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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Collections search

War Weapons Week April 8th to 13th
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-03
whole: the main title is placed across the top in yellow, with the text and image below. All held within a black border. image: a British tank moves from the the background right to the foreground left, over barbed-wire and with its guns firing. In the...
The Tank Tour
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-06
whole: the main title is placed across the top in blue and held within a scroll design which also provides a blank area for additional text. The text and image are positioned below, all held within a black border. image: a British tank moves from the the...
War Weapons Week April 8th to 13th
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-03
whole: the main title is placed across the top in yellow, with the text and image below. All held within a black border. image: two British soldiers operate a Vickers heavy machine-gun from a sand-bagged position in the foreground right. The first...
War Weapons Week April 8th to 13th
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-03
whole: the main title is placed across the top in yellow, with the text and image below. All held within a black border. image: a rear view of a biplane flying away from the viewer. The plane carries the insignia of the RFC and flies over the coastline....
War Weapons Week April 8th to 13th
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-03
whole: the main title is placed across the top in yellow, with the text and image below. All held within a black border. image: a seaplane flying towards the viewer and bearing the insignia of the RFC. The plane flies over the coastline away from four...
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
(posters) Made by: Curr, Thomas (artist) 1914
whole: the image covers the main, vignetted and set against a plain white background. The title is positioned across the top in green, with further text placed along the bottom in red and black. image: an Argyll and Sutherland regimental drummer in...
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...
100,000 Additional War Savers
(posters) Made by: Falls, Charles Buckles (artist) 1918
whole: the text is placed in the bottom quarter within a pink block, with the image covering the top three- quarters. image: a candle set against window, looking out to a star filled night sky. text: 100,000 ADDITIONAL WAR SAVERS WANTED by CHRISTMAS ON...
Save for Your Child's Liberty
(posters) Made by: Paus, Herbert (artist) 1918
whole: the main title and subtitle are incorporated into the central image. image: a naked child stands in front and to the right of a large bronze hand holding a flaming torch held within a deep blue square. text: Save for your Child's Liberty HERBERT...
Help to Defend your Life and Liberty
(posters) Made by: Wright, P J (artist) 1918-02
whole: the title and image are integrated, with the title and text positioned down the right and the image on the left. image: a depiction of William Wallace, facing the viewer and gesturing to the text with his left hand. He holds a sword in his right...