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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Hello! American and British Soldiers
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority of the left half, with the title separate and positioned upper left in red outlined black, and across the upper quarter, in brown. The text is separate and positioned mainly over the right half, in green, in brown,...
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...
World 1946 - Trusteeship
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1946-06
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with a smaller image positioned in the centre left. The title is separate and positioned in the upper left, in blue, and in white held within a black inset. The main text is separate and placed in the upper...
Two Plays with a Punch
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1946-05
whole: the seven images are located in the upper three-quarters. The title is separate and positioned in the upper right, in black. The text is separate and placed in the right three-quarters, in black, and in the upper left and right half, as captions,...
Grande Fête de la Libération [Great Liberation Celebration]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944-10
whole: the title and text are positioned across the whole, in black, set against a green, yellow, red and white background. image: text only. text: SAINT - RÉMY - LES - CHEVREUSE Dimanche 7 Octobre 1944 GRANDE FÊTE DE LA LIBÉRATION sous la Présidence d'...
Pacific War Map
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943-12
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a narrow black border. The title is integrated and positioned in the lower right, in yellow outlined black. The main text is separate and placed across the top edge and bottom edge, in black. Further...
Victory in the West
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1945
whole: the 12 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in white, held within an orange inset. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, in white held within orange insets, in orange and...
These Men Went Through Hell for you
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1941
whole: the three images are positioned in the upper left, centre and lower right. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in blue. The text is separate and placed in the upper right, centre right, centre left and lower left, in black. All...
Dedicated to the Fight for Freedom
(posters) Made by: Ularek, P
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and placed at the top edge left, in black. The text is integrated and positioned at the centre and lower centre, in black. All set against a white background and held within a narrow black...
Diese Schandtaten: Eure Schuld! [These Shameful Deeds: Your Fault!]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the seven images are positioned in the lower three-quarters. The title is separate and placed across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and located in the upper centre and across the bottom edge, also in black. All set against a white...