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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Grenade, hand and rifle, No 2 Mk 1
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: The Cotton Powder Company Limited, London
produced by M Hales for export to Mexico but entire stock bought buy British government in 1914; production problems restricted production; 130,000 made when production ceased end of 1915
Grenade, Hand, No 1 Mk 1
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: B and S
introduced following Russo-Japanese War 1904-5 and only grenade in service in August 1914; adopted as standard percussion grenade in France in May/1915; production problems delayed massed production; by end of production in mid -1916 375,000 had been made
Grenade, hand, (Sectioned) No 1 Mk III, in transit box
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Western Electrical Company Limited
grenade, pin, handle, streamer, box brass cylinder : removable cap rotating through 3 positions (Fire, Travel, Remove) with safety pin through; 16 segment cast iron fragmentation ring around middle of cylinder; clip attached to outside for hanging on...
Grenade, Hand, No 2 Mk II (Sectioned)
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: The Cotton Powder Co Limited, London
screw cap/detonator housing tube, detonator, creeper spring, striker, safety pin, main body, throwing handle, streamer brass cylinder with open threaded top and threaded extension from base, 1/4 cut away to expose interior (inside painted red, red stripe...
Grenade, Hand, No 2 Mk II (Sectioned)
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: The Cotton Powder Co Limited, London
screw cap, detonator housing, detonator, striker housing, striker, creeper spring, main body, pin, handle, streamer brass cylinder with open threaded top and threaded extension from base, 1/3 cut away to expose interior; 24 segment cast iron...
Grenade, Hand, No 2 Mk II
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: The Cotton Powder Co Limited, London
detonator housing, main body, pin, handle, streamer brass cylinder with open threaded top and threaded extension from base, red stripe painted around top outside; 24 segment cast iron fragmentation ring around top of main body; top of cylinder closed...
Grenade, Hand, No 19
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Edison and Swan Limited 1916
striker assembly, main body, base plug, throwing handle, streamer pear shaped segmented cast iron body with threaded extension in top and threaded hole in base, painted black outside; brass striker assembly screwed into top : wide circular striker plate...
Grenade, Hand, No 19
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Edison and Swan Limited 1916
Striker assembly, main body, base plug, throwing handle, streamer. Pear-shaped segmented cast iron body with threaded extension in top and threaded hole in base, painted black outside with red stripe around top extension; brass striker assembly screwed...
Grenade, Hand, No 19
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: F B 1916
Striker assembly, main body, base plug, throwing handle, streamer. Pear-shaped segmented cast iron body with threaded extension in top and threaded hole in base, painted black outside; brass striker assembly screwed into top : wide circular striker...
Grenade, Hand, No 2 Mk II
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: The Cotton Powder Co Limited, London
small screw cap, detonator housing, large screw cap, main body, pin, handle, streamer brass cylinder with open threaded top and threaded extension from base, red stripe painted around top; 24 segment cast iron fragmentation ring around top of main body;...