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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Dr Flora Murray: Endell Street Hospital, London
(art) Made by: Spare, Austin O
image: a portrait of Dr Flora Murray sitting at a desk in an office at Endell Street hospital in London, looking down at something on the surface of the desk. The hand of a colleague is visible on the desktop to the left, showing that Murray shares the...
The Workroom of the Gerrard's Cross War Hospital Supply Depôt
(art) Made by: Davis, J Barnard 1918
image: an interior scene of a room with nurses working at two long tables. The image is dominated by the greys and whites of their uniforms, and the bandages they are rolling. The nurses sit and stand, everyone absorbed in their work.
A Dispenser Endell Street Hospital, London
(art) Made by: Spare, Austin O
image: a medicine dispensing room in Endell Street Hospital in London. A female medical worker measures out an amount of powdery white medicine with brass measuring scales, on a large table full of various medical bottles and packages. Behind her is a...