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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War Savings
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917-03
whole: the title is placed across the top in blue, with the text below, in red and blue, separated by blue horizontal bands. All held within a red and blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: WAR SAVINGS GO ON BUYING WAR...
The Best Investment in the World
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-01
whole: the title and subtitle are in orange, with the text in white. All arranged in banner form, against a blue background and held within a white frame. image: text only. text: THE BEST INVESTMENT IN THE WORLD 5¼% Compound Interest Free of Income Tax,...
The Best Investment in the World
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-01
whole: the title and subtitle are in orange, with the text in white. All arranged in banner form, against a blue background and held within a white frame. image: text only. text: THE BEST INVESTMENT IN THE WORLD 5¼% Compound Interest Free of Income Tax,...
Your Last Chance
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-12
whole: the title is positioned across the top half, in dark blue. Further text and subtitles are placed in the lower half. All arranged, in banner form, diagonally from top left to bottom right against a bright yellow background. image: text only. text:...
Keep on Buying War Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is positioned at the centre, in blue, and is held within a bright yellow box tilted upwards on the right. Further text is arranged top left and bottom right, in bright yellow against a blue background. image: text only. text: MONEY IS...
The Sound Business Man's Investment - National War Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-03
whole: the title is placed across the top half, with the subtitle in the lower half, both in bright yellow and separated by the Chancellor's seal. Arranged in banner form against a blue-grey background within a white border. image: the seal of the...
Feed the Guns with War Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is in yellow, and is positioned across the bottom and laid over the image. image: the London skyline, featuring St Paul's Cathedral, silhouetted against the night sky. Three searchlight beams stretch from the city to illuminate two small...
A War Savings Association
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917-04
whole: the title and text are in blue against a white background, with the title across the top, and the text below. All held within a red and blue border. image: text only. text: A WAR SAVINGS ASSOCIATION HAS BEEN FORMED AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT Hand in...
Appeal to War Savings Associations
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-10
whole: the title is placed across the top, in red and black. The text is below, in black, with the subtitle below centre in red. image: text only. text: APPEAL TO WAR SAVINGS ASSOCIATIONS The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked us to sell 200 millions...
A War Bond is the Safest Investment
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the title and text are in black and orange, arranged in banner form and positioned centrally. A green, orange and black horizontal zig-zag design is placed above and below the text. image: text only. text: A War Bond is the safest investment in...