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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Builders - You are Hitting Back
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the top left corner, with five other images placed one above another, down the right edge. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in orange and in black. The text is separate and placed in the...
This is a Cow Who Smacked Her Lips...
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the five images are positioned over the majority. The title and text are separate and placed beneath the images, as captions, in black. All set against a blue and white background. image: five stylised depictions of the British Isles. In the upper...
Arabs Bartering Eggs for Tea near Sirte
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1942
image: Two Arab men and three children bargain with a soldier who is sitting on a petrol can. Behind them an officer is leaning against a truck and another soldier is climbing over the tailgate. A soldier stands lower right, tying up a bed roll.
Supper at an HQ Officers' Mess in the Desert
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1942
image: Officers sit around a table underneath a camouflaged awning attached to a truck. One soldier waits for a meal to be served by a soldier inside the truck. In the background there is desert.
With the 8th Army Brigade HQ in a Farmyard
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1944
image: A view of a farmyard in which there is a jeep and a camouflaged truck parked. The yard is filled with soldiers. Two, just right of centre are examining a map. In the foreground a civilian woman is standing, facing away from the viewer, holding a...
The Yard of our Farm House near Tripoli
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving
image: Three men are gathered near the back of a truck parked in a yard, surrounded by trees. One man is leaning against the edge of a rectangular pool. Behind the group a woman is washing some clothes at the edge of the pool.
Women and Children Carrying Baskets of Grapes at Bagnara, Italy
(art) Made by: Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1943
image: Two women and two girls walk along the side of the road with large baskets balanced on their heads. They are being observed by two Officers driving past in an open jeep with their backs to the viewer.
Home Grown Food Means More Ships for the War Effort
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the upper image is positioned in the upper third, with the lower image placed in the lower half. The title is separate and occupies the central third, in red. All set against a white background. image: the upper image is a half-length depiction of...
Thank You Nigeria!
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the main image is positioned in the lower two-thirds, with a smaller image placed in the upper quarter. The title is separate and located in the lower quarter, in red cursive script, set against an orange background. The text is separate and...
The War Told for You in Pictures
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940-12-12
whole: the 15 images occupy the majority. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black. The text is separate and placed in the upper left, held within a narrow black border, and beneath each image as a caption, in black. All set...