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

Food is ammunition - Don't waste it
(posters) Made by: Sheridan, John E (artist) 1918
whole: The image fills the upper three-quarters of the design with text in orange and green underneath it. All is set against a black background image: A wickerwork garden basket filled with vegetables and fruit. In the background, depicted in silhouette...
They Are Giving All - Will You Send Them Wheat?
(posters) Made by: Dunn, Harvey (artist) 1918
whole: the image covers the whole, with integrated text in red and dark blue along the bottom edge. image: American soldiers charge across a battlefield with fixed bayonets. In the background, other troops are emerging from trenches and the sky is filled...
Liitle Americans - Do Your Bit
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
No description available
Lincoln Said
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
No description available
Save a Loaf a Week - Help Win the War
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
No description available
Fats are Fuel for Fighters
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
Sticker pasted to poster - 'Sign the Hoover Food Pledge'
Help Your Boy at the Front - Use Less Wheat and Meat
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
Paper sticker on poster ' Sign the Hoover Food Pledge'
The President Says .. Save Food
(posters) Made by: Treidler, Adolph (artist)
No description available
Don't Let Up - Keep on Saving Food
(posters) Made by: Mora, F L (artist)
No description available
Eat Cane Syrup and Molasses - Save Sugar
(posters) Made by: Luria-Fowler (artist)
No description available