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.

Main menu

IWM London
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM North
Manchester
Open daily 10am - 5pm
Last admission 4.30pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December

Admission is free
- What's On
- Visiting Information
IWM Duxford
Cambridgeshire
Open daily

Summer 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm

Winter 10am - 4pm
Last admission 3pm

Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
Churchill War Rooms
London
Open daily 9.30am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information
HMS Belfast
London
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Last admission 5pm
Closed 24, 25 and 26 December
- What's On
- Visiting Information

Collections search

During the Blackout
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title and text are positioned across the whole, in red, and in white held within a black inset. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: During the BLACKOUT EXTRA CAUTION please Issued jointly by the National Safety First...
Drivers - Blackout
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1939
whole: the title is positioned in the upper half, in red set against a black area, and in black. The text is separate and located in the lower half, in black. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: DRIVERS BLACKOUT Restricted Vision...
Keep Your Torch Down
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1939
whole: the image occupies the majority, set against a black background. The title is partially integrated and positioned across the top edge, in black, and in the upper left, in white. The text is partially integrated and placed in the lower quarter, in...
The Law Now Says Every Cyclist Must Show a Red Rear Light at Night
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the lower half, in red cursive script, and in grey and black, held within a white text panel. The text is separate and placed across the top edge, in white, set against a...
Germs Love an Open Wound!
(posters) Made by: Mendoza (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title separate and positioned in the upper right, in red. The main text is separate and placed in the lower quarter, in green and red. Further text is integrated and positioned in the upper half, in green...
This is Hitler's Idea of Tidiness
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in black. The text is integrated and placed in the lower right, also in black. All set against a white background. image: a full-length depiction of a...
Take your Gas Mask Everywhere
(posters) Made by: Eckersley, Tom & Lombers, Eric (artist) 1939
whole: the image occupies the whole, with the title integrated and positioned across the centre and in the lower quarter, in blue and in white. The text is positioned across the bottom edge, in brown. All set against a white background. image: a brown...
Wait Until the Bus Stops
(posters) Made by: Mendoza (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned in the upper left, in red outlined black, and in the lower right, in white. The text is separate and placed in the upper right, in black, and across the bottom edge, in...
LOOK OUT IN THE BLACK-OUT
(posters) Made by: Gammon, Reg (artist) 1939
image: diagram of a bicycle in red against a plain paper background, with labels in red and black indicating necessary features; logos of National Safety First Association and Cyclists' Touring Club at left and right respectively; at the bottom of the...
Wear Something Light - Carry Something White
(posters) Made by: Morris, G R (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the title integrated and positioned in the centre left and centre right, in white. The text is separate and placed along the bottom edge, in black, some held within a red inset. The emblem of the National...