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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AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
American forces leaving Britain: Air Transport Command speeds United States Eighth Army Air Force on its way to Japan via the United States. The happy United States airmen are seen in the back of a truck at an ATC Base in Wales.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
American military police with a British policeman during the Second World War.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
United States troops arrive in England: members of the US Signal Corps enjoy coffee and doughnuts served by the Red Cross on a train which is carrying them to their base after their arrival in Britain.
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, ENGLAND, 8 MAY 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Two British sailors and their girlfriends wading in the fountains in Trafalgar Square on VE Day.
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, 8 MAY 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Crowds gather in Trafalgar Square, London.
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, 8 MAY 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Showers of paper cascade from windows of a building in Davies Street, onto soldiers and civilians below.
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, ENGLAND, 8 MAY 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Men and women dance the conga around a bonfire in East Acton, London during the evening of VE Day.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
Black GIs in Britain: An exception to the general rule, a mixed team of black and white United States soldiers play American football.
AMERICANS DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
An American nurse, 2nd Lieutenant Helen Powrentowski of 1132 Richmond Avenue, Carnegie, New York, kneels to pray at a shrine, taken at the end of a Catholic Mission week, probably somewhere in Britain.
AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945
part of "AMERICAN (US) EMBASSY SECOND WORLD WAR PHOTOGRAPH LIBRARY: CLASSIFIED PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: United States Army Signal Corps photographer
The United States Army in Britain: United States troops establishing a beachhead after disembarking from an Assault Landing Craft during combined Anglo-American invasion manoeuvres off the coast of Devon.