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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The Man On the Bridge
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is integrated and positioned across the top edge, in red. The text is separate and placed in the lower left, in light blue, and across the bottom edge, in yellow, set against a dark blue background. image...
Plan Your Future - Save With a Plan
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
whole: the six images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in green. The main text is partially integrated and placed with each image as a caption, in red held within white insets, and separate and located in...
Worth Fighting For - Worth Saving For!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944
whole: the ten images occupy the majority, held within white insets. The title and text are separate and placed at the centre, in dark red, and along the bottom edge, in red and in black. Further text is integrated and placed beneath each image as a...
You Can Help to Build Me a Plane
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, partially set against a blue background. The title is partially integrated and placed in the lower half, in red and in black. The text is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black, held...
Facts of the Fight for the Factory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half, held within an orange border. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in white, set against a blue background. The text is separate and placed in the lower half, in black, and in white held...
Facts of the Fight for the Factory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half, held within an orange border. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in white, set against a blue background. The text is separate and placed in the lower half, in black, and in white held...
You Can Help to Build Me a Gun
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, partially set against a brown background. The title is partially integrated and placed in the lower half, in red and in black. The text is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black, held...
Spare Time for Britain in the Territorial Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image occupies the majority. A smaller image is placed in the lower left, held within a brown inset. The title and text are integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in blue, in white, and in yellow and green. Further text is...
Join the Modern Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title is partially integrated and placed in the upper quarter, in red. The text is separate and located in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a white background and held within a...
Join the Modern Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title is partially integrated and placed in the upper quarter, in red. The text is separate and located in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a white background and held within a...