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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Motor Drivers Required for the Army Service Corps
(posters) Made by: Pollex, V C (artist) 1915
whole: the image occupies the upper half, with the title and text arranged over the remainder, in white outlined blue. All are set against a dark blue background. The Royal Charter is positioned at the top. image: a depiction of a British Army officer...
Men of London! - Remember! We Must have More Men So Join Now
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-01
whole: the image occupies the upper third, with the title and text placed below, in blue and red within a white inset. All are framed within a narrow red, white and blue border. image: the flags of the Allied nations flank the dome of St Paul's Cathedral...
Wanted - Men for the Army Remount Department
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is placed at the centre, with the title separate and placed above in the upper third, in black and in red. The text is separate and placed upper centre, in black, and in the lower half, in black and in red. All set against a white...
Men of London! - Each Recruit means Quicker Peace
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the image occupies the upper third, with the title and text positioned below, in blue and red. image: a nocturnal vista of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Bridge viewed from the south bank of the River Thames. text: MEN OF LONDON...
Irishmen - To Arms
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the lower half, held within a decorative green border. A smaller image is positioned in the upper centre. The title is separate and positioned in the upper half, in green. The text is separate and positioned across...
Who's Absent?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the image occupies the whole, held within a brown border. The title is placed across the top and the text across the bottom, both in brown. image: a full length depiction of a John Bull character wearing a top hat and Union Flag waistcoat,...
It is Far Better to Face the Bullets...
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper half, held within a white border. The title and text are positioned in the lower half, in white outlined dark blue, set against a light blue background and held within a white border. All held within a light blue...
Men of London! - Each Recruit means Quicker Peace
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the image occupies the upper third, with the title and text positioned below, in blue and red. All are held within a narrow red border. image: a vista of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Bridge viewed in daylight from the south...
Each Recruit Brings Peace Nearer
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-06
whole: a long landscape format, with the title, in red, incorporated into the image. image: a searchlight beam, bearing the title, shines horizontally across a silhouetted roof-top view of London, featuring St Paul's Cathedral on the left. Flanking the...
Rally Round the Flag
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title occupies the majority, in black free-hand script, set against a yellow background and held within a black border. The images are placed either side of the title, set against a white background. image: six Allied flags (Serbian, French,...