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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MR PROUDFOOT SHOWS A LIGHT [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Mallalieu, Aubrey (Production cast) 1941-03
A mainly humorous attempt to drive home the importance of the blackout.
WAR AND ORDER [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Gamlin, Lionel (Production cast) 1940-10
The rôle of the police in wartime, emphasising the giving of aid to civilians, particularly during air raids.
THE CHANNEL ISLANDS 1940-1945 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Bryant, Gerard (Production individual) 1945
"Incidents dealing with the German Occupation are re-enacted by the Channel Islanders themselves."
FARM WORK [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Gordon, M (Production individual) 1945
"One of a film series about jobs after the war." In this case, agricultural workers.
SHAPING THE FUTURE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Works (Production sponsor) 1946
"One of a film series about jobs after the war." In this case, building.
MINEFIELD! [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1944-04
The opening titles call the minefield "one of the most important factors in land warfare": the film sets out to show the work involved in launching an attack through mines positions.
CAMERAMEN AT WAR [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ashwood, Terry (Production individual) 1943-11
A tribute to the cameramen of the newsreel companies and the service film units, in the form of a compilation of film of the cameramen themselves and some of their most dramatic film.
REME [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1944
The work of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
TYNESIDE STORY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hughes, Ken (Production individual) 1943
A dramatised account, with actors from a local theatre company, of the reopening for war production of the Tyneside shipbuilding yards closed down by the Depression.
DANGER AREA [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Mathieson, Muir (Production individual) 1943-10
An impression of work in a Royal Ordnance munitions plant, in the framework of a dramatised incident.