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

Royal Flying Corps
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917-12
whole: the title is positioned across the top edge, in red, with the text below occupying the remainder, in black and in red. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: ROYAL FLYING CORPS. A MEETING WILL BE HELD AT [blank] LIEUT. ALSTON...
The Voluntary System Versus Conscription
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in black and set against a yellow background. image: text only. text: LONDON TRADES COUNCIL AND JOINT LABOUR RECRUITING COMMITTEE'S CAMPAIGN. THE VOLUNTARY SYSTEM versus CONSCRIPTION A DEMONSTRATION will be...
Rally Round the Flag - Join the Army Today - Every Fit Man Wanted
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-09
whole: the image is positioned at the left edge and repeated at the right edge. The title occupies the remainder, in red. All set against a white background and held within a blue border. image: a Union Flag. text: RALLY ROUND THE FALG - JOIN THE ARMY TO...
To My People
(posters) Made by: Unknown
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in red and in black. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: BUCKINGHAM PALACE. TO MY PEOPLE. At this grave moment in the struggle between my people and a highly organised enemy who has...
Group System
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: the title is positioned across the top edge, with the text below occupying the remainder, both in black. All set against a yellow background. image: text only. text: GROUP SYSTEM. Enlistment in Groups will RE-OPEN ON MONDAY, January 10th, 1916,...
Wake Up England
(posters) Made by: Unknown 1914-10
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in white cursive script. All set against a purple background. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter] 'Wake up England' Complete the Second Half-million
Men of London
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-09
whole: the title and text occupy the majority, with the title, in blue, positioned in the upper half, and the text, in red and in blue, positioned in the lower half. The image is positioned top centre. All set against a white background and held within...
The Need for More Fighting Men is Urgent
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914-08
whole: the title, beneath the Royal Charter, occupies the majority, in red, with the text across the bottom, in blue. All set against a white background and held within a narrow red and blue border. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter] THE NEED...
Sons of Britain!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914
whole: the title, beneath the Royal Charter, occupies the upper half, in blue, with the text below in the lower half, in red. All set against a white background and held within a narrow red and blue border. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter]...
Young Men of England!
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1914
whole: the title, beneath the Royal Charter, occupies the upper half, in blue, with the text below in the lower half, in red. All set against a white background and held within a narrow red and blue border. image: text only. text: G.R. [Royal Charter]...