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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How War Savings Certificates Grow in Value
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-04
whole: the title is placed across the top, with the subtitle across the bottom, both in red. Further text is in black and red. All held within black frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: HOW WAR SAVINGS CERTIFICATES GROW IN...
Stamp it on Your Memory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is in red and positioned lower right. The image is placed upper left, incorporating the subtitle. All are set against an off-yellow background. image: a red postage stamp franked with a rectangle bearing the subtitle. text: BUY NATIONAL...
Buy National War Bonds Now
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is arranged diagonally from top left to bottom right. The text is in white, set against a dark blue background. image: text only. text: Buy National War Bonds Now A.C.94.
Sam Brierley
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918-05
whole: the title is positioned in the upper left in black. The image is placed upper right. The text is arranged in columnar fashion down the left-hand side and the lower right-hand side. All held within a brown white frame against a white background....
Turn Your Money into War Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title and image are integrated. The title is arranged across the top and the bottom, in light blue, with the image central. image: a bright yellow crescent moon set against a dark blue background. text: TURN YOUR MONEY INTO WAR BONDS No.114....
Buy Your War Bonds Now!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is placed lower left, in grey-blue and speckled red against a black background. The image is positioned above at the upper right. image: a quarter segment of a Royal Flying Corps insignia roundel. text: BUY WAR BONDS NOW No.74.
Buy War Bonds Now
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is arranged diagonally from centre left to bottom right, in white and turquoise against a black background. The image is positioned above the title in the upper half. image: numerous gun barrels point right and are silhouetted against...
The Voluntary System Versus Conscription
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in black and set against a yellow background. image: text only. text: LONDON TRADES COUNCIL AND JOINT LABOUR RECRUITING COMMITTEE'S CAMPAIGN. THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM versus CONSCRIPTION A DEMONSTRATION will be...
Rally Round the Flag - Join the Army Today - Every Fit Man Wanted
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-09
whole: the image is positioned at the left edge and repeated at the right edge. The title occupies the remainder, in red. All set against a white background and held within a blue border. image: a Union Flag. text: RALLY ROUND THE FALG - JOIN THE ARMY TO...
To My People
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in red and in black. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: BUCKINGHAM PALACE. TO MY PEOPLE. At this grave moment in the struggle between my people and a highly organised enemy who has...