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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SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
A Standard ship under construction in the United Kingdom during the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Improvised offices at the Furness Withy and Company shipbuilding yard at Haverton Hill during the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
A shipbuilding yard in the United Kingdom during the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Female workers lifting bags of and shovelling cement during the constructing of a new berth at a shipbuilding yard in the United Kingdom during the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Female labourers carrying timber at a shipbuilding yard in the United Kingdom during the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Female labourers carrying wooden joints in a British shipbuilding yard during the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Female labourers shovel sand to form an embankment at a shipbuilding yard in the United Kingdom during the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Female labourers shovel sand at a shipbuilding yard in the United Kingdom during the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
The canteen manager, Paddy, carving meat to be served to workers at the Furness Withy and Company shipbuilding yard at Haverton Hill during the First World War.