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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An Escape Tunnel built by Prisoners-of-War
(art) Made by: Feilding, David (The Hon) 1946
image: A prisoner-of-war, who appears to be naked, sitting within the interior of an underground escape tunnel at work with a small spade. There is a wooden box beside him attached to a thick string, designed to help remove the earth from the tunnel. His...
British Prisoners of War, Italy
(art) Made by: Bullard, Paul 1946
image: The interior of a prisoner-of-war hut. The space is filled by the receding lines of wooden framed bunk-beds. Men lie and sit on the three-tiered bunks, clothed and unclothed. A seated figure on the central bunk has a red lozenge shape on the...
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...
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-of-War in a Cellar, Tauberbischofsheim
(art) Made by: Ainsworth, Edgar
image: A group of seven uniformed prisoners of war are sitting around in the corner of a cell. In the background there is a small, barred window. One of the prisoners is standing, looking out, another has turned to look at the artist.
Shower-room: Marlag 'O'
(art) Made by: Worsley, John 1944
image: a German soldier in overcoat and helmet stands guard in the left foreground. On the right three Prisoners of War, two sitting on a bench, one wresting his leg, are drying and dressing after their shower. Their clothes hang from pegs on the walls...