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

Generale Buttafuoco
(art) Made by: Freeth, Hubert Andrew (RA) 1942
image: A head and shoulder portrait of General Buttafuoco in uniform, facing slightly away from the viewer.
Italian officer's sword, with scabbard
(weapons and ammunition)
This sword was taken from the wall of an Italian officer's mess in Tripoli by British troops, at the time of that city's capture in January 1943. It was later donated to the museum by the former commanding officer of 22nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade, Royal...
Cap, M1942 Tropical Bustina Field Cap: Italian
(uniforms and insignia)
Second World War period Italian Army issue field cap: a tropical version of the Bustina field cap introduced in 1942 for service in North Africa.
Private Papers of J E Parkinson
(private papers) Made by: Parkinson, J E
Ms diary (60pp) for November 1942 - December 1943 and a 1944 pocket diary with entries for January - July, together with a ts transcript (25pp) of the two diaries, covering his service, with the rank of lance corporal, as a jeep driver and later...
recording
(sound) Made by: Thames Television (Production company) 1972
Italian soldier served in the North African desert c1940-1942
recording
(sound) Made by: Thames Television (Production company) 1972
Italian soldier's recollections of war in North Africa; POW
Private Papers of J W Kelly
(private papers) Made by: Kelly, J W
A lively ms diary (103pp), with ts transcript (66pp), covering his service as a gunner in 153rd Battery, 51st HAA Regiment RA (4th AA Brigade) during Wavell's offensive in North Africa leading to the capture of Tobruk (January 1941) and in the garrison...