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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Manchester Workers' Week
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1918-01
whole: the main image is arranged across the top and on the right-hand side, with a smaller image positioned upper left. The title and text are placed on the left and along the bottom. image: main image of workers filing out of a factory, headed by a...
WOMEN RAILWAY WORKERS DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "FIRST WORLD WAR WOMENS WAR WORK COLLECTION" (photographs) 1917
Station Mistress and two porters at Irlams O'th Height Station, Manchester, on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway.
WOMEN RAILWAY WORKERS DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "FIRST WORLD WAR WOMENS WAR WORK COLLECTION" (photographs) 1917
A maintenance worker employed by the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway oils machinery at the company's Oldham Road goods warehouse.
WOMEN RAILWAY WORKERS DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "FIRST WORLD WAR WOMENS WAR WORK COLLECTION" (photographs) 1917
A female gas lamp cleaner of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway at work outside Victoria station, Manchester.
INDUSTRY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Lewis G P 1918-09
Female workers tow a trolley of raw rubber from a warehouse at the factory of Charles Macintosh and Sons Ltd in Manchester in September 1918.
INDUSTRY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Lewis G P 1914
A female worker operates a calendaring machine in the rubber factory of Charles Macintosh and Sons Ltd, Manchester, in September 1918.
INDUSTRY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Lewis G P 1918-09
A female worker fixes a studded tread onto a motor vehicle tyre in the rubber factory of Charles Macintosh and Sons Ltd, Manchester, in September 1918.
INDUSTRY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Lewis G P 1918-09
A female worker poses with a stack of completed motor vehicle tyres in the rubber factory of Charles Macintosh and Sons Ltd, Manchester, in September 1918.
INDUSTRY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Lewis G P 1918-09
A female worker making rubber treads on motor vehicle tyres in the rubber factory of Charles Macintosh and Sons Ltd, Manchester, in September 1918.
INDUSTRY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION FIRST WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Lewis G P 1918-09
A female worker forms the foundation of a motor vehicle tyre tread in the rubber factory of Charles Macintosh and Sons Ltd, Manchester, in September 1918.