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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Patch, James Douglas (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-09-10
British gunner served with Long Range Desert Group in North Africa and Greece, 1941-1943; POW escaped and served with Chetniks in Yugoslavia, 1943-1945
Atkins, Brian Henry (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1992-02-04
British NCO served as bomb-aimer with 138 (Special Duties) Sqdn, RAF in GB and with 148 Sqdn, RAF in North Africa 1943; POW in Germany 1943-1945
Wollaston, Alan Arthur (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991-03-07
British NCO served with 3rd Royal Tank Regt at Calais, France, Greece and North Africa, 1940-1941; served with Headquarters, 10th Armoured Brigade in North Africa, 1942-1943; served with Headquarters, 29th Armoured Brigade in North West Europe, 1944
Foote, Henry Robert Bowerman (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-08-14
British officer served with Royal Tank Regt in GB and India, 1925-1939; served as staff officer with War Office in London, GB and with British Army Staff Mission in Washington DC, US and Canada, 1939-1941; served as GSO I with 10th Armoured Division in...
Hackforth-Jones, Paul (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-08-28
British officer served with Middlesex Yeomanry attached to 22nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery in France and Belguim, 1940; served with Sudan Defence Force Signals in East Africa, 1940-1941; staff officer served with Headquarters, 8th Army...
Topliss, Arthur Harold (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991-06-13
British driver mechanic served with Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1934-1937; NCO served with 4th Royal Tank Regiment in GB, France and North Africa, 1939-1942; POW in Camp PG 70, Monteurano, Italy, Stalag IV, Muhlberg and Stalag 357, Fallingbostel, Germany,...
Prisoners beside the Road near Homs
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1943
image: A British soldier guarding a group of German Prisoners of War. The prisoners sit in a group under a bank, one is wounded with is head bandaged and his arm in a sling. A second British soldier 'digs-in' on the rise above.
Garrad, Sidney Arthur (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-05-09
British artist served as gunner with 4th Survey Regt, Royal Artillery in North Africa and Greece, 1940-1942; POW in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1943; escaped and evaded capture in Italy, 1943-1944
Frost, Terry (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1977
British NCO and artist served with Warwickshire Yeomanry in France and Palestine and with Commandos in North Africa and Crete, 1939-1941; POW in Germany, 1941-1945
IWM interview
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British officer served with 29 Sqdn Royal Flying Corps on Western Front, 1917; POW in Germany, 1917-1918. Served as Head of Air Staff Department, Secret Intelligence Service in London, 1929-1945