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

Heath, Charles Philip (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British officer served with 1st, 2nd, 59th and 135th Siege Batteries, Royal Garrison Artillery in GB and on Western Front, 1914-1918. Served with Changi Fire Command in Singapore 1942; POW of Japanese in Singapore, 1942-1945
Cole, George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served as signaller with 3rd Northumbrian Bde, Royal Field Artillery in GB, 1915; served with 252, 253 and 250 Bdes, Royal Artillery in GB and on Western Front 1915-1918; POW in France and Germany, 1918
Thompson, George (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served with 20th and 5th Bns Durham Light Infantry on Western Front, 1917-1918; POW in Germany, 1918-1919
PEARSON, JOHN (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British private served with 8th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers in Gallipoli and Egypt, 1915-1916; served with 16th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers on Western Front, 1916-1917; POW in Belgium and Germany, 1917-1918
Boughton, Harold (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British private served with 2/1st Bn City of London Regt in GB, Malta, Gallipoli, Egypt and on Western Front, 1914-1916; served with 100th Provisional Bn in GB, 1916; served with Royal Defence Corps at Leigh POW Camp, GB, 1916-1919
IWM interview
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British gunner served as bugler with 82nd Bty, 110th Bde Royal Field Artillery in India and Mesopotamia, 1908-1916; present at siege of Kut-el-Amara, 4/1916; POW in Turkey, 1916-1918
Cass, Thomas (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British sapper served with 201st Field Coy Royal Engineers on Western Front, 1915-1918; POW in Germany, 1918
Osmond, Thomas Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1984
British officer served with Royal Army Medical Corps in Mesopotamia, 1914-1916; captured at seige of Kut-el-Amara and POW in Turkey, 1916-1918
Leagus, Albert Edward (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1985
British private served with 1/10th Bn London Regt and 2/5th Bn Essex Regt in GB, 1916-1917; served as driver with Army Service Corps on Western Front, 1917; POW in Germany and Poland, 1917-1918
ASHBY, JOHN (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1986
British private served with 2nd and 5th Bn, Middlesex Regt on Western Front, 1917-1918; POW in Germany, 1918