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

Stop the War Coalition Poster Number 5 [Stop It Now]
(posters) Made by: Bell, Steve (artist) 2003
whole: The poster has a white background. Across the top of the sheet there is one line of green type and a circular logo in green and black in the upper right corner. The upper portion is filled by the drawn image. The lower portion is filled by two...
'Mad Dogs and Englishmen...'
(posters) Made by: Kuhn, Leon (artist) 2003
whole:The image occupies the main and is framed by a black border. The title is positioned below the image in black. Additional text is also set below the image in black and red. image: A digital montage showing George W Bush, depicted as a slavering pit...
Bliar! Bliar!
(posters) Made by: Kuhn, Leon (artist) 2004
whole: A black and white, manipulated photograph, cut out and orientated to the left side of the sheet form the poster's background. Across the top of the sheet is a line of bold black type and below this a line of bold red type. There are two more lines...
Make Tea Not War
(posters) Made by: Stop the War Coalition (publisher/sponsor) 2004
whole: The sheet has a dark yellow background. The top half is occupied by two lines of black capitalised type. The majority of the lower half of the sheet is filled by a collaged image. In the lower right of the sheet is a circular logo and four lines...
Peace Killer - The Way To Find Bin Laden
(posters) Made by: Grebing, Sebastian and Rudolph, Thomas (artist) 2003
whole: A parody of a cinema poster. The text is integrated into the black and white photographic image. The image fills the page, leaving a thin white border. Two lines of white capitalised white type run along the top of the sheet. The title cuts across...