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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Military Police searching German Prisoners-of-War at Thiberville
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay
image: Lines of prisoners sit or lie on the ground in front of a camp waiting to be searched by a British military policeman.
German Prisoners : being assembled and searched at Thiberville
(art) Made by: Hennell, Thomas Barclay
image: German Prisoners of War sit in groups on the ground, some are wearing armbands marked with a red cross. In the background one is standing with his hands in the air, being searched by a British soldier. To the right another British soldier is...
The Carpenter's Shop and Model Room : Marlag 'O'
(art) Made by: Worsley, John 1944
image: a carpenter's workshop with the walls are lined with boxes. In the foreground there is a small work table. At the back of the room a man stands next to a second worktable on which a large model yacht is standing. A second man crouches in front of...
Naval Officers Filling in a Discovered Escape Tunnel, 1945
(art) Made by: Worsley, John 1945
image: Across the background runs a high double fence of posts and barbed wire beyond which two armed German guards are patrolling. A waist-high ditch runs from the left of the picture, beneath a single stretch of barbed wire, towards the high perimeter...
Cricket Match - Milag Nord v Marlag 'O' at Marlag 'O'
(art) Made by: Worsley, John 1944
image: Figures stand around in different fielding positions on a bare piece of ground. The wicketkeeper and stumps can be seen on the left of the composition. There is a copse of trees in the background, and fields beyond.
Autumn : Gathering wood for fuel
(art) Made by: Worsley, John 1944-10-01
image: men in uniform load gathered twigs onto a cart in the wood with a canopy of autumn leaves above them.
Decorating the Christmas Tree, December 1944
(art) Made by: Worsley, John 1944-12-01
image: Lieutenant William Houston-Rogers, who has a white beard and is facing the viewer, sits on a chair playing a penny whistle. Behind him, Lieutenant Mewes is standing on a stool decorating the top of a Christmas tree, towards the right. On the right...
Prisoners Loading Wood for Winter Fuel
(art) Made by: Worsley, John 1945
image: a group of four prisoners-of-war loading logs onto a horse-drawn cart with two German guards with rifles chatting to each other on the right. A pile of logs sits in the foreground to the right. In the background to the left is a small wood where...
The Funeral of a British Merchant Seaman passes Marlag 'O'
(art) Made by: Worsley, John 1945
image: Two German guards stand in a field watching a procession move along a track in the centre ground. It is led by a team of horses pulling a cart that carries a coffin. A group of Prisoners of War follow immediately behind, and a number of German...
Changing of the 'Wire-watch'
(art) Made by: Worsley, John
image: A watchtower of a perimeter fence at a Prisoner of War camp. There are two tall wire fences running parallel from the left of the composition into the background. A wooden watchtower stands to the right of centre, and several German guards walk...