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

Britain's Sea Power is Yours!
(posters) Made by: Thomas, Walter (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, with the Admiralty seal placed in the lower left. The title is separate and positioned along the bottom edge, in white, set against a grey background. The text is integrated and placed in the lower right, in white...
Women of the Forces
(posters) Made by: Jones (artist)
whole: the three images are positioned in the upper half, with a smaller image positioned at the top edge centre. The title is partially integrated and placed in the upper quarter, in red and in black. The text is partially integrated and located in the...
'Tell Them to Make It a War Savings Christmas!'
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is partially integrated and positioned in the upper centre, in red and in black, held within a yellow inset. The text is integrated and placed in the lower centre, in black cursive script, held within a...
The Sky's the Limit for War Savings
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1943
whole: the image is positioned in the centre, set against a white background. The title is separate and placed across the top edge, in red cursive script, and in the lower quarter, in red and in red cursive script. All set against a yellow background....
The Sky's the Limit for War Savings
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the left third, set against a white background. The title is partially integrated and placed in the right two-thirds, in red and blue. All set against a yellow background. image: a depiction of the head of a smiling RAF...
The Sky's the Limit in War Savings
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper left, set against a white background. The title is separate and placed in upper right, in blue cursive script against a white background, and in the lower third, in white against a red background. image: a...
Save! Save for the Brave
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, set against a blue background. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper left, in orange, and in the lower quarter, in white. The text is integrated and located in the centre right and lower right, and...
The Man On the Bridge
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is integrated and positioned across the top edge, in red. The text is separate and placed in the lower left, in light blue, and across the bottom edge, in yellow, set against a dark blue background. image...
Save Some of Your Pay
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the two images are positioned in the top edge centre and in the bottom edge centre. The title is separate and placed in the upper third, in orange. The text is separate and located in the lower two-thirds, in orange, blue outlined black, and in...
You and the RAF Can Smash Germany
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half. The title is separate and positioned in the lower quarter, in white, and held within a red panel. The text is integrated and positioned in the upper half, in black. All set against a blue background...