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

Rée, Harry Alfred (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985-01-18
British officer served with F Section, Special Operations Executive in GB and Jura area, France, 1942-1943, escaped to and interned in Switzerland and Spain, 1943
Threlfall, Henry McLeod (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984-05-14
British civilian in Berlin, Germany, 1936-1939; officer served with Intelligence Corps in GB, 1940; served with Special Operations Executive in GB and in Stockholm, Sweden and Italy, 1941-1945
Watson, Richard Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2005
British officer served with 1st Initial Flying Training Wing, Rhodesia, 1940-1941; served and flew operational missions over Germany with Operational Training Unit in GB, 1942; served operating over Burma with 99 Sqdn, RAF based in India, 1942-1943; POW...
Hopkins, Joe (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2004-02
British gunner served with 245 Bty, Royal Artillery in GB, Middle East and Italy, 1939-1944 and 1st Field Radar Regt, RA in Italy and Greece, 1944-1946
Fry, Douglas Robert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2004-02
British NCO served as air gunner flying Stirling Mark III with 15 Sqdn, 3 Group, RAF based at Mildenhall, GB and operating over North West Europe, 1943. Shot down during raid on Remscheid, Germany, 30/7/1943-1/8/1943; POW in Germany, 1943-1945
Dowse, Sydney Henstings (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2004-11
British officer served as pilot flying Spitfires on photographic reconnaissance missions with 42 Sqdn, RAF, 1940; shot down over Brest, 1940; POW in Germany, 1942-1945 including participation in Great Escape, 3/1944
Taylor, John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2007-11
British navigator served on operations as navigator flying in Lancaster with 50 Sqdn, 5 Group, Bomber Command, RAF based in GB and operating over North West Europe, 1944; served as officer navigational instructor in GB, 1944-1946; served flying Dakota...
Roberts, J G 'Gerry' (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2003-12
British NCO served as bomber navigator and pilot flying Hampdens with 106 Sqdn, Bomber Command, RAF at Coningsby, 4/1941-12/1941; served as flying instructor at No 12 Advanced Flying Unit, RAF in GB, 1942; served with 150 Sqdn, RAF in GB and North Africa...
Glanfield, Arthur (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2003-06
British officer served with 549 Coastal Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, 1941-1943; served as radar officer with 159 Mobile Operations Room, 10 Anti-Aircraft Bde in GB and North West Europe, 1943-1945
Fetherston-Dilke, Charles (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 2003-06
British midshipman served aboard HMS Rodney, Home Fleet, 1939-1940; served aboard HMS Jervis, 7th Destroyer Flotilla, 1940; served aboard HMS Juno, 1940; served as navigating officer aboard HMS Malcolm, 8 Escort Group, 1941; served aboard HMS Hurricane,...