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

TEMPORARY HOUSING IN BRITAIN AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR
part of "MINISTRY OF WORKS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Works official photographer
A typical prefabricated bungalow.
POST WAR PLANNING AND RECONSTRUCTION IN BRITAIN, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF WORKS OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Works official photographer
Site clearance in West Ham, London. Most of the bomb damaged buildings and other wreckage has been removed to prepare the site for reconstruction.
Food Ration Books, 1941 - 1954
(private papers)
13 food ration books issued to H S and Mrs W M McGregor of Northwich and later Holloway, north London and Ware, Hertfordshire, 1941 - 1948 and 1952 - 1954, together with Mrs McGregor's clothing card valid to 31 May 1942 and two undated Supplementary...
Private Papers of Captain V A Wight-Boycott OBE DSC RN
(private papers) Made by: Wight-Boycott, V A
Very extensive collection of ms and ts letters covering his service as a midshipman in the cruiser HMS SUSSEX and destroyer HMS WRYNECK in the Mediterranean Fleet (with his Midshipman's Journals) from April 1929 - March 1932; as a Sub Lieutenant in the...
US ARMY UNIVERSITY, SHRIVENHAM, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Students and staff at the US Army University, Shrivenham, begin to queue in the sunshine for the transport that will take them into Stratford-upon-Avon to see a performance at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. According to the original caption, two...
US ARMY UNIVERSITY, SHRIVENHAM, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
British women advise students at the US Army University, Shrivenham on various issues. Amongst the GIs seeking advice are Corporal Wilfred Hoenninger, in the foreground, being shown a leaflet about the city of Cambridge by Meredydd Saunders-Davies....
US ARMY UNIVERSITY, SHRIVENHAM, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Sergeant Doris Hogan (left) walks through the campus of the US Army University at Shrivenham, with her English friend Sally Solomons. Sally has worked for the US forces for over three years and is engaged to an American soldier. Sergeant Hogan is...
US ARMY UNIVERSITY, SHRIVENHAM, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Science students at work in the laboratory at the US Army University, Shrivenham. Left to right, they are: Staff Sergeant William F Lowdermilk (back to camera, wearing a flying jacket with the words 'Strip for Action' on the back), Barbara L Royea and...
US ARMY UNIVERSITY, SHRIVENHAM, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Corporal Thomas Gibson checks a schedule with British driver Gwyn Cartwright at the US Army University, Shrivenham. According to the original caption, Mr Cartwright has been an driver for the American Army for three years. Behind them can be seen a...
US ARMY UNIVERSITY, SHRIVENHAM, ENGLAND, UK, 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Students take part in a life drawing class at the US Army University, Shrivenham. Left to right, they are: T/5 Robert A Brock, Joseph Corso, Francis Speight, Corporal Frank O'Shinsky, Seymour H Rogoff, John G Wayne, Pfc George E Jeanmard Jr., Joseph...