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 Attack Begins in the Factory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, held within a yellow border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in black, set against a yellow background. image: a full-length depiction of a British infantryman...
You and the RAF Can Smash Germany
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half. The title is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in white, and held within a red panel. The text is integrated and positioned in the upper half, in black. All set against a blue background...
You Can Help to Build Me a Plane
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, partially set against a blue background. The title is partially integrated and placed in the lower half, in red and in black. The text is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black, held...
Is He Killing Time....or Killing Nazis
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the centre, set against a blue background. The title and text are separate and located in the upper fifth, in black and in grey, and in the lower fifth, in red. All set against a white background, with a red diagonal...
Is He Killing Time....or Killing Nazis
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the centre, set against a blue background. The title and text are separate and located in the upper fifth, in black and in grey, and in the lower fifth, in red. All set against a white background, with a red diagonal...
It's the Finish That Counts
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the six images are positioned in the upper three-quarters and lower left. The title and text are partially integrated and positioned along the top edge, down the central third and in the lower fifth, in red, in black and in white. All set against...
The Target is Germany
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the two main images are positioned in the lower half and upper third, each partially held within a red border. Smaller images are placed across the whole. The title and text are integrated and positioned across the majority, in black and in red....
Facts of the Fight for the Factory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half, held within an orange border. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in white, set against a blue background. The text is separate and placed in the lower half, in black, and in white held...
Facts of the Fight for the Factory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half, held within an orange border. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in white, set against a blue background. The text is separate and placed in the lower half, in black, and in white held...
...Thanks to Spares
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the two images occupy the majority, each held within a narrow black border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the top edge left, centre left and along the bottom edge, in black. All set against a blue background. image: the upper...