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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Bakewell, Frank (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-06-18
British NCO served with 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters in Norway, 1940
North, Frank Irving (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-05-19
British NCO served with 8th Bn Sherwood Foresters in Norway, 1940
Philpot, Oliver Lawrence Spurling (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987
British officer served as pilot with 42 Sqdn, 18 Group, RAF in GB, 1940-1941; POW in Germany, 1941-1943. Participated in the 'Wooden Horse' escape from Stalag Luft III, Sagan in Germany, 1943
Morton, Frederick Samuel (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-07-07
British private served with 9th Bn Sherwood Foresters in GB and Norway, 1939-1940; POW in Germany, 1940-1945
Sheppard, Leslie Gaius John1 (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-03-19
British private and NCO served with 1/5th Bn Leicestershire Regt in GB and Norway, 1932-1940
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
Gee, Howard Valentine (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1978
British civilian volunteer served with British contingent of Finnish Army during Russo-Finnish War in Finland, 1940; POW in Stalag VII A, Moosburg, Laufen, Wurzburg, Tost and Oflag IV C, Colditz in Germany, 1940-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Radio CJOR Vancouver (Production company) 1983-11-11
British officer served with 1/5th Bn Leicestershire Regt in GB and Norway, 1939-1940; captured in Norway, 22/Apr/1940 and POW in Oflag IXA, Stalag XXA, Oflag VIB and Oflag VIIB, Germany, 1940-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Railton Harris, John V (Production company) 1982
British civilian from Dumbarton, Scotland married to Norwegian sailor, lived in Norway 1945-1950
recording
(sound) Made by: Railton Harris, John V (Production company) 1983
Norwegian civilian student in Drammen, radio operator in Milorg resistance during German occupation 1940-1945; imprisoned in Germany