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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Petts, Ronald John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-03-02
British civilian artist and conscientious objector in London and Wales, GB, 1939-1941; agricultural worker in GB, 1941-1944; private served with Pioneer Corps in GB, 1944; NCO served with 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps in North...
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
Hayden, Dennis Brian (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1981-10
British schoolchild evacuee in Hampshire and Berkshire, 1939-1944
recording
(sound) Made by: Birkett, Raymond (interviewee/speaker) 1944-12-16
British civilian volunteer with Friends Ambulance Unit account of his part in arranging surrender of Strasbourg to French, 11/1944
Peet, Stephen Hubert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1990-10-30
British civilian filmmaker conscientious objector joined Friends Ambulance Unit, worked London hospitals and shelters 1940-1942, driver and orderly Palestine and Cairo to Tunis 1942-1943, hospital work in Dodecanese and capture by Germans 1943, hospital...
Cave, Dudley Scott (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1996-07-02
British civilian in Golders Green, London during air raids; formerly pacifist, joined Royal Army Ordnance Corps 1941, captured at Singapore 1942; POW at Changi Gaol, Tonshun Spring and Kanburi Camps and on the Burma-Siam railway 1942-1945, return to GB...
Bramwell, James Guy (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-12-07
British conscientious objector served with London Fire Volunteers in Finland 1940-1941; Bomb Disposal Unit, Royal Engineers in Bedford; 224 Parachute Field Ambulance, RAMC. D-Day. Ardennes. Rhine Crossing 1945. Belsen. Pioneer Corps
Newcomb, Victor Noel (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-08-13
British civilian conscientious objector served in Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Unit and Royal Army Medical Corps. Parachute Field Ambulance. 6 Airborne Div. Tribunal Reading. D-Day. POW France. Rhine Crossing. Palestine
Mutimer, William Sidney (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1994-06-13
British Merchant Navy officer on SS Harleston, sunk in Atlantic and picked up by Gneisenau Feb/Mar 1941, hospitalised in France where arm was amputated, POW at Sandbostal and Marlag und Milag Nord camps in Germany, repatriated 1943; membership of Ex-...
Patten, Percy David (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1980-07-29
British civilian alternativist humanitarian conscientious objector involved in agricultural work and work with POWs in GB 1941-1950