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

The War Refugees' Camp, Earl's Court 1918
(art) Made by: Rushbury, Henry (Sir) (RA) 1918
image: In the foreground a group of refugees stand and sit underneath an archway. The group is predominantly made up of women, as well as four young children and two men, one of whom has a white beard and is lighting a pipe. In the background through the...
Remember Scarborough!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-12
whole: the title is placed across the top, in red and underlined in green, with the text below in green and in red. All set against a white background and held within a green and red border. image: text only. text: REMEMBER SCARBOROUGH! The Germans who...
Britain's Battle for Freedom
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title is positioned above centre, in white outlined black. The text is positioned above and below, in black and in white. All set against a grey background. image: text only. text: Help to end the War by enlisting in the gallant British Army,...
German Cruelty to British Prisoners
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-06
whole: the title is placed across the top in red set, with the text, comprising of two quotes, set over the remainder in red and dark brown. A subtitle is situated a the foot of the design, in dark brown. All are set against a plain white background and...
Lend your Five Shillings
(posters) Made by: D D P (artist) 1915
whole: the title is in red and arranged in banner form, above and below the central image. image: Kaiser Wilhelm II crushed under the weight of a huge five shilling coin. text: LEND YOUR FIVE SHILLINGS TO YOUR COUNTRY AND DDP [artist's initials] CRUSH...
The First Zeppelin Seen From Piccadilly Circus, 8th September 1915
(art) Made by: Gow, Andrew Carrick (RA) 1915
image: A dark and gloomy evening scene in Piccadilly Circus with a German Zeppelin airship and barrage balloons visible in the night sky illuminated by the beam of a searchlight. In the foreground Piccadilly Circus is busy with civilians and traffic,...
How the Hun Hates!
(posters) Made by: Wilson, David & W F B (artist) 1915
whole: the image occupies the majority of the upper half, held within a black border. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black and in red. The text is separate and positioned in the lower half, also in black and in red. The...
Repairing a Fracture in a Torpedoed Merchant Ship
(art) Made by: Wheatley, John (ARA) 1918
image: A close-up view of a section of the hull of a torpedoed Merchant Navy ship. The section of hull is badly damaged, with a large hole. The ship is in drydock and so is supported by large planks of wood, with two workers visible in the lower...
Divers at Work Repairing a Torpedoed Ship
(art) Made by: Wheatley, John (ARA) 1918
image: A torpedo-damaged ship being repaired. A group of men in the right bottom corner of the composition are visible at work, with two men inside the ship seen in the bottom left corner.
Why More Men are Needed
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the title is positioned across the top, in white outlined green. The text, a quote, is arranged below the title in white. All are set against a black background and held within a green border. image: text only. text: WHY MORE MEN ARE NEEDED 'It is...