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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Where Our Men Are Fighting - Our Food is Fighting
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943
whole: the image covers the whole, with integrated text in white angled across the centre and lower half, and red text also along the bottom edge image: a red parachute suspends a wooden box, while in the background blue and white parachutes hold the...
Fish is a Fighting Food
(posters) Made by: Koerner, Henry (artist) 1943
OWI Poster No.60
WORK ON A FARM THIS SUMMER
(posters) Made by: Douglas (artist) 1943
image: Under a blue sky stand a man and a woman in white shirts, dungarees and sunhats, facing the viewer. He holds a pitchfork and she holds a basket of tomatoes, cauliflower, lettuce and potatoes. text: WORK ON A FARM THIS SUMMER JOIN THE U S CROP...
DO WITH LESS - SO THEY'LL HAVE ENOUGH!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943
image: a colour photograph of an American G.I. in a steel helmet, drinking from a tin mug text: Do with less - so they'll have enough! RATIONING GIVES YOU YOUR FAIR SHARE
We're in the Fight, Too!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
No description available
Get Your Farm in the Fight!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
No description available
Can All You Can - It's a Real War Job
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943
No description available
HOMEMAKER'S WAR GUIDE
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
image: information poster with long texts under various headings, interspersed with small explanatory drawings text: [main heading] HOMEMAKER'S WAR GUIDE [sub-headings] PLAN CONSERVE SALVAGE AIR RAID PROTECTION [lower text] VICTORY BEGINS AT HOME - DO...
Fighting Men Need Good Leather!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943
No description available
Put Your Muscle on a War Basis - Sign Up for a Farm Job
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
No description available