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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Use Spades Not Ships
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the two images occupy the whole. The title is integrated and placed in the upper centre, in white and in grey. The text is integrated and located in the lower fifth, in white and in yellow. image: the left-hand image depicts half of a spade, point...
They Carry Disease from Filth to Food - Kill All Flies
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, partially set against a black panel. The title is integrated and located in the upper half, in black, in grey and in white. The text is separate and placed in the lower half, in white and in black,...
Wasted Food is Another Ship Lost
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is partially integrated and located in the upper half, in white and yellow, and in the lower fifth, in blue. The text is separate and placed along the bottom edge, in black and white, set against a green...
Grow Your Own Food
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist) 1942
whole: the image occupies the whole. The title is integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in black. The text is integrated and placed across the top edge, in green, and across the bottom edge, in white. All set against a white and green...
Use Spades Not Ships - Grow Your Own Food
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
51-3295 PR 82 PST 2916 is the master copy of a larger format version
Grow Your Own Food
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist) 1942
PR 62 51-4749 PST 2893 is the master copy of a larger format version