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

Women's Land Army crest embroidery
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Made for the donor by an aunt when donor was in WLA
handkerchief, instructional and propaganda, British
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Fougasse (designer)
Second World War British handkerchief with instructional humorous cartoon designs and slogans by 'Fougasse' (Cyril Kenneth Bird, 1887-1965) for the Ministry of Information's 'Careless Talk Cost Lives' home security campaign. In July 1940 Churchill sent a...
map, France
(maps)
Second World War period silk escape map (for issue to Special Operations Executive personnel), an example of surplus stock, which was sold to female Air Ministry staff in Adastral House at the end of the war for two shillings and sixpence each. The 'maps...
map, Germany and Central Europe
(maps)
Second World War period silk escape map (for issue to Special Operations Executive personnel), an example of surplus stock, which was sold to female Air Ministry staff in Adastral House at the end of the war for two shillings and sixpence each. The 'maps...
bridesmaid dress made from parachute silk
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Second World War period (British Home Front) bridesmaid's dress made for and worn by Janet Saunders for the wedding of Ted Hillman (4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment) and Ruby Mansfield in 1945.
embroidery
(souvenirs and ephemera)
This embroidery was sewn by Catherine Cox's mother, Catherine Hawes, during the Second World War. Mrs. Cox says of the embroidery: "The linen, transfer and embroidery silks were an offer in "Woman's Weekly". It cost half-a-crown. My mother started to...
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.