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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New Zealand - Her Natural and Industrial Resources
(posters) Made by: Gill, MacDonald (artist) 1943
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with two smaller images positioned in the upper right and centre right. The title is partially integrated and placed in the upper left, in black, held within a white and green banner. The text is partially...
La Comunidad Británica de Naciones [The British Commonwealth of Nations]
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the main image occupies the majority, with a series of smaller images positioned across the bottom edge. The title is separate and placed across the top edge, in yellow, set against a black background. The main text is separate and located in the...
Dig for Victory - Grow Your Own Vegetables
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, set against a yellow background. The title is separate and placed across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and located in the lower third, in white outlined blue, set against a red...
Call to Farms
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned down the right half, with a smaller image placed in the centre left. The title is separate and located in the upper left, in brown. The text is separate and positioned in the lower third, in white, and in white cursive...
Call to Farms
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whole: the main image is positioned down the right half, with a smaller image placed in the upper left. The title is separate and located in the upper left, in green. The text is separate and positioned in the lower three-quarters, in green, in brown,...
Help Farm for Victory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the lower four-fifths. The title is separate and placed in the upper fifth, in red. The text is integrated and located in the lower third, in white, and in red outlined white. Further text is separate and placed in the...
A Healthy, Vital War Job!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the lower two-thirds. The title and text are separate and occupy the remainder, in red and in brown. All set against a white background. image: a full-length depiction of a member of the Women's Land Service sitting in...
Dig for Victory
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whole: the image is positioned in the lower three-quarters, held within a white border. The title is separate and placed in the upper quarter, in white. The text is integrated and located in the upper left, in red. All set against a red background. image...
Women!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the centre right. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in green. The text is separate and positioned in the lower three-quarters, in green and in brown. All set against a white background. image: a...