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

War Posters from the Imperial War Museum
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1920
whole: the title and text are positioned across the whole, in red and in blue, set against a white background. image: text only. text: WAR POSTERS FROM THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM AMERICAN BRITISH FRENCH GERMAN ETC. ON EXHIBITION AT THE GRAFTON GALLERIES (...
Exhibition of War Relics and Trophies
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the title and text occupy the whole, in black, with right text held within a narrow black border. All set against a white background. image: text only. text: CITY ART GALLERY, MOSLEY STREET. EXHIBITION OF War Relics and Trophies From the Imperial...
Imperial War Museum - War Paintings and Other Records at the Royal Academy
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1919-11
whole: the image is positioned in the upper centre. The title and text are separate and occupy the majority, in white. Further text is integrated and placed in the upper centre, in white. All set against a black background and held within a decorative...
Psst .. Have You Visited the ... Cabinet War Rooms
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1990
Two posters designed to be displayed together
Imperial War Museum
(posters) Made by: Imperial War Museum (publisher/sponsor) 1936
image: A dazzle painted ship in dry dock, the bottom being painted in red lead by four painters. Two other dazzled ships lie at dock in the background. text: IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM. OPEN EVERY DAY. WEEKDAYS 10 to 6 SUNDAYS 2 to 6. ADMISSION FREE. NEAREST...
Women in the Navy - Paintings and Drawings by Eileen Hogan
(posters) Made by: Imperial War Museum (publisher/sponsor) 1984
No description available
Sailors - Life on the Ocean Wave in the Second World War
(posters) Made by: Imperial War Museum (publisher/sponsor) 1984
No description available
Fragments From Berlin - Jock McFadyen [exhibition]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1992
No description available
Imperial War Museum
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1973
PST 20512 is a variant of this design with a different image
Greenham Common - New Work by John Kippin
(posters) Made by: Kippin, John (artist) 2001
No description available