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: Victoria Theatre, Stoke on Trent, Staffs (Production company) 1971-04-29
British soldier from Staffs served in Crete 1941, captured and POW of Germans in Germany 1941-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Victoria Theatre, Stoke on Trent, Staffs (Production company) 1971-04-19
British civilian in Basford, Stoke on Trent, Staffs 1939-1945. Wife of British soldier POW of Italians and Germans in Italy and Germany 1941-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Victoria Theatre, Stoke on Trent, Staffs (Production company) 1971-04-20
British soldier from Staffordshire served in Crete 1941, captured and POW of Germans in Germany 1941-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Victoria Theatre, Stoke on Trent, Staffs (Production company) 1971-04-19
British civilian in Basford, Stoke on Trent, Staffs 1939-1945. Wife of British soldier POW of Germans in Germany 1940-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Bayley, Gladys A (interviewee/speaker) 1971-04-16
British civilian in Stoke on Trent, Staffs 1939-1945; worked in stores at Royal Ordnance Factory, Swynnerton, Staffs. Wife of British soldier who served in North Africa 1940-1941, captured and POW of Italians and Germans in Libya and Italy, escaped to...
recording
(sound) Made by: Victoria Theatre, Stoke on Trent, Staffs (Production company) 1971-03-31
British NCO from Staffs, served with Royal Garrison Artillery in France 1940 including Dunkirk 6/1940. Served with 31st Field Regt, Royal Horse Artillery in North Africa 1941, captured and POW of Italians and Germans in Libya, Italy and Germany 4/1941-5/...
recording
(sound) Made by: Victoria Theatre, Stoke on Trent, Staffs (Production company) 1971-04-04
British soldier from Staffs served as dispatch rider and driver with Royal Army Service Corps in North Africa 1940-1941, captured and POW of Italians and Germans in Libya and Italy 1941-1943, escaped after Italian capitulation 9/1943 and to Switzerland 4...
recording
(sound) Made by: Victoria Theatre, Stoke on Trent, Staffs (Production company) 1970-09-17
British trooper from Newcastle under Lyme, Staffs, served with 5th Bn Royal Tank Regt in North Africa 1940-1941, captured and POW of Italians and Germans in Libya and Italy 4/1941-9/1943, escaped to Switzerland 4/1944, returned to GB 11/1944. Also his...
recording
(sound) Made by: Victoria Theatre, Stoke on Trent, Staffs (Production company) 1971-03-04
British soldier from Staffs served as driver with 3rd Light Field Ambulance, Royal Army Service Corps in North Africa 1940-1941, captured and POW of Italians and Germans in Libya, Italy and Germany 4/1941-5/1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Victoria Theatre, Stoke on Trent, Staffs (Production company) 1971-04-26
British soldier from Staffs served with 31st Field Regt, Royal Horse Artillery in North Africa 1941, captured and POW of Italians and Germans in Libya and Italy 1941-1943