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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Wot! Not Saving?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945-10
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds. The title and text are separate and located in the upper quarter and in the lower half, in white, held within a red inset, in blue, in red and in black. All set against a white background. image: a...
Will You Forget Me? Avoid VD For Her Sake - Or Don't You Care?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1946
PST 2081 is a variant of the same design using different colours
Hurry! If You Want the Job - National Fire Service Officers...
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1946
PSS 3528
We've Replaced Three Thousand Electric Bulbs in Six Weeks ... - Help Us to Maintain Your Trains
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
PSS 2756 10-45 2M One of a series of related posters - master copies PST 19742, PST 19746, PST 19750, PST19754, PST 19758
We're Trying to Give You Better Coaches But ... - Help Us to Maintain Your Trains
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
PSS 2756 10-45 2M One of a series of related posters - master copies PST 19742, PST 19746, PST 19750, PST19754, PST 19758
A Road Death Every Other Day - Why Be Today's?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944
PSS/NA/5/44/2000-AFHQP 1982
Save For Civvy Street Now
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945-10
PSS 2893B 10.45 25M
Have You Started Saving for Civvy Street?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945-10
PSS 2893C 10.45 25M
Flies Foul Food - Diarrhoea and Dysentery Follow
(posters) Made by: Hopper, Stacey (artist)
PSS B E549 30M 3-45 PST 20218 was printed in March 1945 and PST 20220 in April 1944
Pioneer Corps Benevolent Fund
(posters) Made by: PSS (printer) 1945
PSS 2344 6.45