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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Collections search

Menagez la Viande [Save the Meat]
(posters) Made by: Henderson, E (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the majority of the upper two-thirds, with the title separate and positioned in the lower third, in yellow and gray. The text is separate and positioned across the top edge and lower right, also in yellow and grey. Further text...
Canada's Pork Opportunity
(posters) Made by: Henderson, E (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned top edge left and top edge centre, in brown. The text is integrated and positioned upper right and lower left, in brown. Further text is separate and positioned lower right...
Boys to the Farm
(posters) Made by: Henderson, E (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title separate and positioned across the top edge, in orange. The text is separate and positioned lower right, in blue and in white. Further text is integrated and positioned upper right, in white outlined...
We Are Saving You - You Save Food
(posters) Made by: Henderson, E (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a brown border. The title is integrated and positioned across the top edge, in orange. The text is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in green, set against a black background, and held within...
Canada's Beef Opportunity
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the main image is positioned in the upper third, with a smaller image positioned lower centre. The badge of the Canada Food Board is positioned lower right; a badge inscribed 'Send More Beef' is positioned lower left. The title is separate and...
Waste Not - Want Not
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the majority of the upper two-thirds, with the title separate and positioned across the top, in blue. The text is separate and positioned in the lower third, in blue and in grey. The badge of the Canada Food Board is positioned...
Patriotic Canadians Will Not Hoard Food
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, held within a black border. The title is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in red, set against a black background. The text is integrated and positioned across the top edge, in yellow. The...
Canada's Egg Opportunity
(posters) Made by: Canada Food Board (publisher/sponsor) 1918
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned across the top edge, in white outlined black. The text is integrated and positioned upper right, in yellow and in black, and lower right, in yellow and in white. Further text...