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

War Weapons Week April 8th to 13th
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-03
whole: the main title is placed across the top in yellow, with the text and image below. All held within a black border. image: a rear view of a biplane flying away from the viewer. The plane carries the insignia of the RFC and flies over the coastline....
War Weapons Week April 8th to 13th
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-03
whole: the main title is placed across the top in yellow, with the text and image below. All held within a black border. image: a seaplane flying towards the viewer and bearing the insignia of the RFC. The plane flies over the coastline away from four...
Buy Your War Bonds Now!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is placed lower left, in grey-blue and speckled red against a black background. The image is positioned above at the upper right. image: a quarter segment of a Royal Flying Corps insignia roundel. text: BUY WAR BONDS NOW No.74.
Help to Buy an Aeroplane
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Bert (MBE) (artist) 1918-04
whole: the main title is placed across the top. Both title and text are incorporated into the image. image: two servicemen stand bottom right, the left gestures towards an airborne biplane set against deep blue sky. A white dog sits beside the men. text...
Our Aeroplanes
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half with the title and the text placed below. image: a twin-engined biplane bearing the insignia of the the Royal Flying Corps, flying right to left. Beyond, four other biplanes fly against a background of a...
fabric from the German Army airship SL11
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Fabric from the First World War German Army airship SL11, which was shot down in flames over Cuffley, Hertfordshire by Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson (39 [Home Defence] Squadron, Royal Flying Corps) on 2-3 September 1916. The SL11 was the first...
Untitled
(posters) Made by: Watson, Geoffrey (artist) 1918
whole: the image covers the whole with a blank text box at lower right. image: a large Handley Page bomber, seen in three-quarter length profile and silhouette, flying left to right through searchlights and flak. text: [blank] Geoffrey Watson 1918 THE...
fuel gauge from the German airship SL11
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Maximall
Fuel gauge salvaged from the First World War German Army airship SL11, which was shot down in flames at Cuffley, Hertfordshire by Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson (39 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps) on 2-3 September 1916. The SL11 was the first airship to...
piece of wire from the German Zeppelin SL11
(vehicles, aircraft and ships)
Piece of wire from the rigging of the First World War German airship SL11made into a souvenir 'package' and sold to raise money for the Red Cross. The SL11 was shot down in flames at Cuffley, Hertfordshire by Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson (39...
ring made of salvaged metal from the German airship SL11
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Fragment of salvaged metal from the First World War German airship SL11 made into finger ring and sold to raise money for the Red Cross. The airship was shot down in flames at Cuffley, Hertfordshire by Lieutenant William Leefe Robinson on 2-3 September...