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 "Italian POWs at a church service"

recording
(sound) Made by: Marshall, William (Production company) 1971-12
British private served with 1/5th Bn King's Liverpool Regt on Western Front, 1914-1918; POW, 1918
Turner, Carmela Frances 'Meme' (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2004-08-13
Maltese nurse served with Voluntary Aid Detachment at 90th General Hospital in Malta, 1939-1943; served with 1st Mobile Hospital and 45th General Hospital in Italy, 1943-1945
Dance, Albert Vincent 'Reg (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-02-06
British private served with Rifle Brigade in France in 1940; NCO served with Glider Pilot Regt in GB, Sicily, North Africa and North West Europe, 1941-1944; POW in Germany, 1944-1945
Cass, Thomas (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British sapper served with 201st Field Coy Royal Engineers on Western Front, 1915-1918; POW in Germany, 1918
Horabin, Roshan (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-08-05
Indian civilian welfare worker with No 3 District St John' Ambulance Brigade, 1939-1946, and Prisoner of War (Intelligence) Division in Bombay, India also served with 1942-1944; emigrated to England 1946
Whittaker, Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1992
British NCO served with 425 Bty, 107th Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1939-1942; POW in Italy and Austria, 1942-1945
Tyers, Alfred (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2008
British private served with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1940; NCO served with Infantry Base Depot in France, 1940; served with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in France, 1940; POW in Germany, 1940- 1945; private served with Durham Light Infantry and...
O'Sullivan, Patrick (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2001
British private served with Lincolnshire Regt Depot in GB, 1942; served with 6th Bn Lincolnshire Regt in GB, 1942; served with 2/5th Bn Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt (Sherwood Foresters) in GB and North Africa, 1942-1943; POW in Italy and Germany,...
McDonald, Oswald Stanley "Mac" (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British private served with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1941-1942; served with 16th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB and North Africa, 1942-1943; POW in Italy and Germany, 1943-1945; private served with Army Catering Corps in GB, 1945-1946
Jarvis, John Thomas (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British private served with Durham Light Infantry Depot in GB, 1939-1940; private and NCO served with 6th Bn Durham Light Infantry in GB, Cyprus, Iraq and North Africa, 1940-1942; POW in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1943; escaped and served with Italian...