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

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
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
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
Parker, Albert (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1995
British signaller served with A Troop, 425 Bty, 107th Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1938-1942; POW in Italy and Germany, 1942-1945
Sykes, Jack (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991
British NCO signaller served with 425 and 426 Btys, 107th Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1939-1942; POW in Italy and Austria, 1942-1945
Armstrong, Joe (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1989
British NCO served with 3rd Bn Bn, Loyal North Lancashire Regt in GB, 1913; served on Western Front, 1914; POW in Germany, 1914-1918; served with Criminal Investigation Branch, Air Ministry in GB, ca 1942-1960
Hare, Walter (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company)
British private served with 16th and 15th Bns West Yorkshire Regt in GB and on Western Front, 1916-1918; POW in Germany, 1918
BARKER, ALBERT (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1991
British NCO served with 13th Bn East Yorkshire Regt in Egypt and on Western Front, 1915-1916; POW in Germany, 1916-1917; repatriated as wounded via Switzerland and returned to GB, 1917-1918
Day, Joseph Harry Woodhouse (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1992
British medical orderly served with 425 Bty, 107th Regt, Royal Artillery in GB, Palestine and North Africa, 1939-1942; POW in North Africa and Italy, 1942-1943; escaped and successful in evading recapture in Italy, 1943-1945