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

One Pound for 15 Shillings and Sixpence
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916
whole: the title is placed across the top, with the subtitle across the bottom, both in blue. Further text is in blue. All held within a blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: £1 FOR 15s 6d TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF...
124 Cartridges for 15 Shillings and Sixpence
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-07
whole: the title is placed across the top in blue, with the subtitle across the bottom in red. Further text is in blue and red. All held within a red and blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: 124 CARTRIDGES FOR 15s 6d and...
One Pound for 15 Shillings and Sixpence
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-07
whole: the title is placed across the top in red, with the text below, in blue and red. All held within a red and blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: £1 for 15s 6d War Savings Certificates [terms, conditions and...
Do you Think
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1915
whole: the text is in red and black, arranged in banner form and held within green border. image: text only. text: GVR DO YOU THINK MY 5s WON'T HELP THE WAR LOAN DO YOU REALIZE THOUSANDS MAY BE THINKING THE SAME DO YOU KNOW IF EACH OF US SAVED 5s A WEEK...
War Weapons Week
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the title is placed across the top, within an orange frame design. The text is below in orange and black, arranged in banner form and held within a separate orange frame. image: text only. text: War Weapons Week Help to swell the total for the...
Exchequer Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-01
whole: the title is placed across the top, with the subtitle across the bottom, both in red. Further text is in blue. All held within a red and blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: EXCHEQUER BONDS IN 5 YEARS YOU WILL...
Five Percent Exchequer Bonds
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1917
whole: the title covers the upper half, in red, with further text in dark blue. All arranged in banner form, within a red and dark blue frame. image: text only. text: 5% EXCHEQUER BONDS SOLD HERE POST OFFICE ISSUE £5, £20 OR £50 BANK OF ENGLAND ISSUE £...
One Pound for 15 Shillings and Sixpence
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-06
whole: the title is placed across the top, with the subtitle across the bottom, both in blue. Further text is in blue and red. All held within a red border and set against a white background. image: text only. text: £1 for 15s 6d up to £500 for £387 10s...
One Pound for 15 Shillings and Sixpence - To the Men and Women of England
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-06
whole: the title is placed across the top in red, with the subtitle below, in blue. All further text is in blue. All held within a red and blue border and set against a white background. image: text only. text: £1 FOR 15s 6d TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF...
War Savings for Soldiers
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1916-11
whole: the title is placed across the top in red, with the text below, in blue and red. All held within a red and blue frame and set against a white background. image: text only. text: WAR SAVINGS FOR SOLDIERS I UNDRAWN PAY. If you have undrawn pay you...