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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GERMANY UNDER ALLIED OCCUPATION
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Devon S D (Flight Lieutenant)
French and Belgian former prisoners of war boarding a Dakota aircraft of Royal Air Force Transport Command at Luneberg airfield for repatriation to their own countries.
GERMANY UNDER ALLIED OCCUPATION
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Devon S D (Flight Lieutenant)
French and Belgian former prisoners of war waiting at Luneberg airfield for aircraft of Royal Air Force Transport Command to fly them back to their own countries.
GERMANY UNDER ALLIED OCCUPATION, 1945-1946
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Devon S D (Flight Lieutenant)
French and Belgian former prisoners of war waiting at Luneberg airfield for aircraft of Royal Air Force Transport Command to fly them back to their own countries.
DUNKIRK AFTER LIBERATION
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Moss W A (Flying Officer)
Aerial view of Dunkirk, one of the last German outposts to surrender. Note signs painted on the roofs of some buildings by Allied prisoners of war to show their location to Allied aircraft.
GERMAN PRISONERS ON WALCHEREN
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Goodchild A (P/O)
Among the prisoners taken on Walcheren was this Dutch woman. She is seen here in this R.A.F photograph with her husband, a German solder, whom she refused to leave. She marched with the German prisoners to the Prisoner of War cages.
GERMAN PRISONERS ON WALCHEREN
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Goodchild A (P/O)
A general view of the scene as German prisoners were marched off on Walcheren.
NORWAY AFTER LIBERATION 1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Jones A H (Sergeant)
German prisoners of war from Elverum camp prepare for embarkation from Norway to Germany. Here prisoners board boats at Mandal to take them to Germany.
NORWAY AFTER LIBERATION 1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Jones A H (Sergeant)
German prisoners of war from Elverum camp prepare for embarkation from Norway to Germany. Before leaving the embarkation camp at Mandal a final screening of prisoners was carried out by walking the prisoners past two Gestapo men and one 'Quisling' woman...
NORWAY AFTER LIBERATION 1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Jones A H (Sergeant)
German prisoners of war from Elverum camp prepare for embarkation from Norway to Germany. Here a boat loaded with prisoners prepares to embark from Mandal for Germany.
NORWAY AFTER LIBERATION 1945
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Jones A H (Sergeant)
German prisoners of war from Elverum camp being processed prior to embarkation from Norway to Germany. Here prisoners play cards to pass the time at the embarkation camp at Mandal prior to boarding boats for Germany.