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

Gallipoli, Italy
(art) Made by: Maxwell, Donald
image: a view of the curve of the harbour at Gallipoli, as seen from the far side. There are several boats moored in the foreground, and a large sailing ship anchored beyond, with the white buildings of the town in the background. To the right are some...
Gallipoli Harbour, Italy
(art) Made by: Maxwell, Donald
image: a landscape view of a harbour, walls, town and sea from an inland position; the bottom half of the sheet is largely blank, with a small sketch of a hill or fortification in the right foregound.
The Road to Taranto
(art) Made by: Maxwell, Donald
image: a panoramic landscape with a view across a wide plain to clouds and sky lit by a low sun. A straight road runs through the centre of the composition, with a small cart, mule and driver in the foreground.
The Long White Road, Taranto
(art) Made by: Maxwell, Donald
image: a view of part of the natural harbour near Taranto, with a single sailing boat in the water before a strip of buildings on a floating section of harbour. The coast is just beyond, with a long, white road stretching off across the land into the...
Taranto
(art) Made by: Maxwell, Donald 1918-11-04
image: a view from one side of the harbour at Taranto to the other. In the foreground two rowing boats and two small local sailing boats are moored near a small building. In the background, Royal Navy battleship HMS Queen and a variety of other vessels...
Italian Cruiser Napoli and HMS Queen, Taranto
(art) Made by: Maxwell, Donald
image: a view from the water of Royal Navy battleship HMS Queen and Italian Navy cruiser Napoli moored at Taranto. There are smaller vessels moored either side of the warships, with two trawlers steaming away from them in the immediate foreground....
HMS Queen : Trawlers and drifters, Taranto
(art) Made by: Maxwell, Donald
image: a view of the Royal Navy battleship HMS Queen moored at Taranto in Italy alongside trawlers, drifters and various other small vessels. A line of neatly arranged trees runs across the foreground, the ships and strip of land in the distance bathed...
Rifleman W Box : King's Royal Rifles
(art) Made by: Staerck, John 1943
image: a three-quarter length portrait of Rifleman W Box in uniform, seated with his arms crossed in his lap.
A Wounded Rifleman
(art) Made by: Staerck, John
image: a three-quarter length portrait of a soldier in uniform sitting up in bed with his right arm in a sling.
Traffic Signals : Eighth Army Area, Italy 1944
(art) Made by: Seago, Edward Brian 1944
image: A telegraph pole in the centre of a roundabout in an Italian town covered in British and Commonwealth military traffic signs pointing in all directions, including one at the top of the pole which reads 'Chaos Corner'. The signs spill out onto the...