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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WAAFs Packing Parachutes
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA)
image: the parachutes are laid out on long, thin tables while the WAAFs arrange the fabric and the ropes . In the background one parachute has just been packed and lies in a bundle at the end of the table.
WAAFs Repairing Parachutes at a Maintenance Unit, Henlow
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA)
image: a group of WAAFs in uniform sit around a large, square work table covered in swathes of Parachute silk. Each one is sewing at a sewing machine lit with an angle poise lamp.
The American Base, River Foyle, near Londonderry
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA) 1944
image: a gun boat moored at a small jetty with low hills in the distance. A motor launch sails by towards the shore.
Colombo Harbour : sailors from the Queen Elizabeth on shore leave
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA) 1945
image: a view across Colombo harbour, with sailors gathered on a small pier in the foreground. The harbour is full of assorted shipping, including warships and local vessels.
HMS Brecon escorting an Aircraft-carrier from Algiers
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA) 1944
image: a view looking back towards a ship painted with dazzle patterns, sailing ahead of the aircraft carrier on the horizon. In the foreground a sailor can be seen raising the Scottish flag.
HMS Philante in Charge of Escort Carriers off Ireland
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA) 1944
image: Looking out to sea from the upper deck of a ship. There is a motorboat cruising alongside, and three more ships out at sea beyond. Several figures stand on deck of the ship in the foreground, some wearing yellow oilskins, others blue overalls.
A New Runway, Lee-on-Solent
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA)
image: The bottom half of the composition is dominated by the runway, lined by mounds of earth dotted along either side. There are vehicles and figures in the central space who appear to be laying tarmac over the concrete surface of the runway. Above,...
An Aeroplane, Lee-on-Solent
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA)
image: three Kingfisher seaplanes stand in an aerodrome consisting of corrugated metal hangars painted with camouflage patterns.
Group Headquarters, Uxbridge : radiolocation plotters
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA)
image: a view looking down on a busy control room where uniformed women stand around a large map. They are moving markers around the map with poles. They are observed by men on the telephone in an enclosed gallery in the upper left.
An AA Battery : River Medway
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA) 1943
image: a view looking down on several anti-aircraft guns, including two Bofors guns, in gun emplacements with a few soldiers moving around in between the maze of walls in the battery. The battery is positioned on the coast with the sea and a small dock...