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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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...
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...
Your Mobile Canteens in Action
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the three images occupy the majority, each held within a narrow black border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the upper quarter and lower half, in black. All set against an orange background and held within a white and red border...
Your Mobile Canteen in Action
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the three images occupy the majority, each held within a narrow black border. The badge of the Zanzibar colonial flag is placed in the lower right, held within a black circular border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the upper...
Your Mobile Canteen in Action
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the three images occupy the majority, each held within a narrow black border. The badge of the Gibraltar colonial flag is placed in the lower right, held within a black circular border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the upper...
Your Mobile Canteen in Action
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the three images occupy the majority, each held within a narrow black border. The badge of the Jamaican colonial flag is placed in the lower right, held within a black circular border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the upper...
Your Mobile Canteens in Action
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the three images occupy the majority, each held within a narrow black border. The badge of the Barbados colonial flag is placed in the lower right, held within a black circular border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the upper...
Your Mobile Canteens in Action
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the three images occupy the majority, each held within a narrow black border. The badge of the Kenyan colonial flag is placed in the lower right, held within a black circular border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the upper...
National Egg Collection for the Wounded
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image and title are integrated, with the main title across top, and the subtitle across the bottom, both in black. All set against a white background and held within a red border. image: a boy and a girl walk together across a field towards a...
I'm Sending One - Are you?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the centre, with the title separate and positioned lower left, in red. Further text is separate and positioned across the top, in black and red, and across the lower quarter, in black. All set against a white background and held...