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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Collections search

To Prevent This - Buy War Savings Certificates Now
(posters) Made by: Brown, F Gregory (artist) 1918-06
whole: the title is arranged across the top and bottom, with the image central. All set against a black background. image: a scene from within a steelworks, showing brutal treatment meted out by occupying German troops on an enslaved civilian workforce....
Remember Scarborough!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-12
whole: the title is placed across the top, in red and underlined in green, with the text below in green and in red. All set against a white background and held within a green and red border. image: text only. text: REMEMBER SCARBOROUGH! The Germans who...
To the Women of Britain
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the title is positioned across the top, in white, with the text arranged over the remainder, also in white. All are set against a brown background and framed within a broad red border. image: text only. text: To the Women of Britian. Some of your...
German Cruelty to British Prisoners
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-06
whole: the title is placed across the top in red set, with the text, comprising of two quotes, set over the remainder in red and dark brown. A subtitle is situated a the foot of the design, in dark brown. All are set against a plain white background and...
How the Hun Hates!
(posters) Made by: Wilson, David & W F B (artist) 1915
whole: the image occupies the majority of the upper half, held within a black border. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black and in red. The text is separate and positioned in the lower half, also in black and in red. The...
Why More Men are Needed
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the title is positioned across the top, in white outlined green. The text, a quote, is arranged below the title in white. All are set against a black background and held within a green border. image: text only. text: WHY MORE MEN ARE NEEDED 'It is...
Britain's Battle for Freedom
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-01
whole: the title is positioned above centre, in white outlined black. The text is positioned above and below, in black and in white. All set against a grey background. image: text only. text: Help to end the War by enlisting in the gallant British Army,...
Who Made These Little Islands...
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-04
whole: the title and text are arranged over the whole, in green and in red. Set against a white background and framed within a red border. image: text only. text: WHO made these little Islands the centre of the greatest and most powerful Empire the world...
Men of Britain! Will you Stand This?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the image occupies the main, set against a black background. The title is positioned across the top, with further text placed along the foot of the design, both in white. image: an adapted photographic image of a young girl carrying an infant and...
Why More Men are Needed
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the title is positioned across the top, in white outlined green. The text, a quote, is arranged below the title in white. All are set against a black background and held within a green border. image: text only. text: WHY MORE MEN ARE NEEDED 'It is...