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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Italian M1891/38 short rifle
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Reale Fabbrica d'Armi, Terni, Italy 1940
This rifle was a modification of the standard Italian Model 1891 infantry rifle (see FIR 7232). It owes its existence to the difficult situation in which the Italian Army found itself upon entering the Second World War. It had been intended to change the...
45/5 Modello 35 Brixia
(weapons and ammunition)
The Italian Army's Brixia was regarded as one of the most needlessly complicated mortar designs used by any of the Second World War combatants. It embodied a number of novel features including a magazine holding ten propelling cartridges and a gas port...
Beretta M1934
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Pietro Beretta SpA, Gardone Valtrompia, Italy 1937
The Beretta M1934 was the most successful of a series of pistols produced by Beretta for the Italian Army. It was designed by Beretta's chief designer, Tullio Marengoni, in response to a military decision to replace all existing service pistols with a...
General Babini
(art) Made by: Freeth, Hubert Andrew (RA) 1941
image: A head and shoulders portrait of General Valentino Babini in uniform.
General Cona
(art) Made by: Freeth, Hubert Andrew (RA) 1941
image: A head and shoulders portrait of General Ferdinando Cona wearing a hat and uniform.
Italian M1891 bayonet, with scabbard
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Rocca 1942
The Italian Model 1891 bayonet was issued in conjunction with the M1891 Infantry Rifle (see FIR 7232), versions of which were used in both World Wars by the Italian armed forces. This example was manufactured in 1942.
Breda M30
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Societa Italiana Ernesto Breda
The Breda M30 was the standard light machine-gun of the Italian Army during the Second World War. It was operated by an unusual "delayed blowback" system first used in the Italian Revelli machine-gun of the First World War (see FIR 9320). The resulting...
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.
Steel Helmet, M1933: Italian
(uniforms and insignia)
Second World War period Italian Army issue steel helmet. The M1933 helmet was painted grey/green and until 1942 was usually stencilled with a black branch of service badge with the number of the unit to the centre.