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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McGeoch, Ian Lachlan Mackay (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-07-27
British officer served aboard submarines HMS Clyde, H43 and HMS Triumph in Atlantic and GB coastal waters, 1939-1940; commanded submarines H 43 and H 34 in GB coastal waters, 1940-1941; served with 10th Submarine Flotilla on Malta, 1941 including patrol...
Cox, James Douglas (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-03-23
British guardsman served on public duties in GB, 1939-1942; served with 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards in North Africa and Italy, 1943; POW in Germany, 1943-1945
Hare, Ronald (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-04-19
British private served with 70th Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and 57th Anti-Tank Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1941-1943; gunner served with 1st Airlanding Battery, Royal Artillery in Italy, 1943-1944 and at Arnhem, Netherlands, 9/1944; POW in...
Parker, Albert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1995
British signaller served with A Troop, 425 Bty, 107th Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1938-1942; POW in Italy and Germany, 1942-1945
Sykes, Jack (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991
British NCO signaller served with 425 and 426 Btys, 107th Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1939-1942; POW in Italy and Austria, 1942-1945
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...
Pringle, John Courtright (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1997-09-16
British officer served with East Africa Armoured Car Regt in East Africa, 1940-1941; served with 8th Hussars in North Africa, 1941; POW in Italy and Germany including Oflag IV C, Colditz, 1941-1945
Sobolewski, Stanislaw Franciszek (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-02-10
Polish cadet with 40th (Lwow) Infantry Regiment in Poland, 1939; POW in Russia, 1939-1941; officer served with 6th (Lwow) Regiment in Russia, Middle East and Italy, 1941-1945
Hackforth-Jones, Paul (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993-08-28
British officer served with Middlesex Yeomanry attached to 22nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery in France and Belguim, 1940; served with Sudan Defence Force Signals in East Africa, 1940-1941; staff officer served with Headquarters, 8th Army...
Topliss, Arthur Harold (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991-06-13
British driver mechanic served with Royal Tank Corps in GB, 1934-1937; NCO served with 4th Royal Tank Regiment in GB, France and North Africa, 1939-1942; POW in Camp PG 70, Monteurano, Italy, Stalag IV, Muhlberg and Stalag 357, Fallingbostel, Germany,...