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

ARP satchel with first aid kit
(equipment)
Air Raid Warden's haversack as carried on duty by Mr Walter Lee of Grantham whose War Diary was presented to the Museum. The sack was given to the donor by Mr Lee when he went to Grantham to receive it from the Mayor of Council, December 1956.
dog's gas mask
(souvenirs and ephemera)
This gas mask (respirator) was worn by 'Roy' a Shetland sheepdog owned by by the 5th Marchioness of Exeter during the Second World War.
Reproduction Equipment, Imperial Typewriter, British
(equipment) Made by: Imperial Typewriter Company Ltd 1939
No description available
King's Commendation for Brave Conduct (1st Pattern)
(decorations and awards) 1943
George Hodgkin served as a Section Leader in the ARP Casualty Service in Croydon, Surrey. His King's Commendation for Brave Conduct was Gazetted in the Second Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday 21 February 1941 (Page 1063). The King's...
King's Commendation for Brave Conduct (1st Pattern)
(decorations and awards) 1943
George Hodgkin served as a Section Leader in the ARP Casualty Service in Croydon, Surrey. His King's Commendation for Brave Conduct was Gazetted in the Second Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday 21 February 1941 (Page 1063). The King's...
box, for sugar lumps
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Used by donor for carrying sugar lumps.
beaker
(souvenirs and ephemera)
The beaker was one of many painted and sold by Beatrice Cordeaux (1913-2007), who lived with her parents in Sale throughout the war, while her husband Edward H Cordeaux was in the RAF, mostly in India. Trixie herself was working as a secretary in a...
game, 'Spin Cricket'

One of two games donated which were made by the donor's grandfather who worked and fire watched in the evenings at the Royal Insurance Company in Liverpool. He and two friends would think games up between them to while away the hours. Materials for the...
game, 'Spin-Spel'

One of two games donated which were made by the donor's grandfather who worked and fire watched in the evenings at the Royal Insurance Company in Liverpool. He and two friends would think games up between them to while away the hours. Materials for the...
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...