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In pictures

The Battle of Britain's 'hardest day'

In 1940 the Royal Air Force resisted major aerial attacks from Germany in what became known as the Battle of Britain. One moment is sometimes singled out as the ‘hardest day’ of the fighting – 18 August. One of the many sites targeted that day was Kenley, an airfield just south of London.

Map showing as far as Sheffield at the top and Bristol on the left side, with air bases marked.
Date
1940
Catalogue reference
AIR 41/16
Map showing as far as Sheffield at the top and Bristol on the left side, with air bases marked.

Plan of RAF Kenley aerodrome, with blue, yellow and red coloured sections.
Date
December 1939
Catalogue reference
AIR 28/419
Plan of RAF Kenley aerodrome, with blue, yellow and red coloured sections.

Typewritten table with columns for Place, Date, Time and Summary of Events.
Date
August 1940
Catalogue reference
AIR 24/507
Typewritten table with columns for Place, Date, Time and Summary of Events.

Typewritten table with columns for Place, Date, Time and Summary of Events, with daily entries.
Date
August 1940
Catalogue reference
AIR 28/419
Typewritten table with columns for Place, Date, Time and Summary of Events, with daily entries.

Typewritten page with 18 numbered points each describing a detail, eg '16. No poison gas was used.'
Date
1940
Catalogue reference
AIR 41/16
Typewritten page with 18 numbered points each describing a detail, eg '16. No poison gas was used.'

Printed form completed by typewriter and signed by Sergeant Wallace.
Date
August 1940
Catalogue reference
AIR 50/43/89
Printed form completed by typewriter and signed by Sergeant Wallace.

Tidy handwritten list of four people's names and next of kin.
Date
1940
Catalogue reference
AIR 81/3484
Tidy handwritten list of four people's names and next of kin.

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