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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Cook, George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-09-25
British private served with 4 Commando in GB and during Dieppe Raid, France, 1941-1942; POW in France and Stalag VIIIB, Lamsdorf in Germany, 1942-1944; repatriated to GB, 1944
Bakewell, Frank (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-06-18
British NCO served with 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters in Norway, 1940
Petts, Ronald John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-03-02
British civilian artist and conscientious objector in London and Wales, GB, 1939-1941; agricultural worker in GB, 1941-1944; private served with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1944; NCO served with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in North...
Osmond, Thomas Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British officer served with Royal Army Medical Corps in Mesopotamia, 1914-1916; captured at seige of Kut-el-Amara and POW in Turkey, 1916-1918
Sheppard, Leslie Gaius John1 (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-03-19
British private and NCO served with 1/5th Bn Leicestershire Regt in GB and Norway, 1932-1940
Krzystek, Tadeusz Jerzy (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-02-16
Polish airman served with Polish Air Force in Poland, 1939; POW in Russia, 1939-1941; airman served with Polish Air Force in Russia, Iran and GB, 1941-1945
Webb, Gordon Geoffrey Henry (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-05-07
British officer served with 4 Commando in GB, during Lofotens Raid in Norway, Dieppe Raid in France and in North West Europe, 1940-1945
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...
Gwillim, Richard (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-08-03
British gunner served with 155 Field Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, France and Malaya, 1940-1942; POW in Singapore, 1942 including surviving Alexandra Hospital massacre, 2/1942
Price, John Edgar Dudley (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-07-30
British private served with 1/7th Bn Royal Warwick Regt in France and Belgium, 1940; private and NCO served with 4 Commando in GB, during Lofotens Raid, Norway, Dieppe Raid, France and North West Europe, 1940-1945