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 Sky's the Limit in War Savings
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper left, set against a white background. The title is separate and placed in upper right, in blue cursive script against a white background, and in the lower third, in white against a red background. image: a...
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...
Lend a Hand - War Savings
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is partially integrated and positioned across the top edge, in blue. The subtitle is separate and placed across the bottom edge, in white. All set against a yellow and red background. image: full-length...
Untitled
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with a blank, white inset positioned in the upper two-thirds. image: a depiction of two British tanks driving across a battlefield whilst firing their guns, set against a red sky. The silhouettes of British...
We've Got to Keep On Saving!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944
whole: the image occupies the lower quarter and top edge, with a blank, white area in between. The title is integrated and positioned across the bottom edge, in yellow. All set against a white background. image: a depiction of a group of British...
We've Got to Keep On Saving!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944
whole: the image occupies the lower quarter and upper quarter, with a blank, white area in between. The title is integrated and positioned across the bottom edge, in white and white cursive script. All set against a white background. image: a depiction...
In the Service of Man
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the images are positioned in the upper three-quarters, held within white insets. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in blue, partially held within a decorative red border, and in red. Further text is partially...
Savings Group Progress
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the 12 main images occupy the majority, each set against a yellow background. Two smaller images are positioned in the upper left and lower left. The title is separate and placed in the upper quarter, in white, set against a blue background. The...
The National Savings Picture Map of the Continent of Europe
(posters) Made by: Paine, Charles (artist) 1945
whole: the image occupies the majority, with smaller images placed at the edges, held within green and white insets. The title and main text are separate and positioned in the upper left, in green, in red and in black, held within a yellow inset and an...
Lend to Defend the Right to be Free - Buy Defence Bonds
(posters) Made by: Pimlott, John (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, held within a white border. The title is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in white. The subtitle is separate and is placed in the lower quarter, in blue outlined red. All set against a grey...