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 "shoe"

Shoes: WLA/ATS
(uniforms and insignia)
Shoes of this type were the common issue to both ATS and WLA during the Second World War.
Sand Shoes, hide (Turkish)
(uniforms and insignia)
shoes Pair of hand-made shoes made of animal hide.
Shoes, Canvas (PT): British Army
(uniforms and insignia)
Canvas shoes were issued to all soldiers for physical training (PT), and were also worn by troops on troopships and when inside transport aircraft (to avoid damage from conventional studded boots), as well as when in hospital and within barracks when...
Shoes, Wire sand shoes
(uniforms and insignia)
These wire sand shoes were worn by Captain A H Lee of the 1/5th Battalion, The Welsh Regiment (Lee won the MC during the First Battle for Gaza, 26 March 1917).
Shoes, 'Tabi' : Japanese Army
(uniforms and insignia)
This peculiar form of footwear were issued to Japanese personnel and worn as an alternative to conventional leather ankle boots.
Shoes, French Army Officer's
(uniforms and insignia)
Shoes
Shoes, Black Leather (WRAF)
(uniforms and insignia)
shoes
Shoes, WLA
(uniforms and insignia) Made by: Parker Shoes 1943
Shoes Pair of matching brown leather laced shoes. Shoes have leather soles and have steel horseshoes fitted.
Shoes, WLA
(uniforms and insignia) Made by: Parker Shoes
Borne in 1917 but disbanded after the First World War, the Women's Land Army was reformed in 1939 as an additional source of valuable agricultural labour. 4,500 'Land Girls' had enrolled by the end of 1939, and numbers swelled to over 86,000 by 1943,...
Shoes, WLA/ATS
(uniforms and insignia) Made by: Parker Shoes
Shoes of this type were the common issue to both ATS and WLA during the Second World War.