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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Red Cross Ambulance and Farm Animals, Italy, 1918
(art) Made by: Carline, Sydney William 1918
image: a sketch of three malnourished cows behind a motor ambulance. A man struggles to encourage one of the animals to move, whilst another man looks on in the immediate foreground.
The Sisters
(art) Made by: Dulac, Edmund 1917
image: Three women stand hand in hand, each dressed in a different uniform illustrating the variety of roles women have in wartime. From left to right there is a member of the Land Army, a nurse, and a munitions worker. In the background are more women...
Red Cross and St John Needs Your Help for Prisoners of War
(posters) Made by: Wood, Charles (artist) 1940
whole: Upper portion of the poster is occupied by a painted image. The lower portion of the poster is a red box containing three lines of large white capitalised type above two lines of smaller back type. image: A smiling prisoner is being handed a...
The Story of a Prisoner of War Food Parcel
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: The sheet has a red band across the top and bottom. Across the top band is a line of white text, across the bottom are two lines of white type interspersed with two lines of black type. The organisations' logos appear on either side. The remainder...
The Story of a Prisoner of War Food Parcel
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: The sheet has a red band across the top and bottom. Across the top band is a line of white text, across the bottom are two lines of white type interspersed with two lines of black type. The organisations' logos appear on either side. The remainder...
Prisoners of War Need Your Help - Send Donations to the Red Cross and St John
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
whole: Upper three quarters of the poster filled by a black and white photograph. The lower portion is a red box with four lines of white capitalised text. The top line of text has a black drop-shadow. Below this is one line of black text. Either side of...