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

Royal Artillery Comforts
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in green and white, held within a black and red inset. The text is integrated and placed in the upper right in green, in the centre left in white, in the...
Take a Pride in Being Fighting Fit
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority, set against a white and brown background. The title is integrated and positioned in the lower third, in black, white, brown and orange. The text is separate and placed across the bottom edge, in white, set against...
Horse-play With Weapons May End Like This...
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image occupies the whole. The title is integrated and positioned across the top edge, in red cursive script, and in red, and across the bottom edge, in black. image: in the foreground, a soldier lies dead on his back. Two disembodied hands...
If You Are Suffering From Scabies
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image is positioned in the left two-thirds. The title is separate and placed in the left quarter, in grey and in black. The image and title are set against a white and black background. The text is separate and located in the right half, in...
His Rifle Will Fire - Will Mine?
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the image occupies the majority. The title is integrated and positioned in the upper quarter, in white. The subtitle is partially integrated and placed in the lower quarter, in orange and in white. The text is separate and located across the...
He Talked - They Died
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the upper two-thirds, set against a black background. A smaller image is placed in the lower half, held within a red circular inset. The title is separate and located along the bottom edge, in white. The smaller...
Use Spades Not Ships
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram (artist)
whole: the two images occupy the whole. The title is integrated and placed in the upper centre, in white and in grey. The text is integrated and located in the lower fifth, in white and in yellow. image: the left-hand image depicts half of a spade, point...
Talk Kills
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram
whole: the image occupies the whole. The title is integrated and positioned across the centre, in blue and in white. image: a depiction of a drowning soldier, with only his head and left hand visible above the surface of the sea. Above him appears a...
Talk Kills - Talk Kills
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram
whole: the two image occupy the whole. The title is integrated and positioned in the centre left, in orange and in white, and in the centre right, in blue and in white. image: the two images have the same basic layout. The left-hand image is a depiction...
Why Drop Out?
(posters) Made by: Games, Abram
whole: the image is positioned in the upper half. The title and text are separate and positioned in the lower half, in white. All set against a red background. image: a stylised depiction of three rows of soldiers on parade. In a gap in the middle of the...