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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Help British Guiana to Work for Victory
(posters) Made by: Nunney
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters, held within a grey border. The title and text are separate and located in the lower quarter, in red. All set against a white background. image: a shoulder-length depiction of a British Guianan...
Your Help Will Bring Victory
(posters) Made by: Nunney
whole: the image is positioned in the upper four-fifths, held within a black border. The title is separate and located in the lower quater, in black. All set against a white background. image: a three-quarter length depiction of an Indian man cutting...
Dig for Victory
(posters) Made by: Nunney
whole: the four images are positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title is separate and located in the lower quarter, in red. The text is separate and placed in the upper third and lower quarter, in black. All set against a white background. image:...
Crack for Victory
(posters) Made by: Nunney
whole: the four images are positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title is separate and located in the lower quarter, in red. The text is separate and placed in the upper third and lower quarter, in black. All set against a white background. image:...
Tap for Victory
(posters) Made by: Nunney
whole: the four images are positioned in the upper four-fifths, held within grey and black borders. The title is separate and located along the bottom edge, in black. The text is separate and placed beneath each image as a caption, in black. All set...
Saving the Soil of the West Indies to Grow More Food
(posters) Made by: Nunney (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a blue border. The title and text are separate and positioned in the lower fifth, in black. All set against a white background. image: a depiction of West Indian agricultural workers working in their...
Help the West Indies to Work for Victory - Sugar Plantation Workers
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half bordered by a grey line. Red text is placed underneath. All is set against a plain white background. image: three West Indian sugar plantation workers cutting sugar cane in a field, with one other worker...
Lend a Hand on the Land - at a Volunteer Agricultural Camp
(posters) Made by: Nunney (artist)
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