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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AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
Firemen tackle a blaze during a large-scale Air Raid Precautions (ARP) exercise in the south coast towns of Portsmouth, Gosport and Southampton on 25 February 1940. An imitation Luftwaffe aircraft and an overturned car containing a 'dead' body present...
ISSUE OF GAS MASKS TO BRITISH CIVILIANS, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
Air Raid Precautions (ARP) wardens fit respirators to women at a sandbagged wardens' post in Sheffield on 24 July 1940.
AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
The plotting room at Nottingham Regional Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Headquarters on 22 February 1940. The Control Officers move indicators around a map of the city to show where incidents have been reported and their type.
AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
A central Air Raid Precautions (ARP) control room with female workers monitoring air raid incidents in the capital city on 24 February 1940. The large maps are used to plot, by the means of coloured pins, areas affected by bombs and the positions of ARP...
AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
An Air Raid Precautions (ARP) control room in Chelsea, London, on 24 February 1940. The Duty Officer moves the indicators to keep the control room up to date with the current deployment of the area's resources, such as heavy rescue and repair teams.
AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
Soldiers play dead and injured during a large-scale Air Raid Precautions (ARP) exercise in the south coast towns of Portsmouth, Gosport and Southampton on 25 February 1940. The labels describe the extent of their 'injuries'.
AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
Sir John Anderson, the Home Secretary, examines hosing equipment used by the Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) in Southampton, 25 February 1940. His visit coincided with a large-scale Air Raid Precautions (ARP) exercise in the towns of Portsmouth, Gosport...
AIR RAID SHELTERS, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
A London County Council communal brick street air raid shelter in Hornsey, London, 28 February 1940.
THE AUXILIARY TERRITORIAL SERVICE, 1941
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
A group of Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) drivers at a pay parade somewhere in England, 29 January 1941.
THE OBSERVER CORPS, 1940
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" Made by: Press Agency photographer
A member of the Observer Corps listens for the approach of aircraft while his colleague sleeps, 29 February 1940.