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

Williams, Dorothy Margaret (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986-10-08
British civilian served with Home Guard in GB, 1940-1941; NCO served as wireless operator with Women's Auxiliary Air Force in GB, 1941-1945
White, George Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1999-07-11
British private served with 1st Bn Cambridgeshire Regt on Western Front, 1915-1918
Hughes, Albert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2005-10-03
British civilian worked as chemist at Chemical Defence Research Establishment in St Helens, GB, 1937-1942; aircraftman served with Initial Training Wing, RAF at Scarborough, GB, 11/1942-4/1943; trained as pilot with 16 Elementary Flying School, Burnaston...
Harvey, John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2001
British NCO trained with RAF in South Africa, 1943; served as navigator with 76 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1944; served with 148 Sqdn RAF in Italy and Palestine, 1944-1946
Vaux, Peter Alfred Lincoln (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2000-12-12
British officer served with 4th Royal Tank Regt in GB and North Africa, 1940-1941; served as staff officer with Headquarters, 7th Armoured Division, 10/1941-9/1942, with Headquarters, 13th Corps in North Africa, 9/1942-12/1942; served as staff officer...
Wilkinson, Peter Allix (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1993
British officer with 2nd Bn Royal Fusiliers in GB, 1935-1938; intelligence duties with War Office and Secret Intelligence Service in Czechoslovakia, 1938-1939; officer served with Military Intelligence Research in Poland and Romania, 1939; officer served...