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

Poison Gas Exhibition
(posters) Made by: Ministry of Information (publisher/sponsor)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is integrated and positioned across the centre, in red and white cursive script. The text is separate and placed across the bottom edge, in red, held within a white inset. A blank white inset is located...
DEBRIS TUNNELLING: driving a heading [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Suschitzky, Wolfgang (Production individual) 1943
How to drive a horizontal tunnel into a collapsed building.
BUTTERFLY BOMB [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Birt, Louise (Production individual) 1944
Short instructional film telling how to deal with anti-personnel bombs.
A NEW FIRE BOMB [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Shell (Production company) 1942-09
An instructional Civil Defence film.
Fire Guard - an Exhibition to Help the Great Army of Fire Fighters
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1940
No description available
DECONTAMINATION OF STREETS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Shelley, Norman (Production individual) 1943
Demonstration of how a decontamination squad deals with a liquid-gas bomb fallen in a street.
POST 23 [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Tasto, Charles R (Production individual) 1941
A portrait of a 'typical' ARP wardens' post and of its predominantly volunteer staff.
PATHE GAZETTE (and BRAINS TRUST) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Pathe (Production company) 1942
Second World War British Pathe Gazette newsreel item, plus a Second World War British Ministry of Information newsreel trailer using the format of a comic version of the popular BBC radio "Brain's Trust" programme to remind member of the National Fire...
FIRE GUARD PLAN [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Shelley, Norman (Production cast) 1943
Improved fire guard arrangements are explained to the parties concerned.
FACTORY FIRE GUARD [Main Title]
(film) Made by: GB Screen Services (Production company) 1943
Precautions and arrangements for dealing with incendiary attacks at factories.