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 'Vindictive' at Zeebrugge: The storming of Zeebrugge Mole
(art) Made by: de Lacy, Charles John 1918
image: A high stone sea-defence wall ('mole') on the left borders a choppy sea. In the centre of the painting lies a cruiser, flying the British naval ensign. The vessel lies up against the mole and is seen from the stern where a Lewis gun is mounted. A...
Valve Testing: The Signal School, RN Barracks, Portsmouth
(art) Made by: McCormick, Arthur David 1919
image: Three Women's Royal Naval Service ratings are at work using communications equipment inside a room of a Royal Navy barracks. A WRNS officer stands talking to a Royal Navy officer behind them.
Captain M E Nasmith, VC, RN : 1918
(art) Made by: McEvoy, Ambrose (ARA) 1918
image: A half-length portrait of Nasmith in naval uniform, shown in profile looking to the right. He has his hands in his pockets.
ML 248 Entering Tyre
(art) Made by: Maxwell, Donald
image: a view from the deck of a Royal Navy motor launch, with members of the crew standing on deck looking towards the buildings of the city of Tyre in the background.
Awaiting Zeppelins. Sandringham, January 1915
(art) Made by: Holmes, Charles John (Sir) 1919
image: An anti-aircraft position with personnel standing to attention on either side of the large gun. Beyond are the woods silhouetted against the night sky. An officer stands in the foreground, his back to the viewer.
RN Armoured Car Squadron : winter transport of wounded at Alexandrovsk
(art) Made by: Gordon, Jan 1918
image: Three men wearing dark winter clothing and white fur hats walk through a wintry snow-covered landscape pulling an injured man, who lies on a stretcher mounted on a sled.
HMS Castor. Wounded Received After The Battle Of Jutland, 31st May 1916
(art) Made by: Gordon, Jan 1918
image: The interior of a cabin below deck with several wounded sailors, most swathed in bandages, laid out parallel to one another across the floor. They are tended to by three orderlies and one naval doctor who is standing on the right and has a...
The Storming Of Zeebrugge Mole. St George's Day, 23rd April 1918
(art) Made by: Howarth, Albany 1918
image: a high stone sea-defence wall ('mole') on the left borders a choppy sea. In the centre lies a cruiser, flying the British naval ensign. The vessel lies up against the mole and is seen from the stern where a Lewis gun is mounted. A file of armed...
A Destroyer Torpedoed. (HMS Ullswater)
(art) Made by: PEARS, CHARLES 1918
image: The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Ullswater in the process of sinking, having been torpedoed amidships. The destroyer is shown port side on and has virtually been cut in half by the torpedo. In the foreground survivors are sitting in a rubber life-ring...
Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander A V Prior RNVR: 1918
(art) Made by: McEvoy, Ambrose (ARA) 1918
image: a half length portrait of Paymaster Lieutenant-Commander A V Prior RNVR, who is sitting at a desk engaged in paperwork. He sits within a study or office.