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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Collections search

Les Poilus de la Neuvième [Soldiers of the Ninth]
(posters) Made by: Maitre Jean (artist) 1916
whole: the image occupies the left quarter. The title is positioned in the centre, in red outlined blue. The text is partially integrated and positioned upper centre, upper right, lower centre and lower right, in blue and red. All set against a white...
Women's War Services - An Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-02
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in black and in red, set against a white background and held within a black border. image: text only. text: Copy as printed. For information only [ink stamp] WOMEN'S WAR SERVICES WOMEN'S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS...
Royal Flying Corps
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917-12
whole: the title is positioned across the top edge, in red, with the text below occupying the remainder, in black and in red. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: ROYAL FLYING CORPS. A MEETING WILL BE HELD AT [blank] LIEUT. ALSTON...
Royal Flying Corps
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: three photographic images are positioned centre right, centre left and lower centre, each held within narrow black borders. A further image is positioned upper centre. The title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in blue outlined...
Sergeant R G Arding
(art) Made by: Kennington, Eric Henri (RA) 1941
image: a half-length portrait of an airman just back from a raid on enemy shipping. He stands in profile looking out to the right of the composition. He is wearing a white flying suit, with a shirt and tie underneath, and holds a leather helmet in his...
'Rigids' At Pulham, 1918. R23 Type British Airships at Pulham St Mary, Norfolk
(art) Made by: Lavery, John (Sir) (RA) (RSA) 1918
image: A view of the interior of an airship hangar showing the rear fins of two rigid airships. There is a tank and a number of figures walking across the hangar floor. A long ladder reaches from the ground to the rear point of the airship on the left.
Self Portrait in Uniform
(art) Made by: Carline, Richard C 1918
image: A head and shoulders self-portrait of the artist wearing uniform.
19.00 Hours - Time Now
(posters) Made by: Ashton (artist) 1943-11
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper left, in black. The text is integrated and placed in the lower right in black, in the lower left in white, and partially integrated and located across the bottom...
Paid Off!
(posters) Made by: Burton, Charles (artist) 1918
whole: the title is placed top left, with the image to the right. The subtitle and text are below in a black square. image: a three-quarter view of a British sailor counting his earnings. text: Paid Off! CHARLES BURTON Buy something worth having WAR...
Ladies Emergency Committee of the Navy League
(posters) Made by: Leddie, P (artist) 1918
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned across the top edge, in blue. The text is integrated and positioned lower left and across the bottom, in blue. All set against a white background. image: a German nurse pours a...