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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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...
ASHBY, JOHN (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served with 2nd and 5th Bn, Middlesex Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918; POW in Germany, 1918
Wollaston, Alan Arthur (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991-03-07
British NCO served with 3rd Royal Tank Regt at Calais, France, Greece and North Africa, 1940-1941; served with Headquarters, 10th Armoured Brigade in North Africa, 1942-1943; served with Headquarters, 29th Armoured Brigade in North West Europe, 1944
Webb, Gordon Geoffrey Henry (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-05-07
British officer served with 4 Commando in GB, during Lofotens Raid in Norway, Dieppe Raid in France and in North West Europe, 1940-1945
Solomon, John Lewis (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-05-16
British NCO served with 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in France, 1940; served with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1940-1943; driver served with 222nd Assault Squadron, Royal Engineers, 79th Armoured Division in GB and North West Europe, 1942-1945
Kennett, Kenneth Cecil (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-08-03
British NCO served with 4 Commando in GB during Lofotens Raid in Norway, during Boulogne and Dieppe Raids in France and in North West Europe, 1940-1945
Price, John Edgar Dudley (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-07-30
British private served with 1/7th Bn Royal Warwick Regt in France and Belgium, 1940; private and NCO served with 4 Commando in GB, during Lofotens Raid, Norway, Dieppe Raid, France and North West Europe, 1940-1945
Cross, Stanley Robert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1997-01-07
British seaman served aboard MTB 666, Coastal Forces in GB coastal waters and North Sea, 1943-1944 including sinking, 5/7/1944; POW in Netherlands and at Westertimke and Marlag and Milag Nord, Germany, 1944-1945
Steinmetz, Franciscus (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-09-04
Dutch officer POW in Oflag VI A, Soest and Oflag VIII C, Juliusburg, Germany, 1940-1941; escaped from Oflag IV C, Colditz to Switzerland, 8/1941
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...