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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zeppelin fragment, L31
(vehicles, aircraft and ships)
Fragment from the First World War period German Naval Airship Service Zeppelin L31. The L31 was commanded by Kapitanleutnant Heinrich Mathy, the renowned veteran of numerous raids over Great Britain. On 1 October 1916 Mathy commanded the L31 on its final...
Telephone
(equipment)
Telephone from the office of the British Secretary of State for War. This telephone stood on the desk of the Secretary of State for War throughout the First World War. It was used in succession by Mr Herbert Asquith, Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, Mr...
child's shoe, decorated
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Miss Blake (the donor's mother) is said to have thrown this shoe during the First World War at troops departing for the Front from a London railway station; the soldiers leaving included her brothers Charles, Arthur and Walter. The names on the sole may...
miniature flag, Union Jack
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Union flag acquired by Maud Andrews (née Wisden) during the Armistice Day (11 November 1918) celebrations in London. Mrs Maud A M Andrews served in the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (as Controller of Recruiting) during the First World War.