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]
Atkins, Brian Henry (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1992-02-04
British NCO served as bomb-aimer with 138 (Special Duties) Sqdn, RAF in GB and with 148 Sqdn, RAF in North Africa 1943; POW in Germany 1943-1945
Klaushofer, Otto Josef (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-11-13
Austrian civilian schoolchild in Vienna, Austria, 1938-1942; worker with Arbeitsdienst in Ukraine, Russia, 1942; officer served with 44th Division in Italy, 1943-1944; POW in Camps Greely and Campbell in US, 1944-1946; POW in GB, 1946; student in Vienna...
Benson, Barbara (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1995-12-11
British civilian in GB, 1939-1945; married American serviceman and emigrated to US, 1946
Ranft, Martin Johannes (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2002-07-16
German gunner served with Deutsches Afrika Korps in North Africa, 1942-1943; POW in US and GB, 1943-1947
Cole, Arthur Westcombe (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1995-07-06
British officer served as bomb aimer with 158 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943; POW in Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany, 1943-1945
Behrens, Hans (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1994-06-10
German signaller served with German Air Force and 9th Panzer Div in North West Europe, 1944-1945; POW in US and GB, 1945-1946
recording
(sound) Made by: Carlton Productions (Production company) 2001
American NCO served as navigator with United States Army Air Force, 1942, including Doolittle Raid; POW of Japanese, 1942-1945
recording
(sound) Made by: Thames Television (Production company) 1972
German officer served with Afrika Korps in North Africa, 1942-1943; POW in US, 1943-1946
recording
(sound) Made by: Holland, James (Production company) 2002
American officer served with US 1st Ranger Bn in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, and POW in Germany, 1942-1945