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

doll, Father Christmas
(souvenirs and ephemera)
'Father Christmas' needlwork doll associated with the First World War service of Lance Corporal Charles James Frampton. Lance Corporal Frampton made this doll whilst recuperating in hospital from injuries he sustained on the Western Front. He later died...
'Trenchman' belt
(souvenirs and ephemera)
First World War period commercially produced (unofficial) personal kit in the form of a broad waist belt, which was claimed by its manufacturers to provide protection for the wearer from body infestations (notably lice) and 'chills' resulting from the...
Princess Mary's Gift Fund 1914 Box, Class A smokers
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Princess Mary's Gift Fund (1914) Box. The Gift Fund was inaugurated by Princess Mary in October 1914 to provide a gift for every serviceman at the front or at sea ('Class A') for the first Christmas of the War. The majority of gifts were for smokers and...
Princess Mary's Gift Fund 1914 Box, Class A smokers
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Princess Mary's Gift Fund 1914 Box. The Gift Fund was inaugurated by Princess Mary in October 1914 to provide a gift for every serviceman at the front or at sea ('Class A') for the first Christmas of the First World War. The majority of gifts were for...
Princess Mary's Gift Fund 1914 Box, Class A, smokers
(souvenirs and ephemera)
The Gift Fund was inaugurated by Princess Mary in October 1914 to provide a gift to every serviceman at the front or at sea ('Class A') for the first Christmas of the War. The majority of gifts were for smokers and contained tobacco, cigarettes, a pipe...
gramophone record, The Haunted Ballroom
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Columbia Graphophone Co Ltd
Used by donor on Western Front 1916-18
Camouflaged Sniper's Gloves
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Tudor-Hart, Percyval 1917
whole: A pair of gloves, hand-painted with a striped zig-zag camouflage pattern in greens, browns, blue, purple and red; the pattern is crossed by stripes of alternating narrow green and purple rectangles. The gloves are pleated on the back of each hand...
Torah scroll
(souvenirs and ephemera)
The badly burnt Torah scroll was rescued in 1945 from a village in the province of Hanover, Germany, by Rev Dr Isaac Levy, one of two British Army rabbis who officiated at burials in Belsen in April 1945. The finding of the scroll is mentioned in Isaac...
plaque, British Forces Middle East
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Hung on the speaker's podium during British media briefings at the Hyatt Hotel.
crucifix
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Crucifix associated with the First World War British Army service of F Gould (on the Western Front, including the Somme).