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...
Buy War Savings Certificates
(posters) Made by: Burton, Charles (artist) 1919
whole: the image is placed at the top, held within a black frame, with the title and text below. All set against a deep blue background. Image: Under a yellow sky a farmworker, foreground left, drives a tractor, ploughing a field. A red roofed farmhouse...
Thank God and the Sailors for My Good Breakfast
(posters) Made by: T F (artist) 1917-12
whole: the main image occupies the majority. A smaller image is positioned in the lower centre, held within a black and white circular border. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in black, held within a white area. All held within a...
Holiday Work - 4,000 Women Wanted
(posters) Made by: Furnivall
whole: the main image is positioned in the lower half, with a smaller image positioned in the top right corner. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the upper two-thirds, also in...
His Dream Realised
(posters) Made by: Roberts, Winifred Russell (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in white outlined black. Further text is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in black outlined red, and in black, and also positioned down...
At Dawn and Dark
(posters) Made by: West, J Walter (artist) 1917
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a narrow black border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the lower fifth, in black. All set against a white background. image: a full-length depiction of four women, engaged in...
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....