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 Smoking Room, HMS Ambrose : Submarine Depôt Ship
(art) Made by: Dodd, Francis (RA) 1918-12-01
image: a group of naval men standing by a stove or sitting in armchairs, relaxing, drinking and smoking. The most finished portraits are the three men standing, and one sitting in the foreground
Men Asleep in Hammocks and on Deck, HMS Curlew, 1918
(art) Made by: Connard, Philip 1918
image: a view of part of the deck onboard HMS Curlew, with sailors asleep on the floor and in two hammocks suspended between walls of the superstructure.
'A Way we have in the Navy'-HMS Curlew
(art) Made by: Connard, Philip 1918
image: a full length portrait of a Royal Navy sailor in uniform asleep, his cap slightly tilted and his hands resting on his stomach.
Sailors Washing Clothes, HMS Curlew
(art) Made by: Connard, Philip 1918
image: an interior view of a cabin below deck aboard HMS Curlew, with two sailors sitting on the floor washing clothes in two large buckets of soapy water. The sailor on the right also appears to have his feet in the bucket of water. Drying clothes hang...
Harwich Force, 1918. Men Cleaning a Gun
(art) Made by: Connard, Philip 1918
image: three sailors busy themselves cleaning a large gun on the deck of a Royal Navy warship. They stand in the left foreground, with the large funnels and superstructure of the ship visible behind and the sea and coastline to the right.
Engineer, HMS Melampus, 1918
(art) Made by: Connard, Philip 1918
image: a full length portrait of a Royal Navy engineer officer wearing full uniform and cap, sitting and leaning back on a chair whilst playing a banjo.
Sketch for 1313
(art) Made by: Connard, Philip 1918
image: A view from the port side deck of the destroyer HMS Melampus. In the foreground four sailors man a circular gun turret, which is placed between two large funnels. Other sailors can be seen on an upper deck and looking out from the bridge. The...
'Snotty', HMS Melampus, 1918
(art) Made by: Connard, Philip 1918
image: a sketch of a Royal Navy officer wearing a large hooded waterproof coat, with a pair of binoculars around his neck, looking out to sea from the covered bridge of HMS Melampus.
HMS Canterbury, 1918
(art) Made by: Connard, Philip 1918
image: a view of the deck of the Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Canterbury, with the superstructure of the warship filling the majority of the composition. A small group of sailors stand on the deck in the foreground, with sea and coastline visible to the...
HMS Curaçao
(art) Made by: Connard, Philip 1918
image: A view of the starboard side deck of the light cruiser HMS Curaçao, looking towards the bow. One of the ship's circular gun platforms is visible, as are the vessel's two funnels and main mast. Two sailors are standing on deck in the distance.