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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No Surrender 40
(art) Made by: Davies, Anthony 1986
image: two armed male paramilitaries, wearing balaclavas, military uniform and brandishing semi-automatic rifles, stand with their weapons in their left hands, the butts resting on their waists.
Untitled [Two Dragoons on Horseback Escort a Peasant and His Dog in the Rain]
(art) Made by: Scott, Georges (artist) 1915
image: Against the background of a flat, rainwashed landscape - a windmill and a village to the left - two French mounted dragoons escort a peasant, possibly a spy, and his dog for interrogation. All three figures face the viewer. The rémarque at the...
Campement à l'Arrière [Encampment Behind the Lines]
(art) Made by: Brouet, Auguste 1915
image: An encampment of soldier's shanties behind the lines. In the foreground two poilus are seated at a rough table playing cards and are watched by a third figure carrying two buckets, his back turned towards the viewer. To the left of the composition...
[Untitled]
(art) Made by: Brouet, Auguste 1916
image: A group of five heavily laden poilus escort two German prisoners of war from left to right across a flat landscape. In the background to the right of the composition stands a cottage protected by a large tree.
En releve [Relief Duty]
(art) Made by: Brouet, Auguste 1915
image: A group of five poilus moving from right to left across the composition. They carry full kit and two of their company are smoking pipes. They are walking back to behind the lines having been relieved from front line duties. To the extreme right of...
Les blessés [The Wounded]
(art) Made by: Brouet, Auguste 1915
image: Four wounded soldiers seated on two park benches surrounded by trees. To the centre of the composition two soldiers sit together in the middle of the bench. To the left a African zouave, his left leg heavily bandaged and his crutches leaning...
Untitled 1985 (Death and the Bulldozer with Three Drummers)
(art) Made by: Sandle, Michael [RA] 1985
image: three military drummers, with strange animal-like heads, parade in a row alongside a bulldozer that is driven by a skeletal Death. The ground appears littered with rubble and the debris of war.
Untitled 1985 (Death and the Bulldozer with Drummers)
(art) Made by: Sandle, Michael [RA] 1985
image: a skeletal Death drives a bulldozer pushing a pile of war debris and rubble before it. Either side of the vehicle are military drummers with animal-like heads, the figures to the right with heads like horses.
Untitled 1985 (Two Drummers, Death and the Bulldozer)
(art) Made by: Sandle, Michael [RA] 1985
image: two military drummers, with strange animal-like heads, parade in a row alongside a bulldozer that is driven by a skeletal Death. The ground appears littered with rubble and the debris of war.
Untitled 1985 (Death and the Bulldozer with Drummers)
(art) Made by: Sandle, Michael 1985
image: a skeletal Death drives a bulldozer directly towards the viewer, pushing a pile of war debris and rubble before it. Marching on either side of the vehicle are military drummers with animal-like heads, forming a deathly procession.