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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Food - Don't Waste It
(posters) Made by: F G C (artist)
whole: the title and text are positioned across the whole, in black and in red, set against a white background. image: text only. text: Food 1 - buy it with thought 2 - cook it with care 3 - use less wheat and meat 4 - serve just enough 5 - use what is...
Potatoes - Feed Without Fattening and Give You Energy
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is placed centrally with a Ministry of Food logo set above. Text, in black, is positioned below the image against a plain white background. image: a young boy playing cricket with his parents in a leafy park. In the background left a...
Extras for Expectant Mothers
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half, with the Ministry of Food emblem placed in the lower left, both set against orange panels. The title is partially integrated and located in the upper quarter, in orange, in grey and in black. The text is...
The Ministry of Food Require Girls (abbrv)
(posters) 1917-11
whole: a typographical design with text displayed in banner form, in red, against a plain white background. A red border surrounds the text, incorporating a royal crest. image: the royal crest of King George V. text: MINISTRY OF LABOUR. THE MINISTRY OF...
She Helps her Boy to Save Ships
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in orange outlined white and brown. The text is separate and positioned in text panels in the lower right, in white, and across the bottom edge, in...
She Helps her Boy to Victory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in red outlined brown. The text is separate and positioned in text panels in the lower right, in white, and across the bottom edge, in brown and in...
The Nation's S.O.S.
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917-12
whole: the image is positioned in the upper centre, with the title and text occupying the remainder, in black and in red. All set against a white background. image: an anchor emblem, with the words 'National Safety' inscribed on a scroll beneath. text:...
Eat Less Bread
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title is positioned across the whole, in white outlined red, with dark red shadowing. All set against a blue background and held within a red border. image: text only. text: EAT LESS BREAD MINISTRY OF FOOD No. 20 HAZELL, WATSON and VINEY LD....
The Kitchen is the Key to Victory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the two images are positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title is partially integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, centre and lower quarter, in yellow and in yellow outlined black. The text is separate and positioned along the...
Don't Waste Bread!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the two images occupy the majority. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in yellow outlined black. The text is partially integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in black and in yellow outlined black. Further text is...