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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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...
You Can Hit Back with Your Savings Too!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the lower four-fifths. The title is separate and placed in the upper fifth, in black. The text is partially integrated and located in the lower fifth, in red, held within a blue inset. All set against a white background...
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...
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...
...Thanks to Spares
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It All Depends on You - Go to It!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in white and in black, held within a blue inset. The text is partially integrated and located in the lower right, in white, in black and in white outlined black...
They Talked ... This Happened
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whole: the two images occupy the majority, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper half, in red outlined white, and in the lower half, in yellow. The text is separate and placed across the top edge, in red and across the bottom edge, in...
Join the Royal Navy
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whole: the main image occupies the upper two-thirds, with a smaller image positioned in the lower left. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper third, in black. The text is separate and placed in the lower third, in red, black and white, set...
Defend Your Freedom
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whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, held within a narrow white border. The title is integrated and placed along the top edge, in burgundy. The text is partially integrated and located in the lower half, in burgundy and in blue, held...
We Depend on Them - They Depend on Us
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper third. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower two-thirds, in white, in red and in dark blue. All set against a dark blue and blue background. image: a half-length depiction of a British Naval...