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 for "Facts of the Fight for the Factory"

Facts of the Fight for the Factory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half, held within an orange border. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in white, set against a blue background. The text is separate and placed in the lower half, in black, and in white held...
Facts of the Fight for the Factory
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half, held within an orange border. The title is separate and placed along the top edge, in white, set against a blue background. The text is separate and placed in the lower half, in black, and in white held...
WARWORK NEWS NO 43 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1944
I. "The battle of Germany." Development of "bigger and more beautiful bombs" is illustrated by views of cranes lifting 4,000 lb, 8,000 lb and finally 12,000 lb bombs. Aerial film of the large flash caused by a 12,000 lb bomb during a recent raid on...
Copy of Letter from General Sir Douglas Haig
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: the title is positioned in the upper quarter, with the text occupying the remainder, both in black. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: H.M. FACTORY, GRETNA COPY OF LETTER FROM GENERAL SIR DOUGLAS HAIG Commanding British...
CEMA [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Dickinson, Desmond (Production individual) 1942
A documentary released in September 1942 about the precursor to the Arts Council, the wartime Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts (CEMA), featuring an introduction by education minister R A Butler, an art exhibition in a factory and live...
Cook, Matthew (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British war artist with The Times in Kuwait and Iraq, 2003; NCO served with The London Regt in Iraq, 2004; war artist with Royal Gloucester, Berkshire and Wiltshire Light Infantry in Afghanistan, 2006; artist with Conde Nast in North Korea, 2006
WARWORK NEWS NO 2 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1942
I. "Factory beats bomber." a. A munitions factory damaged in a tip and run raid manages to resume production after only five days. Workers step through rubble to reach factory while victims of the raid sit smiling in hospital. RAF officer explains the...
WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 56 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Keating, Rex (Production individual) 1942-05-25
Twenty Four Hours a Day Seven Days a Week! Aircraft Production.
CHRISTMAS UNDER FIRE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hasse, Charles (Production individual) 1941
The film begins with a darkened shot of the ceiling in a large church, with 'Ding Dong Merrily on High' begins sung in the background. Narrator Quentin Reynolds, seated at a desk in what appears to be his study, tells us that it is Christmas Day in 1940...
WAR PICTORIAL NEWS NO 51 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Keating, Rex (Production individual) 1942-04-20
India.