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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To My People
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in red and in black. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: BUCKINGHAM PALACE. TO MY PEOPLE. At this grave moment in the struggle between my people and a highly organised enemy who has...
Wake Up England
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1914-10
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in white cursive script. All set against a purple background. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter] 'Wake up England' Complete the Second Half-million
Men of London
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-09
whole: the title and text occupy the majority, with the title, in blue, positioned in the upper half, and the text, in red and in blue, positioned in the lower half. The image is positioned top centre. All set against a white background and held within...
The Need for More Fighting Men is Urgent
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-08
whole: the title, beneath the Royal Charter, occupies the majority, in red, with the text across the bottom, in blue. All set against a white background and held within a narrow red and blue border. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter] THE NEED...
Sons of Britain!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914
whole: the title, beneath the Royal Charter, occupies the upper half, in blue, with the text below in the lower half, in red. All set against a white background and held within a narrow red and blue border. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter]...
Young Men of England!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914
whole: the title, beneath the Royal Charter, occupies the upper half, in blue, with the text below in the lower half, in red. All set against a white background and held within a narrow red and blue border. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter]...
The War - Men of London...
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1914-10
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title and text integrated and positioned down the centre, in white cursive script, and set against a black background. image: a blackboard in a wooden frame. text: The War Men of London ask yourselves the...
Your King and Country Need You
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the title, beneath the Royal Charter, is positioned across the top, with the text below occupying the remainder, both in blue. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter] YOUR KING AND COUNTRY NEED YOU EVERY...
We do not want Conscription
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the title is positioned across the top, with the text arranged over the remainder, all in green. All are set against a plain white background. image: text only text: PLEASE EXHIBIT THIS BILL WE DO NOT WANT CONSCRIPTION BUT 3,000 MEN ARE WANTED NOW...
The Only Road for an Englishman
(posters) Made by: Pryse, Gerald Spencer (MC) (artist) 1914
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within an orange border. The title and text are separate and positioned across the bottom edge, in black against a white background. image: a column of British infantry soldiers march from right to left...