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

Greater London Plan Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
No description available
SHAPING THE FUTURE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Works (Production sponsor) 1946
"One of a film series about jobs after the war." In this case, building.
THE FLYING SKYSCRAPER [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor) 1949
The development of the Bristol Brabazon airliner, from its first conception in 1943 to the prototype's maiden flight on September 4 1949.
BURMA VICTORY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Clarke, Frank (Production cast) 1945-11
Film about the Allied victory in Burma.
FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Chagrin, Francis (Production individual) 1947
A very brief cartoon history of flight and the RAF.
FROM THE RHINE TO VICTORY : a newsreel history [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Paramount News (Production company) 1946-04
The closing stages of the war against Germany.
THE FAVOURITES [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Air Ministry (Production company) 1960
Film impression of the training of an RAF cadet as an electronics technician.
FROM ITALY TO D-DAY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1946
The war in Europe July 1943-June 1944, concentrating on the land operations of the Western Allies, but with material on the other fronts.
Harvest of fear a diary of terrorist atrocities in Rhodesia
(books) Made by: RHODESIA. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM (author) 1976
No description available
A case for Rhodesia
(books) Made by: RHODESIA. MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. IMMIGRATION AND TOURISM (author) 1976
No description available