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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The Victory Campaign
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-01
whole: the image, title and text are all integrated. The text is in dark brown and arranged in banner form. image: a female, winged Victory figure, facing the viewer, holding a sheet of parchment containing the poster's text. Below, to the left, lies a...
National Service Women Clerks Wanted at Once
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image occupies the centre third, held within a dark blue border. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in dark blue, and held within a dark blue border. A second smaller image is positioned top edge centre. The text is...
National Service - National Security - No Shirking
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1917
whole: the image is positioned in the upper third. The title is separate and positioned in the lower two-thirds, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, also in black. Further text is integrated and positioned in the upper...
National Service
(posters) Made by: Scott, Septimus E (artist) 1917
whole: the image occupies the majority, with a smaller image positioned in the upper right. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge, in white, held within a black area. The text is integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in black...
National Service - Enrol To-Day
(posters) Made by: Scott, Septimus E 1917
whole: the image is positioned in the upper two-third. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in white, set within a black panel. The text is separate and positioned in the lower third, in white held within a black panel, and in black...