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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Friendly Aliens and the British Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title is positioned across the top, in red, with the main text located centrally, in blue. Further text, in red, is placed over the lower quarter. All are set against a plain white background and framed within a red and blue border. image:...
Men of London! - Remember! We Must have More Men So Join Now
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-01
whole: the image occupies the upper third, with the title and text placed below, in blue and red within a white inset. All are framed within a narrow red, white and blue border. image: the flags of the Allied nations flank the dome of St Paul's Cathedral...
The Scrap of Paper - Enlist Today
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914
whole: the image is positioned centrally, held within a black border. The title is positioned across the top and the subtitle across the bottom, both in red. The text occupies the majority of the poster, in black and in red, some held within black...
Don't Lag! Follow Your Flag
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-03
whole: the image occupies the whole. The title is positioned across the whole, in black, with each word set in a separate white block. image: the flags of Britain, France, Russia and Belgium. text: DON'T LAG! FOLLOW THE FLAG PUBLISHED BY THE...
Why Not Join the Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the image occupies the whole. The title is positioned across the whole, in black, with each word set in a separate white block. image: the flags of Britain, France, Russia and Belgium. text: WHY NOT JOIN THE ARMY PUBLISHED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY...
Each Recruit Brings Peace Nearer
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-06
whole: a long landscape format, with the title, in red, incorporated into the image. image: a searchlight beam, bearing the title, shines horizontally across a silhouetted roof-top view of London, featuring St Paul's Cathedral on the left. Flanking the...
Keep these Flags Proudly Flying
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the text is held within five separate insets and imposed over five separate images over a long landscape format. image: the flags of Britain, France, Russia and Belgium. text: KEEP THESE FLAGS PROUDLY FLYING PUBLISHED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY...
Rally Round the Flag
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title occupies the majority, in black free-hand script, set against a yellow background and held within a black border. The images are placed either side of the title, set against a white background. image: six Allied flags (Serbian, French,...