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.

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Collections search

War Weapons Week in a Country Town
(art) Made by: Ford, Michael 1941
image: A street scene in a small town. A brass band, Girl Guides, Police and Home Guard participate in War Weapons Week outside a community hall and are watched by a crowd of civilians. Union flags are on display and a speech is being made from a...
Gassed
(art) Made by: Sargent, John Singer (RA) 1919
image: A side on view of a line of soldiers being led along a duckboard by a medical orderly. Their eyes are bandaged as a result of exposure to gas and each man holds on to the shoulder of the man in front. One of the line has his leg raised in an...
The Queue at the Fish-shop
(art) Made by: Dunbar, Evelyn Mary 1944
image: A long line of women queue outside the shop of H. Hill and Son, fishmongers, poulterers. The slabs are being washed down in anticipation of a fresh delivery.
The Canteen at a Mixed Battery, RA
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1941
image: A canteen with a female ATS officer standing in the centre. Male and female ATS officers sit at tables talking and others stand in conversation in the background.
A Musical Interlude
(art) Made by: Elwell, Frederick William (RA) 1944
image: a large crowd of workers gather around a singer and a band to watch a performance on the factory floor in a munitions factory.
Our Jungle Fighters Want Socks - Please Knit Now
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. the title is separate and positioned across the top edge, in black, and across the bottom edge, in red. The text is separate and placed across the bottom edge, in black. All set against a white background. image: a...
Studies for Oppy Wood, 1917. (NO 2243)
(art) Made by: Nash, John (RA) 1917
image: a view along a British trench running through Oppy Wood. Four British soldiers are visible in the trench, one of whom is only apparent from his feet, which stick out of a hole dug into the side of the trench. The trench has duckboards at the...
Study for Oppy Wood, 1917. (IWM:ART 2243)
(art) Made by: Nash, John (RA) 1918
image: the lower half of the composition has a view inside a trench with duckboard paths leading to a dug-out. Two infantrymen stand to the left on a firestep looking over the parapet into No Man's Land. There is a wood of shattered trees littered with...
Study for 'Gassed' Studies of standing soldiers with rifles
(art) Made by: Sargent, John Singer (RA) 1918
image: a study of different elements of a gassed British infantryman standing side-on with his hands on the shoulders of another man in front of him. It includes a full length depiction of the man, with a blanket role over his right shoulder and his...
Oppy Wood, 1917. Evening
(art) Made by: Nash, John (RA) 1918
image: the lower half of the composition has a view inside a trench with duckboard paths leading to a dug-out. Two infantrymen stand to the left of the dug-out entrance, one of them on the firestep looking over the parapet into No Man's Land. There is a...