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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recording
(sound) Made by: Allen, Charles (Production company) 1983
British civilian. Served with the Merchant Navy from 1921-1925. Worked for British Malay Rubber company in Malaya from 1926. Conditions of service and routine on plantation at Nilai, Malaya. Social life. In 1939 when on leave in GB took commission with...
recording
(sound) Made by: Allen, Charles (Production company) 1983
British civilian, worked in Malaya in the Colonial Civil Service from 1930, retired in 1957 as President of Municipal Councillors in Penang, Malaya. Served in the Merchant Navy from 1926-1927. Description of social and working life. Family and education...
recording
(sound) Made by: Allen, Charles (Production company) 1983
British civilian, worked in the Colonial Civil Service in Malaya from 1931, based in Kuantan, Malaya. Became District Officer in 1936 of Raub, Malaya. Present during Japanese attack and occupation of Malaya in 1941, working in the Civil Defence Office....
recording
(sound) Made by: Allen, Charles (Production company) 1983
British Officer joined the Wiltshire Regt in 1932, based in Singapore; transferred to Kota Bahru; description of action leading up to and following the fall of Singapore in 1942. POW in Changi, Singapore, 1942-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Allen, Charles (Production company) 1983
British doctor, worked as a medical officer in Malaya from 1930-1932. Returned to GB, joined the Indian Medical Service and worked in North West India. 1936 moved to Malaya. Present during the Japanese attack and occupation in 1941, captured and held in...
recording
(sound) Made by: Allen, Charles (Production company) 1983
British civilian, worked in colonial Malaya for British rubber planting firm Slim River Estate, from 1929-1931. Was general manager of Amhurst Estate 1938-1952. Involved in defence of Kuantan, Malaya aerodrome after the outbreak of war with Japan in 1941...
Prisoner Of War
(sound) Made by: BBC (Production company) 1981
BBC Radio 4 programmes entitled 'Prisoner of War'. David Wade looks at the experiences of British prisoners of war held by the Germans during the Second World War