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

Brown, Thomas Hirst (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1987
British NCO served with 2/18th Bn and 1/6th Bn King's Liverpool Regt in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1918
A Cavalry Camp : the summer of 1916
(art) Made by: Morrall, J B 1916
image: a view across a British cavalry camp in the countryside of northern France. In the foreground some British soldiers tend to some horses at the side of a road that runs across the composition, a military truck driving along it. On the far side of...
War Drawings By Muirhead Bone: Welsh Soldiers
(art) Made by: Bone, Muirhead (artist) 1918
one of a portfolio of 60 prints
War Drawings By Muirhead Bone: The Battle of the Somme
(art) Made by: Bone, Muirhead (artist) 1918
one of a portfolio of 60 prints
crucifix
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Crucifix associated with the First World War British Army service of F Gould (on the Western Front, including the Somme).
recording
(sound) Made by: Catley, Eric George (interviewee/speaker) 1980
British private served as signaller on Western Front, 1914-1918, including Battle of the Somme, 7/1916
The Balloon Line, Somme, France, August 1918
(art) Made by: Carline, Richard C 1918-08-01
image: a view across a gently hilly landscape. Horses graze on the grass amongst a few bell tents in the foreground. In the cloudy blue sky above are three observation balloons.
Body Armour (commercial): British (Somme)
(equipment)
Reputed to have stopped a piece of shrapnel when worn by a British soldier during the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
OUR EMPIRE'S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM - PART 7 [Main Title]
(film) 1918
Continuation of the British participation in the First Battle of the Somme, later stages (chiefly a re-edit of IWM 116 BATTLE OF THE ANCRE), Western Front, autumn 1916.
OUR EMPIRE'S FIGHT FOR FREEDOM - PART 6 [Main Title]
(film) 1918
The British participation in the First Battle of the Somme (chiefly a re-edit of IWM 191 BATTLE OF THE SOMME), Western Front, summer 1916.