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

WAAC - Every Fit Woman Can Release A Fit Man
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper two-thirds, held within a black border. The title is divided and partly integrated across the top edge, and partly separate across the lower centre, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the lower third, in...
Members of the QMAAC : at work in the cookhouse, RAF Camp, Charlton Park
(art) Made by: Meeson, Dora 1919-09-01
image: The interior of a cookhouse, with five women of the Queen Mary's Auxiliary Army Corps at work around large cookers.
Women Urgently Wanted for the WAAC
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper left. The title and text are separate and positioned down the right-hand half and in the lower third, in black and in red. All set against a white background and held within a red border. image: a full-length...
Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-06
whole: the main image occupies the centre, held within a blue circular border, with another image positioned lower right. The title is separate and positioned across the top, in white outlined black. The text is separate and positioned lower left, in...
Women Wanted Urgently
(posters) Made by: Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (publisher/sponsor)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper third. The title is separate and positioned across the centre, in red. The text is separate and positioned in the lower two-thirds, in black. The title and text are set against a white background and held...
WOMEN IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace
Women's Auxiliary Army Corps: A WAAC recruiting sergeant and assistant busy talking to potential recruits in Trafalgar Square in London.
miniature flag, Union Jack
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Union flag acquired by Maud Andrews (née Wisden) during the Armistice Day (11 November 1918) celebrations in London. Mrs Maud A M Andrews served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (as Controller of Recruiting) during the First World War.
WOMEN IN UNIFORM DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace
A full-lenght portrait of a forewoman and a private of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC).
Women of Edinburgh
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-04
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in black, and set against a white background. image: text only. text: Have YOU asked yourself whether, if you are AN EMPLOYER, you can release an EMPLOYEE? A MOTHER, you can release a DAUGHTER? A MISTRESS, you...
To Help our Men 12,000 Scotswomen Urgently Wanted
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-09
whole: the image is positioned in the centre, held within an oval black border. The title is separate and positioned in the upper centre, in white. The text is separate and positioned in the centre left, centre right and lower centre, also in white....