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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Sportsmen's One-thousand
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the lower third, in yellow outlined black. The text is integrated and positioned across the top, lower right, lower left and across the bottom, in black. image: a half-...
Quick! Give Us a Hand Old Sport!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: the image covers the main, with the title and accompanying text positioned separately across the top in red and black. A subtitle is placed at the bottom in red. All are set against a plain white background and held within a narrow black border....
Queenslanders! Your Country Calls!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the images occupy the whole, with the title integrated and positioned across the top, in brown, red outlined brown, and brown outlined light brown. The text is integrated and positioned lower right, in red outlined black. The right and left edges...
Think it Over!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title is positioned across the lower third, in black with a white shadow. The text is positioned across the upper two-thirds, mainly in black cursive script, but with the final word and the question mark in red outlined black. All set against...
Come!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image covers the whole, held within a black border. The title is integrated and positioned across the bottom, in white. image: a British/Commonwealth soldier stands facing and beckoning to the viewer. Behind him the silhouettes of infantrymen...
The March to Freedom
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whole: the image is positioned in the upper quarter, held within a black border. The title is positioned upper centre, in blue. The text occupies the remainder, in red, and in blue, separated by red dividing lines and borders. All set against a white...
We March Through Your Town to Freedom
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whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned across the top edge, in white outlined black, and in orange outlined white. The text is integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in white outlined black, and in black. A...
Australia's Imperishable Record
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the title is positioned in the upper half, and the subtitle is positioned across the bottom, both in white outlined red. The text occupies the centre and lower centre, in white. All set against a black background. The image is separate and...
The Patriotic Pack of Playing Cards - Play the Game
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whole: the image is positioned in the centre, with the title positioned in the upper quarter, and the subtitle positioned in the lower quarter, both mainly in white outlined blue, on red ribbon-like strips. The text is integrated and positioned in the...
Don't Falter - Go and Meet the Hun Menace
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whole: the image covers the whole, with the title incorporated and arranged lower right, in red outlined black. All set against a brown background. image: in the background, the head of a German soldier wearing a pickelhaube appears in the smoke rising...