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...
Everest, Peter Raymond (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-08
British seaman served aboard HMS Gloucester in Mediterranean, 1941 including sinking 5/1941; POW in Greece, 1941
Worsley, John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1978
British civilian artist served as midshipman aboard HMS Laurentic on Northern Patrol, 1939-1940; officer served aboard HMS Lancaster in Atlantic, 1940-1941 and aboard HMS Devonshire in Indian Ocean and Mediterranean, 1941-1943; served with Special...
Eaton, Eric (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1994-05-25
British signaller served aboard submarines HMS Thames and HMS Salmon in Mediterranean, 1937-1939; served aboard submarine HMS Shark in Mediterranean, North Sea and during Norwegian Campaign, 1939-1940 including sinking off Norway, 6/7/1940; POW in...
Hoggard, John Wellesley (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-11-06
British officer served aboard HMS Voltaire in Mediterranean and Atlantic, 1939-1941 including sinking by German raider Thor, 4/4/1941; POW in Stalag X B, Sandbostel, Marlag Nord and Oflag IV C, Colditz in Germany, 1941-1942
As You Were : 6
(sound) Made by: Various (interviewee/speaker) 1981
BBC Radio Stoke eight-part series entitled 'As You Were'. Experiences of men and women from Staffordshire who served in the Armed Forces, 1911-1953. Programme 6:1911-1949
recording
(sound) Made by: Baynham, Henry (Production company) 1973
British chief petty officer served with Royal Navy 1903-1916, served Mediterranean and China stations 1900s, served aboard HMS Nestor, 1915-1916. Sunk at Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916. POW in Germany, 1916-1918; served aboard HMS Vampire, 1919-1920
recording
(sound) Made by: Lane, Tony (Production company) 1988
British civilian engineer served on the Westmoreland, sunk in River Mersey 1940; served on Aurari in convoys to New Zealand 1941 and Malta 1942; engineer on hospital ships Somersetshire and Dorsetshire in Mediterranean and Far East 1943-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Lane, Tony (Production company) 1988
British civilian bosun's mate on Laconia 1939 and Scythia 1940; sunk on Laconia 1942 and taken prisoner of war; received disabled discharge c1942
recording
(sound) Made by: Lane, Tony (Production company) 1988
British civilian apprentice on Scientist, sunk in 1939; POW on Yugoslav ship Durmitor and in Merca camp, Italian Somaliland, 1940-1941; also served on Barrister, sunk in Mediterranean 1943; also served on Director, including witness of enemy raid on Bari...