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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P.O.W. Camp, A Sunday Morning, July 1915
(art) Made by: Kenner, George 1915-07-01
image: a view along a row of circular tents surrounded by bowls, buckets brushes, boxes and trunks. In the foreground a man in a cap stands smoking at the door of the nearest tent, while another stands just outside, polishing his shoes. In the background...
English Commander's Family Tent
(art) Made by: Kenner, George 1915-08-01
image: a man with a child stand outside a large circular tent with an awning and an ornamental garden in a clearing. There is also another smaller tent behind the larger tent. A second child and a woman can be seen sitting under under the awning.
The P.O.W. Bathing Section
(art) Made by: Kenner, George 1915-09-01
image: a small yard surrounded by a barbed wire fence. There is a row of low corrugated structures, opening onto the yard, positioned along either side. Men in their dressing gowns cross the yard with towels. Inside the buildings on right two men wearing...
P.O.W. Elected Captain's Section
(art) Made by: Kenner, George 1915-08-01
image: a group of POWs wearing arm bands gather in an area between three white tents. The tents are surrounded by flower beds and one has a bench outside. A high barbed wire fence runs across the background of the image.
Breaking Up For Winter Quarters, September 1915
(art) Made by: Kenner, George 1915-09-27
image: a view of a camp as the tents are being packed away. In the foreground is a circular tent with some loose tent pegs, at the end of a row of similar tents. However, to the left there are empty sites and a pile of wooden floor panels. In the...
Civilian Officers' Quarters
(art) Made by: Kenner, George 1915-09-20
image: a view looking down on a camp of large white tents pitched next to a low wooden building with a smoking chimney. Several figures can be seen walking around the camp.
English Officers' Quarters
(art) Made by: Kenner, George 1915-08-15
image: several round tents surrounded by flower beds and shrubs.