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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Arnall, Jack (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-09-23
British gunner served with 45th Field Regt, Royal Artillery in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953
Westwood, William Kenneth Lindsay (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-11-10
British NCO served with 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regt in Korea, 1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953
Beckerley, Edward George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-11-08
British driver served with 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in France and Low Countries 1939-1940; served with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953
Erricker, Robert Olaf (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-07-06
British trooper served with 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953
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
Patchett, Douglas Robert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-07-15
British officer served as medical officer with 8th Hussars 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...
Hobson, George Leonard (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-10-01
British civilian in Liverpool GB, 1940-1941; private served with 2nd Bn King's Liverpool Regt in Greece, Libya and Cyprus, 1946-1947; served with 1st Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in Korea, 1950-1951; POW in North Korea, 1951-1953
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