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

Trousers, civilian (Demob suit)
(uniforms and insignia)
When servicemen completed their period of war service they went to a demobilisation centre for processing where their uniform and personal kit was exchanged for a civilian style clothing, known as a 'demob suit'. The man had a choice of clothing and this...
Waistcoat, civilian (Demob suit)
(uniforms and insignia)
When servicemen completed their period of war service they went to a demobilisation centre for processing where their uniform and personal kit was exchanged for a civilian style clothing, known as a 'demob suit'. The man had a choice of clothing but this...
Jacket, civilian (Demob suit)
(uniforms and insignia)
When servicemen completed their period of war service they went to demobilisation centre for processing where their uniform and personal kit was exchanged for a civilian style clothing, known as a 'demob suit'. The man had a choice of clothing but this...
Utility Housecoat: women’s, civilian
(uniforms and insignia)
With the Nation's resources committed for a prolonged war, industry and food production were stretched and focused on the war effort. Feeding and clothing the civilian population therefore was achieved by strict government control, in the form of...
Utility Stockings, nylon: women’s, civilian
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Pair of 'flesh' coloured nylon stockings, stamped with the 'CC' Utility mark, unused, and connected together with the adhesive Superfine Hosiery label.
wedding dress
(uniforms and insignia)
This wedding dress was made from pre-war silk material originally intended for making petticoats and used for the wedding of Evelyn Higginson when she married sailor, Charles Butterfield, on 18 September, 1943. Margaret Walls, a family friend, used the...
wedding dress worn by Lorna Cook (née Roberts)
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Lorna Roberts and Captain John Cook were married at St Jude's Church, Plymouth, in June of 1945. She was still serving in the ATS at that time, and Captain Cook had a week's leave before he had to return to his ship. Photograph of wedding party in file.
Wedding Dress (commercial purchase)
(souvenirs and ephemera)
This dress was worn by Mrs Elizabeth Chaplin when she was married in March, 1945. The dress apparently featured in a publication entitled, 'Essentials' in 1993 and used in a wartime wedding dress fashion show at IWM London in the same year.
Utility Jacket (suit): women's, civilian
(uniforms and insignia)
With the Nation's resources committed for a prolonged war, industry and food production were stretched and focused on the war effort. Feeding and clothing the civilian population therefore was achieved by strict government control, in the form of...
Utility Skirt (suit): women’s, civilian
(uniforms and insignia)
With the Nation's resources committed for a prolonged war, industry and food production were stretched and focused on the war effort. Feeding and clothing the civilian population therefore was achieved by strict government control, in the form of...