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

War Weapons Week in a Country Town
(art) Made by: Ford, Michael 1941
image: A street scene in a small town. A brass band, Girl Guides, Police and Home Guard participate in War Weapons Week outside a community hall and are watched by a crowd of civilians. Union flags are on display and a speech is being made from a...
Home Guards brewing Tea just before Dawn
(art) Made by: Ford, Michael 1941
image: Two Home Guards inside a small wooden hut, brewing tea by candlelight.
Self Portrait in Uniform
(art) Made by: Carline, Richard C 1918
image: A head and shoulders self-portrait of the artist wearing uniform.
Paid Off!
(posters) Made by: Burton, Charles (artist) 1918
whole: the title is placed top left, with the image to the right. The subtitle and text are below in a black square. image: a three-quarter view of a British sailor counting his earnings. text: Paid Off! CHARLES BURTON Buy something worth having WAR...
War Weapons Week April 8th to 13th
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-03
whole: the main title is placed across the top in yellow, with the text and image below. All held within a black border. image: a British tank moves from the the background right to the foreground left, over barbed-wire and with its guns firing. In the...
The Tank Tour
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-06
whole: the main title is placed across the top in blue and held within a scroll design which also provides a blank area for additional text. The text and image are positioned below, all held within a black border. image: a British tank moves from the the...
War Weapons Week April 8th to 13th
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-03
whole: the main title is placed across the top in yellow, with the text and image below. All held within a black border. image: two British soldiers operate a Vickers heavy machine-gun from a sand-bagged position in the foreground right. The first...
Sam Brierley
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-05
whole: the title is positioned in the upper left in black. The image is placed upper right. The text is arranged in columnar fashion down the left-hand side and the lower right-hand side. All held within a brown white frame against a white background....
Vietnam Demo - Victory to the NLF!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1972
whole: The image is positioned towards the lower left with text in black and red filling the majority of the rest of the design. All is set against a plain white background. image: An NLF soldier with his right arm thrust skywards and holding a machine...
RAF Station: New arrivals at the Guard Room
(art) Made by: Sorrell, Alan 1945
image: A night scene at a temporary barracks. A guard holding a small lantern stands outside a Nissen hut directing two men over to the huts on the left of the composition. Each of the new arrivals carries a large bundle over his shoulder. On the...