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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Respirator, Anti-Gas, Civilian Duty (Queen Mary)
(equipment)
This example of the Civilian Duty respirator was owned by HRH Queen Mary. While the standard civilian issue respirator was adequate for widespread general use, the Civilian Duty model was of a more robust design and intended to be employed by those in...
Respirator (child's), 'Mickey Mouse’
(equipment)
Mask is in Package R276, box in Package R1588.
valves, midget, for proximity fuzes
(weapons and ammunition)
Mr B A Hodges was engaged in development of these valves at Mazda Ltd, Ponders End (see file)
Torch, Lamp Electric No.4
(equipment) Made by: D B Ltd
Used during the Second World War by Reginald Lee when serving in the Home Guard.
Respirator and Carrier (personlised), child's
Made by: Avon Rubber Co 1939
Respirator 'boy teddy bear' carrier for a child. Issued to and used by Joan Pickney who was 19 months old and living in Middlesbrough when the Second World War broke out. Joan's family had an Anderson Shelter in the garden and Joan remembers that when...
ARP first aid box
Made by: Clayton
A 'Clayton Surgical and First Aid' kit in box with original contents. The box belonged to the donor's mother who spent the Second World War 'fire watching on the roofs of buildings ... where she worked ... for Williams Brothers, a hardware store in...
A.R.P. (Visual) Photometer
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Everett Edgcumbe & Co Ltd, London
Air Raid Precautions (Visual) Photometer The low levels of illumination required under ARP conditions entailed the development of a range of specialist instruments, of which the ARP (Visual) Photometer was one. This Second World War period compact...
Respirator, Anti-Gas, Civilian Duty: British
(equipment)
Second World War period British respirator (gas-mask). While the standard civilian issue respirator was adequate for widespread general use, the Civilian Duty model was made of more a more robust design and intended to be employed by those in civil Air...