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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Five Questions to Men who have Not Enlisted
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-01
whole: the title is positioned across the top, in blue, with the text arranged over the remainder, also in blue. All are set against a plain white background and framed within a blue and red border. image: text only. text: 5 QUESTIONS TO MEN WHO HAVE NOT...
Wanted for Overseas 63rd Battery
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-09
whole: image occupies the upper two-thirds, set against a black background. The title and text is separate and positioned on an additional text strip in the lower third, in black and set against a white background. image: a full-length photographic image...
Go! It's Your Duty Lad
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image mainly occupies the upper left, with the title separate and positioned upper right and centre right, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, also in black. All set against a yellow background, and held within...
The Call
(posters) Made by: Curun, Paul (artist) 1916
whole: the image occupies the upper third, with the title positioned top right, in black. The text, in black, is arranged over the remainder. All are set against a plain white background and held within a broad brown border. image: a bust-length...
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...
Your King and Country Need You - A Call to Arms
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1914-08-24
whole: the Royal Arms of George V is positioned top edge centre, with the title below in the upper half, and the text below occupying the remainder, all in black and set against a white background. text: YOUR KING AND COUNTRY NEED YOU A CALL TO ARMS An...