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

THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1941-09-16
General Frederick Pile, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Anti-Aircraft Command, and General Marian Kukiel, the CO of the 1st Polish Corps, inspecting anti-aircraft gunners of the 1st Corps at Dumfermline.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1941-09-16
General Frederick Pile, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Anti-Aircraft Command, and General Marian Kukiel, the CO of the 1st Polish Corps, inspecting anti-aircraft gunners of the 1st Corps at Dumfermline.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1941-09-16
General Marian Kukiel, the CO of the 1st Polish Corps (first from the left), and General Frederick Pile, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Anti-Aircraft Command (third from the left), inspecting a 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun predictor of...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1941-09-16
General Frederick Pile, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Anti-Aircraft Command (second from the left), and General Marian Kukiel, the CO of the 1st Polish Corps (wearing square hat), in conversation with Scottish War Correspondents at...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1940-11-11
General Marian Kukiel, the CO of the 1st Polish Corps, Colonel Konstanty Skąpski, the CO of the 1st Corps Engineers, and unidentified British senior officer in conversation at the 1st Corps HQs at Bridge of Earn.
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1940-12-11
General Alan Brooke, the C-in-C of the Home Forces; General Władysław Sikorski, the C-in-C of the Polish Armed Forces and General Harold Carrington, the CO of the Scottish Command, during General Brooke's visit to units of the 1st Polish Corps in Dundee...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1940-12-11
General Alan Brooke, the C-in-C of the Home Forces, getting under a 4 inch artillery gun during his inspection of coastal defences at Carnoustie. He is accompanied by General Władysław Sikorski, the C-in-C of the Polish Armed Forces (behind gun's barrel...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1940-12-11
General Alan Brooke, the C-in-C of the Home Forces, checking a shallow trench during his inspection of coastal defences at Carnoustie. He is accompanied by General Harold Carrington, the CO of the Scottish Command (first from the left); General Kukiel,...
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1942-01-25
General Andrew Thorne, the C-in-C of the Scottish Command, inspecting a Guard of Honour of the 1st Polish Corps during a decoration ceremony at Bridge of Earn (1st Corps HQs). He decorated two Polish Army officers with the Order of British Empire (OBE)....
THE POLISH ARMY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, 1940-47
part of "WAR OFFICE SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: War Office official photographer 1940-12-11
General Harold Carrington, the CO of the Scottish Command; General Władysław Sikorski, the C-in-C of the Polish Armed Forces and General Alan Brooke, C-in-C of the Home Forces, watching troops of the 1st Polish Corps during a parade. General Marian...