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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Rats and Pilferers
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the image is positioned in the central third. The title and text are separate and placed in the upper quarter, in red, and in the lower half, in black. All set against a white background. image: a stylised depiction of a rat. text: RATS AND...
Dig For Victory - Your Garden Can Help to Win the War
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1939-11
image: Text-poster on blue background. text: DIG FOR VICTORY. YOUR GARDEN CAN HELP TO WIN THE WAR. LAND IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CULTIVATION OF ALLOTMENTS AT A REASONABLE RENTAL. APPLY AT THE OFFICES OF THE CLERK OF THE COUNCIL, COUNCIL OFFICES, MARPLE....
Vote for Captain MacNaghten
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: a landscape format, with the text, in red, arranged in banner form over a plain background. image: text only. text: Parliamentary Election, Dec. 14, 1918. VOTE FOR MACNACHTEN AND AGAINST FOOD TAXES. Printed and Published by the Oxford Chronicle...
You Vote for Comyns Carr
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-12
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in red, set against a white background and held within a red border. image: text only. text: WARNING!! Capt. BARNETT voted for - Sending Wounded Men back to the Trenches; Taxing Disabled Soldiers' Pensions;...
Potatoes - Feed Without Fattening and Give You Energy
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is placed centrally with a Ministry of Food logo set above. Text, in black, is positioned below the image against a plain white background. image: a young boy playing cricket with his parents in a leafy park. In the background left a...
Food for Your Garden from Your Garden
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the six main images are positioned in the lower two-thirds, each held within a narrow black border. Another image is placed in the upper left. The title is separate and located in the upper quarter, in black and in brown. The text is separate and...
Bones Wanted
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title and text are positioned across the whole, in red and in blue. All held within a red and blue border, and set against a white background. image: text only. text: BONES WANTED Bones make glue for aeroplanes and other essential war...
Put Bones in the Bone Bins
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1944-05
whole: the image is positioned in the upper right, centre and lower left. The title is partially integrated and occupies the majority, in black and in brown. All set against a white background. image: various pieces of bone, falling from right to left....
Save Kitchen Waste to Feed the Pigs!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the lower two-thirds, with a smaller image placed in the lower centre. The title is partially integrated and located in the upper half, in white, held within a blue circular inset. The text is separate and placed along...
Land and People: Four - Greece
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1946-08-24
whole: the eight images occupy the majority, with the seven upper images each held within a narrow brown border. The title is separate and positioned in the upper fifth, in red and in brown, held within a decorative red and brown border. The text is...