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

Hand scythe, Women's Land Army
(equipment)
Scythe used by Margaret Scanlon when she was serving in the Women's Land Army during the Second World War.
truncheon, Home Guard
(weapons and ammunition)
This lead-weighted wooden truncheon was issued to 55th County of Lancaster Battalion Home Guard. It was evidently used while mounting guard at Manchester Collieries Ltd of Walkden. A shortage of firearms meant that many improvised weapons were employed...
direction sign, WVS Incident Enquiry Point
(equipment)
Polaroid photo in signs card index
oil painting (rural landscape)
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Boernieck, P (Artist) 1946
Oil painting by P Boernieck, a German prisoner of war at Boughton Camp (No 633), near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, between 1945 and 1946. The painting was acquired by Company Quartermaster Sergeant Guy William Reckin (Royal Artillery), when he was a member...
wooden desk tidy / pen tray made by German prisoner of war
(souvenirs and ephemera) 1946
Decorative wooden pen tray (with blotter), made by an unknown German prisoner of war at Boughton Camp (No 633), near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, between 1945 and 1946. The tray was acquired by Company Quartermaster Sergeant Guy William Reckin, when he was...
handmade pipe tray / 'desk tidy
(souvenirs and ephemera) 1946
Ornate wooden pipe tray (or 'desk tidy') made by an unknown German prisoner of war (POW) at Boughton Camp (No 633), near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, between 1945 and 1946. The item was acquired by Company Quartermaster Sergeant Guy William Reckin (Royal...
handmade wooden pen tray / desk tidy
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Kleinert, Max 1946
Pen tray ('desk tidy') made by Max Kleinert (522570), a German prisoner of war (POW), at Boughton Camp (No 633), near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, between 1945 and 1946. The item was acquired by Company Quartermaster Sergeant Guy William Reckin (Royal...
Thames Estuary (Army type) Sea Fort (single tower only)
(vehicles, aircraft and ships)
model
Anderson Shelter (sectioned)
(equipment)
Caption: Sir John Anderson announced the Government's revised shelter policy in the House of Commons on 21st December 1938. In addition to the provision of public trench shelters, protection would now be provided for the ordinary citizen in or close to...
Morrison "Table" Shelter
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Second World War period British domestic air raid damage protection for civilians. The Morrison Shelter was specially designed so that the space it took up was not wasted, since it could serve a double purpose - as both table and shelter. The sides were...