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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THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Anderson W G (Lt)
A photograph taken covertly at Oflag 79 in Brunswick, showing POWs in one of the compounds and smoke in the distance from German demolitions at the neighbouring airfield, April 1945.
THE BRITISH ARMY IN NORTH-WEST EUROPE 1944-45
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Anderson W G (Lt)
An American soldier takes a photograph of British POWs at Oflag 79 in Brunswick, 12 April 1945.
ROYAL AIR FORCE BOMBER COMMAND, 1939-1945.
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 5 Army Film & Photographic Section, Army Film And Photograph Unit
Avro Lancaster B Mark III, PB979 'F2-F', of No. 635 Squadron RAF, carrying liberated British prisoners of war back to the United Kingdom, prepares to take off from Lubeck, Germany. Note the Automatic Gun Laying (Turret) radar, known as "Village Inn",...
ROYAL AIR FORCE BOMBER COMMAND, 1939-1945.
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: No 5 Army Film & Photographic Section, Army Film And Photograph Unit
British former prisoners of war prepare to board an Avro Lancaster B Mark I, PB934, of No. 582 Squadron RAF at Lubeck, Germany, for repatriation.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BELGIUM
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Barker J E (Lieutenant)
German prisoners of war repairing army boots for British troops at a camp near Brussels.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BELGIUM
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Barker J E (Lieutenant)
German prisoners of war with tailoring skills altering British servicemens battledress in a camp near Brussels.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BELGIUM
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Barker J E (Lieutenant)
A German prisoner of war, formerly a watchmaker by trade, repairs watches owned by British servicemen.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BELGIUM
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Barker J E (Lieutenant)
A German prisoner of war is given instruction in vehicle repair by a British sergeant in a repair shop adjoining a prisoner of war camp near Brussels where German labour is used to service British military vehicles.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BELGIUM
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Barker J E (Lieutenant)
German prisoners of war working in a British Army cookhouse near Brussels.
GERMAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN BELGIUM
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Barker J E (Lieutenant)
German prisoners of war working at a petrol filling station near Brussels under the supervision of British soldiers.