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

NAVAL BOMBARDMENTS OF BRITISH PORT TOWNS DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "SPORT & GENERAL PRESS AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1915-12
The remains of a house in Scarborough where five members of the Bennett family were killed as a result of the raid on Scarborough by vessels of the 1st Scouting Group of the German High Seas Fleet, commanded by Admiral Franz von Hipper, on 16 December...
NAVAL BOMBARDMENTS OF BRITISH PORT TOWNS DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "SPORT & GENERAL PRESS AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1915-12
Horse-drawn carriages in Scarborough for the funeral of Driver Bennett, Royal Field Artillery, a victim of the raid on Scarborough by vessels of the 1st Scouting Group of the German High Seas Fleet, commanded by Admiral Franz von Hipper, on 16 December...
NAVAL BOMBARDMENTS OF BRITISH PORT TOWNS DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR
part of "SPORT & GENERAL PRESS AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1915-12
The remains of a house in Scarborough where five members of the Bennett family were killed as a result of the raid on Scarborough by vessels of the 1st Scouting Group of the German High Seas Fleet, commanded by Admiral Franz von Hipper, on 16 December...
THE HOME FRONT 1914 - 1918
part of "SPORT & GENERAL PRESS AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1914-12
Ruins of the Bennett house in Scarborough caused by one of the shells fired by the German battlecruisers SMS DERFFLINGER and SMS VON DER TANN on 16 December 1914, when a force of German warships under Admiral von Hipper shelled Hartlepool, Scarborough...
THE HOME FRONT 1914 - 1918
part of "SPORT & GENERAL PRESS AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1914-12
Damage to the lighthouse on Vincent's Pier, Scarborough, caused by shells from the German battlecruisers SMS DERFFLINGER and SMS VON DER TANN when the town was bombarded on the morning of 16 December 1914.
THE BOMBARDMENT OF SCARBOROUGH BY GERMAN WARSHIPS, DECEMBER 1914
part of "SPORT & GENERAL PRESS AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs)
John Shields Ryalls, aged 14 months, one of the youngest victims of the bombardment, in the arms of Miss Bertha MacIntyre, who was killed at the same time.
THE HOME FRONT 1914 - 1918
part of "SPORT & GENERAL PRESS AGENCY COLLECTION" (photographs) 1914-12
Air Raids and Bomb Damage: The flower-decked hearse of Postman Beal who was killed in the German naval bombardment of Scarborough in December 1914.