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

'Let 'em All Come' - Home Defence Battalions
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist) 1939
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a green background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white outlined red cursive script. The subtitle and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in...
Let 'em All Come - Home Defence Battalions
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist) 1940
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a green background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white outlined red cursive script. The subtitle and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in...
Women of the Forces
(posters) Made by: Jones (artist)
whole: the three images are positioned in the upper half, with a smaller image positioned at the top edge centre. The title is partially integrated and placed in the upper quarter, in red and in black. The text is partially integrated and located in the...
Save Some of Your Pay
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the two images are positioned in the top edge centre and in the bottom edge centre. The title is separate and placed in the upper third, in orange. The text is separate and located in the lower two-thirds, in orange, blue outlined black, and in...
Wings Over the Waves
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with a Royal Navy emblem positioned in the upper left. The title is integrated and located in the upper third, in red. The text is integrated and placed in the lower quarter, in white. image: a depiction of the...
Builders - You are Hitting Back
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the top left corner, with five other images placed one above another, down the right edge. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in orange and in black. The text is separate and placed in the...
Great Britain's War Effort - Number Two
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945-06
whole: the image is positioned in the lower three-quarters, held within a brown border. The title is separate and placed in the upper quarter, in blue and red. The main text is integrated and located in the lower three-quarters, in blue. Further text is...
Great Britain's War Effort - Number Three
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945-06
whole: the image is positioned in the lower three-quarters, held within a brown border. The title is separate and placed in the upper quarter, in blue and red. The main text is integrated and located in the lower three-quarters, in blue. Further text is...
Great Britain's War Effort - Number Five
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945-06
whole: the image is positioned in the lower three-quarters, held within a brown border. The title is separate and placed in the upper quarter, in blue and red. The main text is integrated and located in the upper third and lower quarter, in blue. Further...
Great Britain's War Effort - Number Four
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945-06
whole: the image is positioned in the lower three-quarters, held within a brown border. The title is separate and placed in the upper quarter, in blue and orange. The main text is integrated and located in the lower three-quarters, in blue. Further text...