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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McGeoch, Ian Lachlan Mackay (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-07-27
British officer served aboard submarines HMS Clyde, H43 and HMS Triumph in Atlantic and GB coastal waters, 1939-1940; commanded submarines H 43 and H 34 in GB coastal waters, 1940-1941; served with 10th Submarine Flotilla on Malta, 1941 including patrol...
Everest, Peter Raymond (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-08
British seaman served aboard HMS Gloucester in Mediterranean, 1941 including sinking 5/1941; POW in Greece, 1941
Worsley, John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1978
British civilian artist served as midshipman aboard HMS Laurentic on Northern Patrol, 1939-1940; officer served aboard HMS Lancaster in Atlantic, 1940-1941 and aboard HMS Devonshire in Indian Ocean and Mediterranean, 1941-1943; served with Special...
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
recording
(sound) Made by: Lane, Tony (Production company) 1988
British civilian worked as bell-boy and waiter aboard Merchant Navy passenger ships in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1933-1939; served with Merchant Navy in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1939-1942; survived sinking of HMHS Gloucester Castle in south...
recording
(sound) Made by: Lane, Tony (Production company) 1988
British civilian bosun's mate on Laconia 1939 and Scythia 1940; sunk on Laconia 1942 and taken prisoner of war; received disabled discharge c1942
recording
(sound) Made by: Lane, Tony (Production company) 1988
British civilian apprentice on Scientist, sunk in 1939; POW on Yugoslav ship Durmitor and in Merca camp, Italian Somaliland, 1940-1941; also served on Barrister, sunk in Mediterranean 1943; also served on Director, including witness of enemy raid on Bari...
recording
(sound) Made by: Lane, Tony (Production company) 1988
British civilian seamen with Blue Funnel Line, 1924-1939; served on Stentor, 1939 on Mediterranean; served on Glenorchy, sunk in Mediterranean, 1940; POW in Tunisia, 1940
Parsons, Victor (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-09-05
British boy seaman served aboard HMS Gloucester in Indian Ocean and Mediterranean, 1939-1941 including sinking, 5/1941; POW in Greece and Germany, 1941-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Wingate, John (Production company)
British officer, served in Fleet Air Arm during 1939-1945; operations in Mediterranean and life as POW