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

Smiley, David de Crespigny (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1988
British officer served with 1st Household Cavalry Regt in GB and Middle East, 1939-1940; served with 52 (Middle East) Commando in Egygt and East Africa, 1940-1941; served with 1st Household Cavalry Regt in Iraq, Syria, Persia, Cyprus and North Africa,...
Welrod
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: BSA Ltd
Donor served as SOE agent in Albania and the Far East.
pencil-clip, magnetized
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Col Smiley served with 52 (Middle East) Commando and later with SOE in Albania.
pencil-clip, magnetised
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Magnetised pencil clip from an 'escape kit' issued during the Second World War to Colonel David Smiley by Captain Jasper Maskeline, who ran an escaping course in Cairo for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) personnel in advance of their service in...
compass, bar
(equipment)
Colonel Smiley served with 52 (Middle East) Commando and later with SOE in Albania.
compass, bar
(equipment)
Col Smiley served with 52 (Middle East) Commando and later with SOE in Albania.
compass, bar
(equipment)
Bar compass from an escaping kit issued during the Second World War to Colonel David Smiley by Captain Jasper Maskeline, who ran an escaping course in Cairo for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) before they went into the field. Colonel Smiley served...
Bailey, Roderick et al (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1998-10-29
Special Operations Executive conference held at Imperial War Museum, London, 29/Oct/1998; panel discussion 'SOE and Albania'
Stewart, Duncan (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1998-10-29
Lectures entitled 'The SOE Archive' and 'SOE at the Public Record Office' given as part of Special Operations Executive conference held at Imperial War Museum, London, 29/Oct/1998; followed by panel discussion 'The Legacy of SOE'
Hodges, Lewis Macdonald (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1998-10-28
Special Operations Executive conference held at Imperial War Museum, London, 28/Oct/1998'; panel discussion 'SOE At Work'