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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One Pound for 15 Shillings and Sixpence
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: the title is placed across the top, with the subtitle across the bottom, both in blue. Further text is in blue. All held within a blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: £1 FOR 15s 6d TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF...
Paid Off!
(posters) Made by: Burton, Charles (artist) 1918
whole: the title is placed top left, with the image to the right. The subtitle and text are below in a black square. image: a three-quarter view of a British sailor counting his earnings. text: Paid Off! CHARLES BURTON Buy something worth having WAR...
124 Cartridges for 15 Shillings and Sixpence
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-07
whole: the title is placed across the top in blue, with the subtitle across the bottom in red. Further text is in blue and red. All held within a red and blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: 124 CARTRIDGES FOR 15s 6d and...
Make an Allotment
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-09
whole: the title is placed across the top in blue, with the subtitle below in red. Further text is in blue and red, covering the remainder. All held within a red and blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: MAKE AN ALLOTMENT...
One Pound for 15 Shillings and Sixpence
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-07
whole: the title is placed across the top in red, with the text below, in blue and red. All held within a red and blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: £1 for 15s 6d War Savings Certificates [terms, conditions and...
Make a Habit of Buying War Savings Certificates
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917-06
whole: the title is placed across the top, in blue and enclosed within a blue frame. The subtitle is central, with a blank text box across the bottom. The text is flanked either side by three red vertical bands. image: text only. text: MAKE A HABIT OF...
A Leader of Leaders
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set within a gilt frame design. The text occupies the lower third, held within a scroll design. image: a three-quarter length portrait of David Lloyd-George, facing the viewer and delivering a speech...
A Head to Contrive
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set within a gilt frame design. The text is positioned in the lower third, held within a scroll design. image: a three-quarter portrait of a British politician in formal dress. He stands facing the...
He Rightly Lives
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set within a gilt frame design. The text is positioned in the lower third, held within a scroll design. image: a full-length portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson standing against a dark landscape. text: A.S....
A Leader Sage
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set within a gilt frame design. The text occupies the lower third, held within a scroll design. image: a full-length portrait of President Woodrow Wilson, who strides towards the viewer raising his top...