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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Collections search

Chazabel Swings It At the Bampong Ball
(art) Made by: Sprod, George Napier 1944
image: a man in drag, wearing an elaborate headdress and brightly coloured clothes, dances with a small smiling man with a moustache and tails who is leaping into the air. Behind them to the right a second, similarly dressed couple are about to start...
The Ugly Sisters and Groucho Cock a Leg
(art) Made by: Searle, Ronald William Fordham 1944
image: two men dressed as the Ugly Sisters dance a can-can. In between a man dressed as Groucho Marx dances while holding a cigar.
Arbeit Adelt [Work Ennobles]
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: a group of Prisoners of War with shaved heads stand stand in line, holding their caps, waiting to go through a gate marked with the words 'Arbeit Adelt' [Work Ennobles]. A camp guard stand behind them.
POWs At Work
(art) Made by: Spira, Wilhelm 1944
image: a group of POWs at work stacking bricks from piles on the floor. A small cart sits on a track that runs in front of the prisoners. Next to the cart a German guard stands with his back to the prisoners, holding a bunch of keys.
Portrait of a Polish inmate, no. 10529 at Dachau
(art) Made by: Stonehouse, Brian 1944
image: half-length seated portrait of a male inmate at Dachau wearing a camp uniform and cap. He sits with his hands clasped. On his jacket is a red triangular badge bearing the letter 'P'. This denotes that he is a Polish political prisoner. The...
Portrait of a Polish inmate, no. 22554 at Dachau
(art) Made by: Stonehouse, Brian 1944
image: half-length seated portrait of a male inmate at Dachau wearing a camp uniform and cap. On his jacket is a red triangular badge bearing the letter 'P'. This denotes that he is a Polish political prisoner. The prisoner's identity number. '22554', is...
Portrait of a Polish inmate, no. 30241 at Dachau
(art) Made by: Stonehouse, Brian 1944
image: half-length seated portrait of a male inmate at Dachau wearing a camp uniform and cap. He sits with his elbow resting on a table and one hand tucked into his jacket. On his jacket is a red triangular badge bearing the letter 'P'. This denotes that...
Portrait of a Polish Inmate, no. 63123 at Dachau
(art) Made by: Stonehouse, Brian 1944
image: half-length seated portrait of a male inmate at Dachau wearing a camp uniform and cap. He sits with his hands clasped, resting on a table. On his jacket is a red triangular badge bearing the letter 'P'. This denotes that he is a Polish political...
Portrait of a Polish inmate, no. 60809 at Dachau
(art) Made by: Stonehouse, Brian 1944
image: half-length seated portrait of a male inmate at Dachau wearing a camp uniform and cap at a jaunty angle. He sits with his arms resting on the table in front of him. On his jacket is a red triangular badge bearing the letter 'P'. This denotes that...
Portrait of a Polish Inmate at Dachau
(art) Made by: Stonehouse, Brian 1945
image: half-length seated portrait of a male inmate at Dachau wearing a camp uniform and cap. He sits with his chin resting on his hands. On the table in front of him there is a glass, a mug and a knife.