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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Eggar, Douglas Coppleston 'Dougal (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-10-01
British volunteer served with British Battalion, 15th Infantry Brigade, International Brigade in Spain, 1938; POW in Spain, 1938
Collapsible placing rod (for limpet mine)
(weapons and ammunition)
placing rod still sealed closed
recording
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2002-10-16
Police Ford Transit Incident Vehicle engine ticking over
Mahon, Shaun (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British trooper and NCO served with Horse Guards Training Regiment at Windsor in GB, 1948-1949; NCO served with Life Guards in GB, Germany and Canal Zone, 1949-1956; served with Armoured Car Squadron, Arab Protectorate Levies in Aden, 1957-1959; served...
pocket game, British, 'Poker Dice
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: British Made 1939
Second World War period 'Poker Dice' pocket game, made in Britain in 1939. The game, which is complete with instructions for playing, the five dice (each die being 7mm cube) being contained in a plastic cup/shaker (L 6cm x 1.5cm diameter).
recording
(sound)
Government advertisement encouraging the purchase of War Bonds during the First World War
A Cook's Tour of the Far East
(sound) Made by: Deakin, Alfred George Bert (interviewee/speaker)
British NCO in 2 Bn, Worcestershire Regt in China 1935-1943
Why Britain is at War
(sound) Made by: AINLEY, HENRY (interviewee/speaker) 1914
British civilian speaker reading out letter entitled 'Why Britain is at War' published in The Times, 31/Aug/1914
'The Semaphore Simplified' training cards
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Gale & Polden Ltd, Aldershot
First World War period British semaphore training cards used to train signallers in semaphore.
Limpet Mine Type 6 Mark II
(weapons and ammunition)
Limpet Mine Type 6 Mark II with AC delay fuze. This type of mine contained 2.5 lbs of plastic explosive and was used by SOE saboteurs against enemy shipping.