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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LIFE BEGINS AGAIN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Douglas, R (Production individual) 1942
The latest methods of rehabilitating injured men so that they can resume work.
WARWORK NEWS NO 3 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1942-08
"British Enter France."
WARWORK NEWS NO 14 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1943
I. "Italy 'gets it' from North Africa." USAAF Liberators take off from a desert airfield in Libya to bomb Naples. Film from a great height shows bomb explosions on the quayside.
WARWORK NEWS NO 39 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1944
I. "New pipeline serves Allies in Italy." Laborious task of supplying petrol to Allied armies in Italy has been eased by the laying of a pipeline across country to an unnamed port. Petrol now flows directly to the front instead of being transported in...
WARWORK NEWS NO 38 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1944
I. "Duce rescued from captivity." Captured German film of the escape of Mussolini and his arrival at the Führer's HQ, where he is met by Hitler, Ribbentrop and his son Bruno.
WARWORK NEWS NO 37 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1943
I. "Food for thought." Urges all factory workers to take advantage of the nutritious and appetising meals offered them by their canteens instead of taking sandwiches to work, which is a waste of their home-rations. Average canteen meal has a very high...
WARWORK NEWS NO 43 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1944
I. "The battle of Germany." Development of "bigger and more beautiful bombs" is illustrated by views of cranes lifting 4,000 lb, 8,000 lb and finally 12,000 lb bombs. Aerial film of the large flash caused by a 12,000 lb bomb during a recent raid on...
WARWORK NEWS NO 27 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1943
I. "The other man's job. Making Tank Landing Craft." Scenes of women in a Scottish ship-yard building LSTs (Landing Ship Tank) of the type used in the invasion of Sicily. Working women are even entrusted with the launching of the craft.
WARWORK NEWS NO 50 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1944
"Churchill visits the front."
ACTION OF DIVISIONAL CAVALRY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Armstrong, J E (Production cast) 1934
A British army training film to demonstrate how mounted cavalry would seek out, advance upon and engage an enemy.