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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Collections search

We're in it Together
(posters) Made by: Henrion, Frederic Henri Kay (artist) 1943
whole: a photo-montage with the main image positioned left, smaller images occupying the right, and the title positioned along the bottom. image: large, partially coloured image of female telephonist on left. Positioned right four images of various...
Keep Death off the Road
(posters) Made by: Keely, Pat (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole. The title is integrated and positioned in the lower third, in pink. The text is integrated and placed in the lower quarter, in white. The title and text are held within a pink border. image: a half-length depiction of...
Keep 'em Moving
(posters) Made by: Folkard-Roberts (artist) 1943
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned across the centre, in brown cursive script. The text is separate and placed in the lower half, in black and orange, held within a white inset. image: a stylised depiction of...
19.00 Hours - Time Now
(posters) Made by: Ashton (artist) 1943-11
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper left, in black. The text is integrated and placed in the lower right in black, in the lower left in white, and partially integrated and located across the bottom...
The Hidden Hand
(posters) Made by: Pearse, A (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, held within a black border. The title and main text are separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in white outlined black. Further text is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, also in white outlined...
Britain's Sea Power is Yours!
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Walter (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the Admiralty seal placed in the upper right. The title is separate and positioned along the top edge and bottom edge, in red. The text is integrated and placed in the lower right, in white. All set against a...
Their Home - Belgium 1918
(posters) Made by: Brown, F Gregory (artist) 1918-05
whole: the image is placed centrally, with the title across the top and the subtitle across the bottom, both in dark blue. All set against a light grey background. image: a weeping mother and her two children sit with a cradle amongst the ruins of Ypres...
To Prevent This - Buy War Savings Certificates Now
(posters) Made by: Brown, F Gregory (artist) 1918-06
whole: the title is arranged across the top and bottom, with the image central. All set against a black background. image: a scene from within a steelworks, showing brutal treatment meted out by occupying German troops on an enslaved civilian workforce....
Buy War Savings Certificates
(posters) Made by: Burton, Charles (artist) 1919
whole: the image is placed at the top, held within a black frame, with the title and text below. All set against a deep blue background. Image: Under a yellow sky a farmworker, foreground left, drives a tractor, ploughing a field. A red roofed farmhouse...
Buy War Savings Certificates
(posters) Made by: Burton, Charles (artist) 1919
whole: the image is placed at the top, held within a black frame, with the title and text below. All set against a deep blue background. image: a shipbuilding scene, featuring workers in the foreground and the bow and keel of a vessel under construction...