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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Royal Flying Corps
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: three photographic images are positioned centre right, centre left and lower centre, each held within narrow black borders. A further image is positioned upper centre. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in blue outlined...
Britain's Sea Power is Yours!
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Walter (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the Admiralty seal placed in the lower left. The title is separate and positioned along the bottom edge, in white, set against a grey background. The text is integrated and placed in the lower right, in white...
Women of the Forces
(posters) Made by: Jones (artist)
whole: the three images are positioned in the upper half, with a smaller image positioned at the top edge centre. The title is partially integrated and placed in the upper quarter, in red and in black. The text is partially integrated and located in the...
Mauritians Serving in the British Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the 12 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in black. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, also in black. The coat of arms of Mauritius is located at the top edge centre....
Cypriots Serving with the British Forces
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the 11 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, also in black. The coat of arms of Cyprus is located at the top edge centre....
Maltese Serving with the British Forces
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the ten images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed alongside each image as a caption, in black. The coat of arms of Malta is located at the top edge centre. All...
Kriegsgräber Ausstellung Graz 1918 [War Graves Exhibition Graz 1918]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the left two-thirds. The title and text are separate and positioned in the right third, in black gothic script. Further text is integrated and positioned in the lower centre, in white outlined black. All held within a black...
Kriegsgräber-Tag [War Graves Day]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image is positioned across the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper centre, in white. The text is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, upper centre, centre and along the bottom edge, in grey. Further text is...
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...
Wings Over the Waves
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with a Royal Navy emblem positioned in the upper left. The title is integrated and located in the upper third, in red. The text is integrated and placed in the lower quarter, in white. image: a depiction of the...