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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Savings Feed All War Machines
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is partially integrated and positioned in the upper third, in white with black shadowing, and in white, held within a green inset. The text is integrated and placed along the bottom edge, in white. image...
Their Future - Worth Fighting For - Worth Saving For!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title is integrated and located in the upper left and upper centre, in yellow. The text is separate and placed in the lower third, in blue cursive script, in red, and in brown held within a...
Builders - You are Hitting Back
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the top left corner, with five other images placed one above another, down the right edge. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in orange and in black. The text is separate and placed in the...
Rats and Pilferers
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the central third. The title and text are separate and placed in the upper quarter, in red, and in the lower half, in black. All set against a white background. image: a stylised depiction of a rat. text: RATS AND...
Food for Your Garden from Your Garden
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the six main images are positioned in the lower two-thirds, each held within a narrow black border. Another image is placed in the upper left. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in black and in brown. The text is separate and...
Bones Wanted
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title and text are positioned across the whole, in red and in blue. All held within a red and blue border, and set against a white background. image: text only. text: BONES WANTED Bones make glue for aeroplanes and other essential war...
Put Bones in the Bone Bins
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944-05
whole: the image is positioned in the upper right, centre and lower left. The title is partially integrated and occupies the majority, in black and in brown. All set against a white background. image: various pieces of bone, falling from right to left....
Save Kitchen Waste to Feed the Pigs!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the lower two-thirds, with a smaller image placed in the lower centre. The title is partially integrated and located in the upper half, in white, held within a blue circular inset. The text is separate and placed along...
Bones for Fertilisers
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the lower three-quarters, with a smaller image placed in the lower left. The title is partially integrated and located in the upper half, in black-brown, in brown and in white. The text is separate and placed in the...
This is a Cow Who Smacked Her Lips...
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the five images are positioned over the majority. The title and text are separate and placed beneath the images, as captions, in black. All set against a blue and white background. image: five stylised depictions of the British Isles. In the upper...