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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PEARSON, JOHN (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British private served with 8th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in Gallipoli and Egypt, 1915-1916; served with 16th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers on Western Front, 1916-1917; POW in Belgium and Germany, 1917-1918
Biglin, Charles Peter Joseph (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-11-09
British civilian schoolchild in Hull and Market Weighton, GB, 1939-1945
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...
Peet, Stephen Hubert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-10-30
British civilian filmmaker conscientious objector joined Friends Ambulance Unit, worked London hospitals and shelters 1940-1942, driver and orderly Palestine and Cairo to Tunis 1942-1943, hospital work in Dodecanese and capture by Germans 1943, hospital...
Gregory, Thomas (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British civilian in England during 1930s. Served as runner and officer with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain 12/1936-4/1938; POW 4/1938-2/1939
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
Boon, George William 'Danny (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-11-03
British NCO served as flight engineer with 625 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1944-1945; served with 156 Pathfinder Sqdn RAF in GB, 1945
Saunders, George Victor (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-11-11
German Jewish schoolchild in Germany and GB, 1933-1939; internee in GB and Canada, 1940; private served with 137 Company, Pioneer Corps in GB, 1940-1943; NCO served with 3 Troop, 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1944; POW in...
Byrne, Joseph Leo (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1992-12-12
British civilian in Liverpool during 1930s. Served with British Bn, 15th International Bde in Spain 3/1937-3/1938; POW 4/1938-4/1939.
Levitas, Maurice (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1995-12-17
Irish Jewish civilian, secretary of Bethnal Green Young Communist League, east London, 1933-1936. Served as rifleman with British Bn 15th International Bde in Spain 12/1937-4/1938. POW in San Sebastian and San Pedro de Cardenas 4/1938-2/1939. Worked as...