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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FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Two Civil Defence workers, probably of the National Fire Service, discuss the morning's events as they walk away from a devastated area, following a V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Upper Norwood. The male worker carries a cage...
FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Civil Defence workers help an elderly man collect together the few belongings he can salvage from the pile of rubble which was once his home, following a devastating V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Upper Norwood. This man had been...
FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Women of the American Ambulance Great Britain bandage to paw of a dog, injured following a devastating V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Upper Norwood. According to the original caption, the dog would always run into the Morrison...
FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Civil Defence workers collect up salvageable furniture and belongings from the rubble of a house following a V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Upper Norwood. The house belonged to a man (just visible second from right) who had been...
FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Civil Defence workers pause for refreshments during a break in rescue work beside a canteen following a V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Upper Norwood. The canteen was "generously presented to Lambeth ARP services by admirers in...
FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Civil Defence rescue workers dig amongst the rubble following a devastating V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Upper Norwood. Several steel helmets and spades can be seen in the foreground, as the workers use their bare hands to move...
FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A member of the American Ambulance Great Britain collects up a few of the salvageable personal belongings from the rubble of a home following a devastating V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Upper Norwood. Behind her, other Civil...
FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
An elderly man inspects the front paw of his dog, injured following a devastating V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Upper Norwood. According to the original caption, the dog would always run into the Morrison shelter when the siren...
FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A young woman hugs her pet cockatoo following a devastating V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Upper Norwood. Rubble and debris can be clearly seen, piled up behind her.
FLYING BOMB: V1 BOMB DAMAGE IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1944
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Civil Defence rescue workers stand on piles of rubble as they try to dig survivors out of collapsed buildings following a V1 attack in the Highland Road and Lunham Road area of Norwood, London, SE19. In the background, half-destroyed houses can also be...