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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Rally Round the Flag - Join the Army Today - Every Fit Man Wanted
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-09
whole: the image is positioned at the left edge and repeated at the right edge. The title occupies the remainder, in red. All set against a white background and held within a blue border. image: a Union Flag. text: RALLY ROUND THE FALG - JOIN THE ARMY TO...
Wake Up England
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1914-10
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in white cursive script. All set against a purple background. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter] 'Wake up England' Complete the Second Half-million
Men of London
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-09
whole: the title and text occupy the majority, with the title, in blue, positioned in the upper half, and the text, in red and in blue, positioned in the lower half. The image is positioned top centre. All set against a white background and held within...
Untitled
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole. image: a Union Flag. text: MERCER AND SONS, Ltd., PRINTERS (T.U.), KENNINGTON CROSS, S.E.
Every Man -There's a Vacant Place for You My Lad!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: a small monochrome image is positioned across the top. The title is placed below the image in blue, with the text arranged over the remainder, in red and blue. All are set against a plain light orange-brown background. image: two union flags flank...
To Every Young Briton - Let Each Man do His Bit
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the design is headed by the Royal Charter. The title located in the upper half in red, with the main text arranged over the lower half in red and blue. Additional text is positioned above the title in blue. All are set against a plain white...
Which?
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the title is positioned across the top, and the subtitle across the bottom; the letters of both are coloured like a Union Flag, outlined in black against a green background. The text is positioned at the centre, in red, and held within a white box...
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...
The Victory Campaign
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-01
whole: the image, title and text are all integrated. The text is in dark brown and arranged in banner form. image: a female, winged Victory figure, facing the viewer, holding a sheet of parchment containing the poster's text. Below, to the left, lies a...
National Service
(posters) Made by: Scott, Septimus E (artist) 1917
whole: the image occupies the majority, with a smaller image positioned in the upper right. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge, in white, held within a black area. The text is integrated and positioned in the lower quarter, in black...