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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BOMB DAMAGE IN GOSPORT HAMPSHIRE, DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "RAF STATION GOSPORT" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
A damaged row of houses in Gosport, Hampshire after a raid of 12 August 1940. One house is destroyed others nearby have suffered heavy to moderate damage. Uniformed and civilian personnel stand around.
BOMB DAMAGE IN GOSPORT DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "RAF STATION GOSPORT" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
A house in Gosport, believed to be in Grove Avenue, with bomb damage after a raid of 12st August 1940.
BOMB DAMAGE IN GOSPORT AND PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "RAF STATION GOSPORT" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
A view of Portsmouth Harbour (looking to the Portsmouth side) during an air raid of 12th August 1940.
BOMB DAMAGE IN GOSPORT AND PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "RAF STATION GOSPORT" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
A view of Portsmouth Harbour (looking to the Portsmouth side) during an air raid of 12th August 1940.
BOMB DAMAGE IN GOSPORT, HAMPSHIRE DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "RAF STATION GOSPORT" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
A row of terraced houses in Gosport, Hampshire after a raid of 12 August 1940. Those nearest the cameraman have been badly damaged and a pile of rubble is in the street.
V1 FLYING BOMB
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Devon Stanley
An excellent low aerial oblique view showing adjacent V1 bomb damage sites in Lewisham, London. Lewisham Road is the main thoroughfare in the centre of the picture. The flying bomb sites shown are Granville Park (June 1944), Lewisham Hill (top right,...
ROYAL AIR FORCE RADAR, 1939-1945
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
Chain Home: radar receiver towers and bunkers at Woody Bay near St Lawrence, Isle of Wight, England. This installation was a 'Remote Reserve' station to Ventnor CH.
ROYAL AIR FORCE FLYING TRAINING COMMAND, 1939-1945
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Rider-Rider (P/O)
WAAF armourers and flight mechanics servicing a Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricane at Sealand, Flintshire, Wales.
THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE IN BRITAIN, 1944
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Clark N S
A Hawker Tempest V (foreground) and Hawker Typhoon of No 486 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force based at Castle Camps airfield, Cambridgeshire.
CANADIAN FORCES IN BRITAIN DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
Canadian air gunners from a Westland Lysander army co-operation squadron practise shooting at a moving target with a camera gun at RAF Odiham, Hampshire.