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

The Ypres Salient at Night
(art) Made by: Nash, Paul (artist) 1918
image: A night scene showing three soldiers on the fire step of a trench surprised by a brilliant star shell lighting up the view over the battlefield. On the left there is a flooded shell-hole, beyond which stand three other soldiers, overlooked by a...
Brigade Headquarters: Signallers and Linesmen
(art) Made by: Roberts, William (RA) 1918
image: a group of stylised figures installing communication lines outside a Brigade Headquarters housed in a dugout. Light shines down on the scene from the left illuminating one side of the figures.
Gunners. Turning Out for an SOS. Battery action at night
(art) Made by: Roberts, William (RA) 1918
image: a group of gunners of the Royal Field Artillery hurriedly emerging from a dugout, still dressing as they run towards a battery firing into the distance. A Sergeant stands to the left of the composition, holding a torch in his hand shining down at...
Signallers
(art) Made by: Roberts, William (RA) 1918
image: a scene with six British signallers laying a wire in a trench. The two men in the centre appear to be shouting at one another, perhaps as a result of the noise of artillery fire, and the others look on, transfixed in their pose. A wounded man lies...
The Menin Road
(art) Made by: Roberts, William (RA) 1917
image: a view down the Menin Road in the Ypres sector of the Western Front. Two small columns of British troops march along the road, the foremost comprised of men of the Royal Field Artillery. Two ambulance trucks drive ahead of them. Alongside the road...
Grand Festival Militaire Belge [Grand Belgian Military Festival]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: a long landscape format, with the text, in dark blue, set over a light yellow background hand-tinted with orange horizontal bands. image: text only. text: TROCADÉRO DIMANCHE 31 DÉCEMBRE 1916, à 2 heures GRAND FESTIVAL MILITAIRE BELGE Organisée au...
Journée Patriotique [Patriotic Day]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-07-16
whole: the title is positioned in the upper quarter, with the text occupying the remainder, both in blue. The text is divided into sections by a number of vertical and horizontal blue lines. All set against a white background. image: text only. text:...
Grand Concert Populaire [Grand Popular Concert]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-10-01
whole: the title is positioned in the upper third, with the text occupying the remainder, both in black. All set against a pink background. image: text only. text: JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG Dimanche 1er Octobre 1916 A 14 HEURES 30 GRAND CONCERT POPULAIRE...
Concitoyens - Medeburgers [Fellow Citizens]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in black, and set against a white background. image: text only. text: COMMUNE DE SAINT-JOSSE-TEN-NOODE Concitoyens, Le 12 Octobre, l'Administration communale fêtera officiellement les soldats ayant pris part à...
Danger - Gevaar [Danger]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in black, and set against a white background. image: text only. text: AUX HABITANTS DANGER des Engins explosifs Je me fais un devoir impérieux de rappeler aux habitants les dangers résultant de la présence de...