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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Snap into it - Men 18-19 1/2 - Home Defence
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a blue background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in red cursive script. The subtitle is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in white, set against a green...
'Let 'em All Come' - Home Defence Battalions
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist) 1939
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a green background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white outlined red cursive script. The subtitle and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in...
Let 'em All Come - Home Defence Battalions
(posters) Made by: Scott, Frederick George Alfred (artist) 1940
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a green background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white outlined red cursive script. The subtitle and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in...
Royal Flying Corps
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917-12
whole: the title is positioned across the top edge, in red, with the text below occupying the remainder, in black and in red. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: ROYAL FLYING CORPS. A MEETING WILL BE HELD AT [blank] LIEUT. ALSTON...
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...
Get Fit - Keep Fit! Join the Territorials
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper two-thirds, set against a yellow background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in red. The subtitle and main text are separate and placed in the lower third, in yellow and in red, held within...
Infantry - The Cutting Edge of the Battle
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1945
whole: the two images occupy the majority. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in red and in black. The text is partially integrated and placed in the lower left, in white, held within a black inset. All set against a white background...
Sportsmen's One-thousand
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the lower third, in yellow outlined black. The text is integrated and positioned across the top, lower right, lower left and across the bottom, in black. image: a half-...
Quick! Give Us a Hand Old Sport!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: the image covers the main, with the title and accompanying text positioned separately across the top in red and black. A subtitle is placed at the bottom in red. All are set against a plain white background and held within a narrow black border....
Queenslanders! Your Country Calls!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the images occupy the whole, with the title integrated and positioned across the top, in brown, red outlined brown, and brown outlined light brown. The text is integrated and positioned lower right, in red outlined black. The right and left edges...