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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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
Masters, Stephen Claud (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-01-24
British civilian living in Portsmouth, 1940-1941; NCO served as pilot with 622 and 7 Sqdns, RAF in GB, 1942-1944; officer served with 206 Sqdn, RAF during Berlin Airlift 1948; served with 209 Sqdn, RAF in Brunei and during Indonesian Confrontation, 1961-...
Prigent, Gordon Augustus (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-05-23
British civilian worked as builder on Jersey, Channel Islands, 1940-1943; interned in Lager Norderney, Alderney, Channel Islands, 1943-1944; served as auxiliary policeman on Jersey, 1944-1945
Eagles, Anthony Paul (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1992-10-06
British civilian schoolchild during German Air Force attacks on GB, 1940-1941; private with Headquarters Coy, 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Korea, 11/1950-4/1951; POW in North Korea, 4/1951-8/1953
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
Munn, George Arthur (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-01-17
British civilian schoolchild and civilian in Longfield, GB, 1939-1945; NCO served with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1945-1947
Murphy, Byron James (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1995-05-03
British civilian in Bristol GB, 1940-1941; served with Home Guard Anti-Aircraft battery in GB, 1944; NCO served with 2nd Bn Dorset Regt in India and Japan, 1948-1949; served with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-...
Moore, May (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1982
British schoolchild evacuated from Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester to Eyam, Derbyshire, 1939-1944
Biglin, Agnes Nancy (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-11-09
British civilian schoolchild in Hull, GB, 1939-1945
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...