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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As You Were : 6
(sound) Made by: Various (interviewee/speaker) 1981
BBC Radio Stoke eight-part series entitled 'As You Were'. Experiences of men and women from Staffordshire who served in the Armed Forces, 1911-1953. Programme 6:1911-1949
As You Were : 5
(sound) Made by: Various (interviewee/speaker) 1981
BBC Radio Stoke eight-part series entitled 'As You Were'. Experiences of men and women from Staffordshire who served in the Armed Forces, 1911-1953. Programme 5: 1943-1975
5.Changi Was Just Like Heaven
(sound) Made by: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Production company) 1984-07-15
'Changi was just like heaven': compilation comprising recollections of Australian soldiers with Australian Imperial Forces, POWs of Japanese working on Burma-Thailand Railway 1942-1943
3.To The Railway Of Death
(sound) Made by: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Production company) 1984-07-15
'To the railway of death': compilation comprising recollections of Australian soldiers with Australian Imperial Forces who were POWs of Japanese and worked on Burma-Thailand Railway 1942-1943
3.Nippon Very Sorry-Many Men Must Die
(sound) Made by: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Production company) 1984-07-15
'Nippon very sorry - many men must die': compilation comprising recollections of Australian soldiers with Australian Imperial Forces POWs of Japanese working on Burma-Thailand Railway in 1943
7.We Became Things Not People
(sound) Made by: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Production company) 1984-07-15
'We became things not people': compilation comprising recollections of Australian soldiers with Australian Imperial Forces captured on Ambon, Molucca Islands in 2/1942, POWs of Japanese in Ambon and Hainan 1942-1945
8.You Could Feel Yourself Dying
(sound) Made by: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Production company) 1984-07-15
'You could feel yourself dying': compilation comprising recollections of Australian soldiers with Australian Imperial Forces captured in Borneo 10/1943; POWs of Japanese at Sandakan 1943-1945 and only survivors from Sandakan after death marches to Renau...
1.You'll Be Sorry
(sound) Made by: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Production company) 1984-07-15
'You'll be sorry': compilation comprising recollections of Australian soldiers with Australian Imperial Forces who were POWs of Japanese in Changi Gaol, Singapore 1942-1945
2.You'll Never Get Off This Island
(sound) Made by: Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Production company) 1984-07-15
'You'll never get off this island': compilation comprising recollections of Australian soldiers with Australian Imperial Forces who were POWs of Japanese in Changi Gaol, Singapore 1942-1945
As You Were : 3
(sound) Made by: BBC Radio Stoke (Production company) 1981
BBC Radio Stoke eight-part series entitled 'As You Were'. Experiences of men and women from Staffordshire who served in the Armed Forces, 1911-1953. Programme 3: 1939-1945