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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Zeppelin Incendiary Bomb
(weapons and ammunition)
Stem and base only, of a First World War German incendiary bomb which was dropped on the railway lines near Wallsend Station, Northumberland, on the night of 14 April 1915, by the German Naval Airship Zeppelin L9. This, the second Zeppelin raid in which...
AIR RAID DAMAGE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) 1915-06
Damage to the Eastern Marine Engineering World at Wallsend caused by bombs dropped from the German Navy Zeppelin L10.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Workers from the shipbuilding yard of Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd at Wallsend 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 female worker operates a vertical milling machine at the shipbuilding yard of Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd based at Wallsend in 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 drafting office of shipbuildering company Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd at Wallsend 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
Men eating at tables in one of the hostels for labourers at the shipbuilding company Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd based at Wallsend in the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Men eating at tables in one of the hostels for labourers at the shipbuilding company Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd based at Wallsend in the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Rivetters at work on the deck plates of a vessel under construction at the shipbuilding yard of Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd at Wallsend during the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace
A female worker operates a bolt tapping machine at the shipbuilding yard of Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd based at Wallsend in the First World War.
SHIPBUILDING DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Nicholls Horace 1914
Workers drilling plates in the shipbuilding yard of Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd based at Wallsend in the First World War.