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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1778 1943 Americans will always fight for Liberty
(posters) Made by: Perlin, Bernard (artist) 1943
whole: The image fills the the design with text in black and white incorporated at the top and bottom. image: Three helmeted Second World War American soldiers with packs and greatcoats march on parade, from right to left. The Stars and Stripes American...
Get a War Job to Help Him Fight
(posters) Made by: Pagano (artist) 1942
whole: the image covers most of the area. Title text in white is integrated across the top and bottom of the image, while additional white text is set against a blue box along the bottom edge of the whole. image: the face of an American soldier, wearing...
From Mine to Firing Line - More Production
(posters) Made by: Monnast (artist) 1942
whole: the image covers the whole. Text is integrated in black across the top, and angled across the bottom in black and white. image: a truck of coal tended by miners is gradually transformed into a line of artillery shells tended by workers, and these...
Where Our Men Are Fighting - Our Food is Fighting
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943
whole: the image covers the whole, with integrated text in white angled across the centre and lower half, and red text also along the bottom edge image: a red parachute suspends a wooden box, while in the background blue and white parachutes hold the...
TEN YEARS AGO - THE NAZIS BURNED THESE BOOKS...
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943
image: photograph of Nazi book burning in the Thirties, with a crowd saluting uniformed members of the Nazi party. They are gathered around the smouldering ashes of the burnt books. text: Ten years ago: THE NAZIS BURNED THESE BOOKS ...but free Americans...
Do Your Part to Win the War - Buy More War Savings Stamps
(posters) Made by: Mason, Donald F (artist) 1942
No description available
BACK 'EM UP - BUY EXTRA BONDS
(posters) Made by: Chaliapin, Boris (artist) 1944
image: head and shoulders portrait of General Eisenhower holding a map in his left hand and field glasses in his right. Background depicts a mass Allied invasion of Europe, with landing craft, tanks, soldiers and aircraft all moving forward to the left...
She's a Swell Plane - Give US More! - More Production
(posters) Made by: Riggs (artist)
War Production Board-A4
He's a Fighting Fool - Give Him the Best You've Got - More Production
(posters) Made by: Ludekens, Fred (artist)
War Production Board-A3 Different design from PST 17429, with similar text
Kinda Give It Your Personal Attention, Will You? - More Production
(posters) Made by: Rolse (artist)
War Production Board-A5