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

Improvised 3in Mortar
(weapons and ammunition)
Improvised Home Guard 3in Mortar
MG 15
(weapons and ammunition) 1939
The MG15 was the standard flexible-mount machine gun of the German air force at the outbreak of the Second World War. As such, it formed the main defensive armament of German bombers from 1939 until 1941. Developed secretly during the 1930s, the MG15...
Springfield Model 1878 rifle
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Springfield
This rifle was one of a number of weapons provided for Home Guard use in 1940 by an American organization called the American Committee for the Defence of British Homes. They mounted a public appeal for firearms and binoculars which could be sent to aid...
Winchester M1894 sporting takedown rifle .30/30 Winchester
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Winchester
This rifle was one of a number of weapons provided for Home Guard use in 1940 by an American organization called the American Committee for the Defence of British Homes. They mounted a public appeal for firearms and binoculars which could be sent to aid...
Remington Model 10 riot shotgun
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Remington Arms Co., Ilion, New York.
This shotgun was one of a number of weapons provided for Home Guard use in 1940 by an American organization called the American Committee for the Defence of British Homes. They mounted a public appeal for firearms and binoculars which could be sent to...
Rifle, No4 Mk1
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: ROF Fazakerley, Liverpool
The British No 4 rifle was a development of the Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield (see FIR 7815). It featured a heavier, flat-sided body, a heavier barrel and an aperture rear sight. The No 4 was approved for service in November 1939 but, due to the...
Grenade Fragmentation Improvised
(weapons and ammunition)
grenade Improvised use of glass jar
Projectile 29mm Spigot Blacker Drill
(weapons and ammunition)
bomb Sand filled drill round for Blacker Bombard 29mm Spigot Mortar
Home made molotov cocktail grenade
(weapons and ammunition)
Typical home-made molotove cocktail type of incendiary grenade, based on a glass bottle, filled with a flammable liquid, to which are attached several matches to act as the flame source, when the bottle is broken.
dummy rifle, British
(weapons and ammunition)
This dummy rifle saw service as a training-aid during both World Wars. In configuration it resembles a pre-First World War Mark 1 or Mark 2 Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle and bears the mark of a unit of the Volunteer Training Corps - the First World...