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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Yanagi, Satoru (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-08-14
Japanese officer served with 31 Div in Burma, 1944-1945 [In Japanese with translator]
Bouch, Eric William (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-07-13
British private served with 2nd Bn Cambridgeshire Regt in GB and Singapore, Malaya, 1938-1942; POW on Burma Thailand Railway and in Japan, 1942-1945
Bennington, Lloyd Bernard (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-07-06
British private served with 2nd Bn Cambridgeshire Regt in GB and Malaya, 1939-1942; POW on Burma-Thailand Railway and in Japan, 1942-1945
Notley, William Ronald (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-05-03
British gunner served as driver with 155th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in Malaya, 1941-1942; POW in Changi Jail, Singapore, Kinkaseki Camp, Taiwan and 6 Branch Camp, Omine Coal Mine, Yamaguchi, Japan, 1942-1945
Dixon, Philip Frederick (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-06-13
British NCO served with 1st Bn Leicestershire Regt in Malaya, 1941-1942; POW in Singapore, Malaya and Japan, 1942-1945
Papworth, Cyril James (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-04-10
British NCO served with Royal Army Medical Corps attached to A Coy, 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953
Sharp, David Maurice (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1998-02-28
British NCO served with Army Personnel Selection in GB and Dutch East Indies, 1945-1947; attached to Malayan Scouts in Malaya, 1948-1950; served as intelligence NCO with Tactical Liaison Office, 1st US Corps and 1st Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers in...
Carter, Francis Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-02-11
British private served with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953
Clark, William (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1998-08-19
British civilian schoolchild in Reading, GB, 1939-1945; private served with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Korea, 2/1951-4/1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953
Cleveland, Walter Stephen (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1997-04-02
British private served with 1st Bn Suffolk Regt in France, 1939-1940; served with 1st Bn Cambridgeshire Regt in Singapore, Malaya, 2/1942; POW in Singapore and on Burma-Thailand Railway, 1942-1943; survived sinking of ship carrying POWs to Japan, 1944;...