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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Stornoway : Armed trawlers and a coasting vessel loading kippers
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen 1943-07-02
image: in the foreground there are three armed trawlers moored at the quay side. In the background there is a fishing boat moored next to a line of waiting lorries with a village in the distance.
Potato-peeling Fatigue
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: A group of officers sit on a large coil of rope on the deck of a ship peeling potatoes. Another group of five play cards in the centre.
The Troops' Galley 'Convoy' series, 1941 - 1942
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1942
image: A kitchen on board a ship with a group of officers preparing meals. Other officers peer through hatches and watch the preparation.
RAF Duty Boats and Naval Rescue Launches at Stornoway : a motor drifter on its way to the fishing grounds
(art) Made by: Bone, Stephen 1943-06-30
image: RAF Duty Boats and Naval Rescue Launches moored in a small village harbour, viewed from a beach across the water.
A WRNS Galley
(art) Made by: Zinkeisen, Doris Clare 1945
image: The interior of a large, industrial kitchen. A big black stove stands in the centre of the room, and several steaming vats on the left. A man in white and a woman dressed in a black uniform stand talking near the steaming vats, while in the...