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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London's Week - You Can Help - Buy War Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title and text are placed across the bottom, laid over the image. image: a British tank, seen from below as it moves left to right firing its guns. In the background British infantrymen advance alongside. text: LONDON'S WEEK YOU CAN HELP. BUY...
Keep on Buying War Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is positioned at the centre, in blue, and is held within a bright yellow box tilted upwards on the right. Further text is arranged top left and bottom right, in bright yellow against a blue background. image: text only. text: MONEY IS...
Stamp it on Your Memory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is in red and positioned lower right. The image is placed upper left, incorporating the subtitle. All are set against an off-yellow background. image: a red postage stamp franked with a rectangle bearing the subtitle. text: BUY NATIONAL...
Back Them Up
(posters) Made by: Kealey, E J (artist) 1915-07
whole: the main title is placed across the top with the image below, both set against a bright yellow background. A subtitle across the bottom is set within a brown rectangle. image: a three-quarter length view of a man, seen in profile, facing right and...
Halt! Who Goes There? - Join the British Ranks
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-02
whole: the image occupies the upper two-thirds, held within a red border. The title and text are positioned in the lower third, in white and set against a red background. image: a full-length depiction of a British infantryman, with fixed bayonet,...
London's Week - You Can Help - Buy War Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title and text are placed across the bottom, laid over the image. image: a British tank, seen from below as it moves left to right firing its guns. In the background British infantrymen advance alongside. text: LONDON'S WEEK YOU CAN HELP. BUY...
War Weapons Week
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: a text box occupies the lower half of the poster, with the image situated above and around. image: a British tank viewed from below, moving left to right firing its guns. text: WAR WEAPONS WEEK, JULY 8 TO 13, 1918. BUY NOW WAR BONDS AND...
[The Tank]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: a text box occupies the lower half of the poster, with the image situated above and around. image: a British tank viewed from below, moving left to right firing its guns. text: [blank] No.73 Printed by HILL, SIFFKEN AND CO. Ltd. [L.P.A. Ltd.],...
Our Aeroplanes
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half with the title and the text placed below. image: a twin-engined biplane bearing the insignia of the the Royal Flying Corps, flying right to left. Beyond, four other biplanes fly against a background of a...
Women! Who Need Skilled Jobs Ask for Free Training
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Labour (publisher/sponsor) 1919
whole: the image is positioned along the bottom edge. The first word of the title is positioned across the top edge, in orange cursive script, with the remainder of the title below, in black, and in white outlined black, cursive script, held within a...