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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BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
Personal inscription made by E. McFarlane (?). Caption is incomplete and reads: ' E. Mc...rlane; ...Battalion T... Escaped 2nd September 1941 (?) Captured 6th (?) Released 23rd (?) 18 days in ... for ... Abserren (?)' The rest is erased. 'E. McFarlane'...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From left to right. Personal inscription made by Private C. W. Ball from Ryton, Tyne and Wear, 1st Battalion (Tyneside Scottish), the Black Watch, Army service number 4455422, POW number 2457. First from the left. Caption reads: 'C. Ball; 1st Tyneside...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Part of a personal inscription made a serviceman Joe Kane (?). Caption reads: 'Joe Ka...; 4 days for laughing at German's downfall; He broke his wrist, better his neck'. It could be written by Private J. Kane of the Royal Scots,...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
Third personal inscription made by Private C. W. Ball from Ryton, Tyne and Wear, 1st Battalion (Tyneside Scottish), the Black Watch, Army service number 4455422, POW number 2457. Caption reads: 'C. Ball, 4455422; 7" RDLI; Transferred to ...; Captured...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Large inscription '1st Bn. Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders'. Inscription in Polish reading: 'Tu był polski jeniec wojenny Prz...oski, lat 20, Toruń, 4 VIII '41- Here was a Polish prisoner of war, Prz...oski, aged 20, Toruń, 20/8...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Personal inscription made by a soldier of the Black Watch named Michael. Inscription reading: 'Russia co...; Russia F...' Fort XI of Stalag XXA (20A) in Toruń (Thorn).
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Personal inscription made by unidentified serviceman of the Corps of Military Police (CMP). Personal inscription/warning made by Horace Davies of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI). Caption reads: 'Warning; Never let...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Part of the Inscription in Polish reading: 'Tu był polski jeniec wojenny Prz...oski, lat 20, Toruń, 4 VIII '41- Here was a Polish prisoner of war, Prz...oski, aged 20, Toruń, 20/8/41'. Drawing of a paratroper going down with his...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Personal inscription made by Private Frank? Bouldy (Boulby?) of 4th Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders; Army service number 4742974, POW number 19934. Caption reads: 'Frank Bouldy; Captured May 8 1940; 4 Gordon Hdr...; Escaped ...;...
BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR IN STALAG XXA (20A) IN TORUŃ (THORN), 1940-1945
part of "THE STALAG XXA COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Gąsior, Mariusz 2011-12-12
From top to bottom. Personal inscription made by Private Frank? Bouldy (Boulby?) of 4th Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders; Army service number 4742974, POW number 19934. Caption reads: 'Frank Bouldy; Captured May 8 1940; 4 Gordon Hdr...; Escaped ...;...