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

clasp knife, British Army issue (Turner 'Encore' clasp knife)
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Thomas Turner and Co, Sheffield
First World War period British Army issue clasp knife. Manufactured by Thomas Turner & Co of Sheffield, this knife departs from the standard pattern knife of the period in that its grip scales are made of plain metal, rather than chequered horn....
Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife [2nd Pattern]
(weapons and ammunition)
The Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting (or Commando) Knife was designed in 1940 by Captain W E Fairbairn and Captain E A Sykes. These officers were assigned to train British (and later US) special forces personnel in close combat techniques, which they had learnt...
machete - Martindale "Crocodile
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Martindale England & Birmingham
scabbard whole description : SPECIMEN & (SEE) WEA/752 hilt form : as WEA/752 except that the five copper rivets securing plastic grips to tang are flush-ground on left side and recessed on right blade form : lighter version than CONTROL blade finish...
[KING GEORGE V'S VISIT TO MERVILLE, 14 DECEMBER 1914]
(decorations and awards) 1914
whole description : MODEL piece whole: rectangle (raised edges) piece obverse design : Royal Arms of George V and the arms of the French Republic separated by a vertical sword, point uppermost and blade entwined with laurel, positioned above twenty lines...
11.56 x 19R : [GB] Cartridge, SA, ball, revolver, .455-inch, Mark 4
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Royal Laboratory (GB & Greenwich, London)
Description: The Mark II was adopted for British service in July 1897. It retained the 265 grain bullet of the Mark I, but the case was shortened to improve burning efficiency with the chopped cordite propellant. The performance of this bullet was...
11.56 x 19R : [GB] Cartridge, SA, ball, revolver, .455-inch, Mk 6
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd (Kynoch) (GB & Witton, Birmingham) 1941
Reference: : 1969 : Text Book of Ammunition, 1944 : Arms and Armour Press : : pp 34-35
11.56 x 19R : [GB] Cartridge, SA, ball, revolver, .455-inch, Mk 3
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Royal Laboratory (GB & Woolwich, London)
Reference: Dowell, W C : 1962 : The Webley Story : Skyrac Press : pp 241, 244-245. Description: The Mark II was adopted for British service in July 1897. It retained the 265 grain bullet of the Mark I, but the case was shortened to improve burning...
11.56 x 22R : [GB] ; Cartridge, SA, ball, revolver, .455-inch, Mk I
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Royal Laboratory (GB & Woolwich, London)
Reference: : : 1897 : Treatise on Ammunition : War Office : : p 400. Description: Approved for service in July 1891 for the Webley and Enfield revolvers. It was loaded with an ogival lead/tin alloy bullet with three cannelures and a base cavity. and a...
oil can
(souvenirs and ephemera)
As used on the Belgian railways
oil can: Belgian
(souvenirs and ephemera)
As used on the Belgian railways