The one directly led into the other, more or less seamlessly.
The "Battle of Britain" can generally be considered the fight for aerial supremacy over southeastern England during the summer of 1940. Primarily daylight combat, with the goal (for the attacking force) of overpowering the defending air force as a weapon capable of contesting the planned cross-channel invasion (Operation Sealion).
The Battle transitioned to the Blitz when the focus of attacks shifted to London and other population centers. Generally a nighttime affair, the Blitz carried on long after Operation Sealion had been abandoned as a viable idea and Summer wore into Fall and beyond.
The RAF awarded its Battle of Britain service medal to aircrew who were in operation on or before the end of October 1940. Since that's the dividing line the RAF has drawn, it's probably as good as any to delineate the end of the Battle and the beginning of the Blitz, although in reality it was not so cut-and-dried.
Have you seen the RAF Museum's B.o.B. commemoration page?
http://www.battleofbritainbeacon.org/hi ... istory.cfmIt's really quite a good read.
Last edited by
IndyJen on Sun Sep 26, 2010 4:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.