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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Single Men First
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-11
whole: the title and subtitle are positioned across the top in black. The main text, also in black, is arranged over the remainder, with a table positioned on the left. image: text only. text: SINGLE MEN FIRST HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS YOU CAN ENLIST NOW and...
Are You Saving for the Children?
(posters) Made by: W S B (artist) 1917-09
whole: the main title is placed across the top, with the image below in centre, and the text and subtitle across the lower third in banner form. image: a family group consisting of a father, son and daughter, examine books of war savings certificates....
Soldiers' Separation Allowances
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-03
whole: the title is positioned across the top in red, with the text arranged over the remainder in red and blue. All are set against a plain white background and held within a narrow blue border. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter] SOLDIERS'...
Enlistment in the Regular Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-09
whole: the title is placed across the top, with the text below occupying the remainder, both in blue, and set against a white background. image: text only. text: ENLISTMENT IN THE REGULAR ARMY. CHANGE OF CONDITIONS FOR INFANTRY OF THE LINE. TILL FURTHER...
The New Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-08
whole: the image is positioned in the upper centre. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in red. The text is separate and occupies the remainder, in red. All set against a white background. image: Royal Charter emblem. text: G. R....
The Kaiser's Insult
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-10
whole: the title is placed across the top, in red, with the text below in blue and in red, including a quote held within a narrow red border. All held within narrow red and blue borders. image: text only. text: THE KAISER'S INSULT On August 19th, 1914,...
Wanted - Men for the Army Remount Department
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-03
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...
A Call to Arms
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914
whole: the Royal Seal heads the design, with the text positioned below over a long landscape format, in blue and red. All are set against a plain white background and framed within a blue and red border. image: text only. text: A CALL TO ARMS YOUR...
Soldiers' Separation Allowances
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-08
whole: the title is positioned across the top in red, with the text arranged over the remainder in red and blue. All are set against a plain white background and held within a narrow blue border. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter] SOLDIERS'...
A Fresh Appeal by Lord Kitchener
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-09
whole: the title is located across the top, with the main text arranged over the remainder, all in red. All are set against a plain white background. image: text only. text: A FRESH APPEAL BY LORD KITCHENER. Another 100,000 Men required for the War The...