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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Collections search

private purchase medical kit
(equipment) Made by: Army & Navy Co-operative Society Ltd, London
Privately purchased kit associated with the First World War service (in the British Army) of F C Levey
Respirator (Service) & Haversack (MkVIII)
(equipment)
Second World War period British Army issue respirator (gas mask). The Service Respirator was issued to all members of the armed forces as well as those in certain civil air raid precautions services whose duties might involve them working in areas of...
Night Vision Goggles: American
(equipment)
Passive night vision goggles of the type used by British helicopter pilots flying covert operations to land SAS reconnaissance parties on the Falklands Islands before the main landings
V2 Rocket Nose Fuze
(weapons and ammunition)
removed from MX/Second World War Exhibition/Case 66
binocular, prismatic, Military Stereo 6 x 30
(equipment) Made by: Bausch & Lomb Co, Rochester, New York
binoculars, case
monocular
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Colonel Waring was involved in aiding allied escapers and evaders in South Eastern China.
Level, Pocket (Abney) Mk IV 4 (Aust) V B A 2221
(equipment) Made by: J W Handley, Australia 1942
level, case, strap, empty case
Grenade, hand, anti-tank, No 74 Mk 2, S T/Sticky Bomb
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: I C I A
British No 74 Mark II anti-tank hand grenade (ST/'Sticky Bomb'), Second World War period, in metal, glass, bakelite and cloth.
The 'Lifeguard' Pocket Periscope
(equipment) Made by: F Duerr & Sons, Manchester 1915
First World War period privately purchased British collapsible trench periscope with canvas-covered carrying 'box'. In 1915, it cost 'twelve shillings and sixpence' for a 'cloth-covered leather-board box', or 'fifteen shillings' for a 'strong khaki...
trench periscope
(equipment)
leather covered trench periscope.