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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Collins, Harold Bernard (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-11-05
British civilian in North Kensington, London 1928-1937. Served with 15th International Bde in Spain, 8/1937-3/1938; POW, 4/1938-12/1939
Kelly, William (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1976
British volunteer served with British Battalion, 15th International Brigade in Spain, 1/1938-4/1938; POW in Spain, 4/1938-2/1939
Norman, Joe (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1977
British civilian boxer and engineer in GB, 1920s-1930s. Delegate with British World of Sports Federation's tour of Soviet Union in 1932. Volunteer served as Communist Party organiser with British Battalion, 15th International Brigade in Spain 7/1937-3/...
McKenna, Bernard et al (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1976
British and Irish volunteers served with British Battalion, 15th International Brigade in Spain, 1937-1938
Leeson, George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1976
Irish volunteer served with No 2 Machine-Gun Company British Battalion, 15th International Brigade in Spain, 12/1936-2/1937; POW 2/1937-9/1937. Delegate with Aid Spain Committee in France, 1937-1939
BROWN, ISABEL (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1977
British civilian member of Communist Party in GB, Russia and Germany, 1920-1936; imprisoned for incitement in GB during General Strike, 1926; member of Committee for Relief of Victims of Fascism in GB, 1933 including organising of legal defence of Georgi...
Wheeler, Lawrence George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-07
British volunteer served with British Bn 15th International Bde in Spain, 5/1938-9/1938; POW in Spain, 9/1938-4/1939.
West, Frank (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-06-22
British civilian in London during 1930s. Served as political commissar with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain 9/1937-10/1938; POW 10/1938-3/1939
Allender, Bruce (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British medical volunteer with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain, 7/1937-4/1938; POW, 1938-1939
Maley, James (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991-04-09
British civilian in Shettleston, Scotland 1935-1936. Served with No 2 Machine Gun Coy, British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain 1/1937-2/1937; POW 2/1937-7/1937. Served with Royal Artillery in Burma 1942-1945