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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figure, Sultan Mohammed V of Turkey
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (Fulham, London)
Sultan Mohammed V, ruler of Turkey from 1909 to 1918. This wooden caricature figure was made at the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors in Fulham, London, during the First World War and subsequently sold for charity. The...
figure, Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (Fulham, London)
Crown Prince Wilhelm of Germany, son of Kaiser Wilhelm II and heir to the German Imperial throne. He was widely caricatured in Britain as 'Little Willie'. This wooden caricature figure was made at the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers...
figure, Emperor Franz Joseph
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (Fulham, London)
Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary, who reigned from 1848 until his death in 1916. This wooden caricature figure was made at the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors in Fulham, London, during the First World War and...
figure, Raymond Poincaré
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (Fulham, London)
Raymond Poincaré, President of France throughout the First World War. This wooden caricature figure was made at the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors in Fulham, London, during the First World War and subsequently sold for...
figure, Sir Edward Grey
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (Fulham, London)
Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary from 1905 to 1916. It was Grey who, on the eve of the war with Germany, uttered the remark: 'The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see tham lit again in our lifetime.' This wooden caricature...
figure, Herbert Asquith
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (Fulham, London)
Herbert Asquith, British Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916. He is shown as the 'Last of the Romans'. This wooden caricature figure was made at the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors in Fulham, London, during the First World...
caricature head, Sir Edward Carson
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (Fulham, London)
Wooden caricature head of Sir Edward Carson who, as leader of the Ulster Unionist Council from 1911, led the Protestant resistance to Home Rule and was leader of the Ulster Volunteer Force. This wooden caricature profile was made at the Lord Roberts...
figure, David Lloyd George
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and Sailors (Fulham, London)
David Lloyd George, Prime Minister from 1916 to 1922, is seen here carrying the pole of 'patriotism' while balancing on the political tightrope. This wooden caricature figure was made at the Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops for Disabled Soldiers and...