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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Jeffreys, Peter John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-03-18
British officer served with 6th Bn, Durham Light Infantry in North West Europe, 1940. Present during Arras counter-attack, 5/1940. Evacuated from Dunkirk, 5/1940
Hammerton, Ian Charles (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-08-01
British officer served with 22nd Dragoons, 79th Armoured Div in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945
Gornowski, Alicia (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-03-23
Polish Jewish inmate in Warsaw Ghetto, 1940-1943; in hiding in Warsaw area, 1943-1945
Bickersteth, John Monier (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-09-02
British officer served with 89th Light Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery in GB and North West Europe, 1941-1945
Bucke, Reginald (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-02-20
British stoker served aboard HMS Fowey in Persian Gulf, 1934-1936; served with HMS Aphis on China Station, 1937-1939; served aboard submarines HMS Triton, HMS Perseus, HMS Otus and HMS Satyr in North Sea and Mediterranean, 1940-1943; served aboard...
Roberts, Ronald Marks (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-02-27
British seaman served aboard HMS Exeter in Atlantic, 1939-1940
HALL, CHARLES (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-03-03
British private served with Welch Regt in GB, 1940-1941; NCO served with Royal Corps of Signals in India and Burma, 1941-1945
Addyman, Alistair George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-02-18
British electrical artificer served aboard HMS Exeter in Atlantic, 1935-1940
Jennings, Richard Borthwick (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-02-12
British officer served aboard HMS Exeter in Atlantic, 1936-1939
Curtiss, Lawrence Wesley (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-02-07
British NCO served as wireless operator with 99 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940-1941; officer served with Bombing Development Unit and 617 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943-1945