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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SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Central Council for Health Education (Production sponsor) 1943
The need to bring the topic of venereal disease into the open is suggested by two fictional storylines, linked by the character of a doctor.
CANTEEN ON WHEELS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Verity (Production company) 1941-04
Shows the work of YMCA mobile canteens by following a "new girl" through her first night's duty during the Blitz (the film is scripted, but quite realistically so).
WHITE BATTLE FRONT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Friedman, Laurie (Production individual) 1940-10
Looks at the "men and women mobilised against disease" who form "another army, just as important for victory".
LIVING WITH STRANGERS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Realist (Production company) 1941-07
Consideration of the social problems arising out of evacuation.
A DIARY FOR TIMOTHY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Gamage, Fred (Production individual) 1945
An impressionistic portrait of life in Britain behind the scenes of imminent victory.
COALMINER [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Strand (Production company) 1943-09
An impression of the world of Charles Jones, a miner in the Rhondda Valley.
THE RAPE OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Weiss, Jiri (Production individual) 1939
Lament for Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia.
THIS WAS JAPAN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Trench, Terry (Production individual) 1945-09
Asking "who were these Japanese and how had they become the ruthless conquerors of half the world," the film answers itself with a survey of Japanese history in terms of a bitter indictment of militarism.
BLITZ NIGHT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Verity (Production company) 1941
A version of CANTEEN ON WHEELS (UKY 278).
MOBILE CANTEEN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Verity (Production company) 1941
Shows the work of YMCA mobile canteens by following a "new girl" through her first night's duty during the Blitz.