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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Untitled
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-09
whole: image occupies the whole, set against a black background. image: a full-length photographic image of a Grenadier Guards recruiting sergeant gesturing to the viewer. text: PUBLISHED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY RECRUITING COMMITTEE, LONDON. POSTER No. 129...
Come Lad Slip Across and Help
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the image covers the whole, framed within a dark brown border. The title is incorporated into the the image and superimposed across the bottom in dark brown. image: a British artilleryman, standing on a yellow map of France and Belgium, links...
Single Men
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915-08
whole: the upper image is positioned across the top and the lower image is positioned across the bottom, both held within blue borders. The title is separate and positioned below the upper image, in red outlined blue, with the text below, in blue, and in...
Untitled
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the central section and lower right. It is set against a white background and held within a red and blue decorative border. image: a full-length depiction of a British Royal Artillery sergeant, holding a swagger stick in his...
Join the Anti-Aircraft Divisions of the Territorial Army
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper left and upper centre, in red and yellow outlined red. The text is separate and positioned along the bottom edge, in blue held within a dark blue inset. All held...
WAAC - Every Fit Woman Can Release A Fit Man
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the upper two-thirds, held within a black border. The title is divided and partly integrated across the top edge, and partly separate across the lower centre, in black. The text is separate and positioned in the lower third, in...
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
(posters) Made by: Curr, Thomas (artist) 1914
whole: the image covers the main, vignetted and set against a plain white background. The title is positioned across the top in green, with further text placed along the bottom in red and black. image: an Argyll and Sutherland regimental drummer in...
National Service Women Clerks Wanted at Once
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image occupies the centre third, held within a dark blue border. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in dark blue, and held within a dark blue border. A second smaller image is positioned top edge centre. The text is...
Arf a 'Mo' Kaiser
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Bert (MBE) (artist) 1914
whole: the image occupies the upper three-quarters, set against a plain white background. The title is positioned below the image, in black against a red background. Further text is located to the right, held within a white inset. image: a full-length...
Fag Day
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Bert (MBE) (artist) 1917
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title and text integrated and positioned in lower quarter, in blue. image: full-length depictions of a wounded soldier with a crutch, smoking a cigarette, and a wounded sailor with his arm in a sling, smoking...