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

identity discs, animal
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Second World War animal identity discs produced by the National Air Raid Precautions Animals Committee given by Mrs Friend who was an animal warden during the war.
scarf, Jacqmar, 'Into Battle
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Jacqmar
Second World War period Jacqmar scarf; British 'home front' associations.
cigarette lighter
(souvenirs and ephemera)
This cigarette lighter was made during the Second World War by Mr Frank Wild from an off-cut from a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine cylinder block. Frank Wild was an Inspector at the Rolls-Royce plant at Crewe during the Second World War. Rolls-Royce made the...
harness
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Harness associated with 'Rex', a British Second World War Home Front 'rescue dog'. 'Rex' was awarded the Dickin medal on 25 April 1945 for outstanding bravery in finding bomb victims, trapped under fallen debris. (The Dickin Medal award was instituted by...
metal polish, British
(souvenirs and ephemera)
A tin of 'Bluebell' brand metal polish made in Britain during the Second World War period. 'Bluebell' metal cleaning products were a household name in the 1930s and even merited a specific and relevant contextual reference in Patrick Hamilton's 1935...
dried eggs, tin: American
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Delivered by milkman during the Second World War to donor's house at Steeple-Aston.
slippers
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Homemade slippers made by the donor's mother.
oil painting, sailing ship 'Bucephalus'
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Theo Fries (Artist) 1946
Oil painting by Theo Fries, 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...
oil painting, 'Landschaft an der Hardt'
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Theo Fries (Artist) 1945
Oil painting by Theo Fries, a German prisoner of war at Boughton Camp (No 633), near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, between 1945 and 1946. The painting was acquired Company Quartermaster Sergeant Guy William Reckin (Royal Artillery), when he was a member of...
oil painting, view of Boughton POW Camp, Easter 1946
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Theo Fries (Artist) 1946
Oil painting by Theo Fries, a German prisoner of war held at Boughton Camp (Camp No 633), near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, completed between 1945 and 1946. The painting was acquired by Company Quartermaster Sergeant Guy William Reckin (Royal Artillery),...