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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Clough, John Renshaw (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987
British gunner served with 234 Bty, 89th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt, Royal Artillery on Crete, 1941
Richardson, Dennis (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987-06-04
British private served with 5th Bn Parachute Regiment in GB, Italy, France, Greece and Palestine, 1943-1947
Norman, William (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-10-05
British private served with 2nd Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt in India, 1935-1941; NCO served with 2nd Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt in Burma, 1942; private served with 2nd Commando in Albania and Italy, 1944-1945; NCO served with 1st Bn Duke of Wellington...
Morris, Herbert John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-10-19
British private served with 1 Troop, 2 Commando in Italy, Yugoslavia and Albania, 1943-1945
Jack, Archibald Frederick Maclean (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-03-18
British Army officer served with Royal Engineers and with SOE with Chetniks in Yugoslavia, 1943-1944 and in Bari, Italy, 1944-1945
Ash, Maurice Anthony (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1988-05-24
British officer served as staff officer with Headquarters, 23rd Armoured Brigade in Greece, 1944-1945
Telling, Edward Frederick (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989-11-02
British gunner served with 166 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Artillery in GB, 1939-1940; served with 207 Coast Battery, Royal Artillery in GB and Crete, 1940-1941
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.