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

Florence, 1945
(art) Made by: Stoll, Juan 1945
image: a view looking up several figures crossing a wooden bridge in Florence.
Ruins, Italy
(art) Made by: Stoll, Juan
image: the ruins of a church.
Valmontone
(art) Made by: Stoll, Juan 1945
image: a view looking up at a domed church surrounded by the ruins of bomb-damaged buildings.
A Scene in Italy
(art) Made by: Stoll, Juan
image: the wall of a ruined building, possibly a church, surrounded by rubble.
Back Them Up!
(posters) Made by: Stone, Marc (artist) 1941
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a British cruiser ramming an Italian submarine. text: MARC...
The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured
(posters) Made by: Stone, Marc (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a British cruiser ramming an Italian submarine. text: MARC...
La Chute des Dictateurs est Assuree [The Downfall of the Dictators is Assured]
(posters) Made by: Stone, Marc
whole: the image is positioned in the upper three-quarters. The title and text are separate and placed in the lower quarter, in black. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of a British cruiser ramming an Italian submarine. text: MARC...
Loading Stores for Italy at Algiers
(art) Made by: Pitchforth, Roland Vivian (RA) 1944
image: a view looking down on the busy quay side, bustling with people, where cranes are loading military vehicles on to a ship.
Souscrivez à l'Emprunt [Subscribe to the Loan]
(posters) Made by: Prélejan, René (artist)
whole: the image covers the majority of the poster area, with the title positioned in the top right corner. Further text is across the bottom. All held within an orange border. image: a demobilized French soldier, carrying a spade, a pick and trowel,...
Casualty of War
(art) Made by: Robb, Carole 1995
image: A night-time scene showing a dimly lit city street of dark doorways. In the middle of the road there is a naked woman lying on her side next to an unoccupied motorbike.