left.
RAF Station: New arrivals at the Guard Room
(art) Made by: Sorrell, Alan 1945
image: A night scene at a temporary barracks. A guard holding a small lantern stands outside a Nissen hut directing two men over to the huts on the left of the composition. Each of the new arrivals carries a large bundle over his shoulder. On the...
Living Quarters on a Dispersed 'Z' (Rocket AA) Battery Site
(art) Made by: Sorrell, Alan 1943
image: a hutted camp with Nissen huts set amongst trees, with RAF airmen walking and cycling along the road in the foreground, seemingly on their way back to the camp. On the corner of the side road that leads to the camp is a sign marked 'Z Site',...
A Hutted Encampment
(art) Made by: Sorrell, Alan 1943
image: a detailed view from above of an RAF camp set amongst trees. The camp is full of Nissen huts with troops walking and cycling along the connecting roads, the main one of which runs from the bottom right corner in the foreground to the top left in...
Recruits Leaving the Camp
(art) Made by: Sorrell, Alan 1941
image: a monochrome wintry night scene, with a column of RAF recruits wearing packs and greatcoats marching through the open gate of the camp. There are huts to the left and right and a full moon is visible in the night sky in the top left. The ground...
School Cadets Practising the 'Crawl'
(art) Made by: Macpherson, Alexander
image: cadets crawl across the ground on a hillside, watched by an instructor who stands over them. In the background there are some houses behind a low wall with a gateway.
Canadian Troops replacing Track
(art) Made by: Lamb, Henry (MC) (RA) 1941
image: four Canadian troops struggle to replace tank track in the countryside. Three troops stand with their backs to the viewer, along the side of the tank while the fourth lies on the ground, partially under the tank, holding a rope taught.