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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SAVE WHEAT
(posters) Made by: Penfield, Edward 1918
design: women, three, in long skirts and gaily patterned head-scarves. The women are harnessed to a harrow which they are determinedly pulling from right to left named (lower left corner) : "EDWARD PENFIELD" (in two lines) text: "Will you help the Women...
Save a Loaf a Week - Help Win the War
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
design: loaf of bread and serrated bread knife lying across the face of a freshly sliced crust. Upper left the emblem of the US Food Administration - the US shield of arms enclosed by ears of corn text: "UNITED STATES FOOD ADMINISTRATION" (upper left...
L'Italia ha Bisogno di Carne, Frumento, Grasso e Zucchero
(posters) Made by: Illion (artist) 1917
design: King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, bust, three-quarter right profile in uniform and cap named (lower right of bust) : "ILLION" text: [in Italian] "L'ITALIA HA BISOGNO di Carne-frumente-grasso+zucchero" (four lines below bust) & "Mangiante...
Cardinal Mercier Has Appealed to the Food Administration
(posters) Made by: Illion (artist) 1918
design: Cardinal Mercier of Mechlin, Belgium, bust, three-quarter left profile (the portrait is positioned above ten lines of text) named (lower right of bust) : "ILLION" text: "Cardinal MERCIER has appealed to the Food Administration for more food for...
Kosciuszko - Pulawski - Walczyli o Wolnosc w Ameryce
(posters) Made by: Illion (artist) 1917
design: Kosciuszko Pulawski, bust, three-quarter right profile, in uniform and feathered cap named (lower right of bust) : "ILLION" text: "KOS_aCIUSZKO PULAWSKI" (in two lines below bust, followed by eight lines of Polish text, translated by Theofiles,...
SIR - DON'T WASTE WHILE YOUR WIFE SAVES
(posters) Made by: Young, C (artist) 1918
design: businessman, seated at dining table, contentedly smoking a cigar over the plates of his left-over meal. Two waiters, right background, seeing the unjustified waste return to the kitchen in dismay. At upper left the emblem of the US Food...
FOOD WILL WIN THE WAR
(posters) Made by: Illian, George John (artist) 1918
design: eagle, American, perched upon the circular emblem of the US Food Administration and flanked by two US national flags text: "food will win the war" whole: MODEL
FOOD FOR FRANCE
(posters) Made by: Mora, F L (artist) 1918
design: soldier, wounded French "poilu", sitting facing right, wearing a kepi and greatcoat draped round his shoulders. A young refugee girl feeds the soldier soup named (lower left corner) : "F. Luis Mora" (signature) text: "FOOD FOR FRANCE" (two lines...
EAT LESS
(posters) Made by: Hendee, A (artist) 1918
Description - component parts: small handbill attached to verso stamped with the IWM acquisition number 8924. Published by the US Treasury Department Bureau of Publicity, Boston Division the bill explains why people should buy "Liberty Bonds" design:...
FOODS FROM CORN
(posters) Made by: Harrison, Lloyd (artist) 1918
design: food, mouth-watering display of tasty morsels which can be made with corn oil, starch and syrup. The arrangement includes doughnuts, custards, flans and cakes named (lower right corner) : "Lloyd Harrison" (signature) text: "WHOLESOME - NUTRITIOUS...