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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Harrington & Richardson Automatic Ejecting .32 Hammerless
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Harrington & Richardson Arms Co. Worcester, MA, USA
This revolver was taken from an unknown German spy in Britain during the First World War. It was passed to the museum in 1920, by MI7(b), the branch of the intelligence services responsible for press and propaganda. The revolver featured in a display...
Zeppelin Incendiary Bomb
(weapons and ammunition)
Stem and base only, of a First World War German incendiary bomb which was dropped on the railway lines near Wallsend Station, Northumberland, on the night of 14 April 1915, by the German Naval Airship Zeppelin L9. This, the second Zeppelin raid in which...
machine gun
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken, Berlin 1915
The standard German machine-gun of the First World War, the MG08 was a water-cooled weapon employing the Maxim system of operation (see FIR 8095). The version of the MG 08 adopted by the German Navy differed in minor details from the Army version (see...
German MG 08 Machine-Gun (naval)
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Deutsche Waffen-und Munitionsfabriken, Berlin 1915
The standard German machine-gun of the First World War, the MG08 was a water-cooled weapon employing the Maxim system of operation (see FIR 8095). The version of the MG 08 adopted by the German Navy differed in minor details from the Army version (see...
8 in HE Shell
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Cunard Shell Factory, Liverpool
British First World War period 8in HE shell, the first to be made by women munitions workers at the Cunard Shell Factory, Liverpool. Note that the first Mark of the 8in BL Howitzers entered British service in February 1915.
Shell 4in
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: Hadfields Ltd (Sheffield) 1915
First World War period British 4in shell, which was ceremonially 'fired' at a Sheffield munitions factory test range by King George V on 29 September 1915. The expended round has been converted into a commemorative object, mounted on a plinth and...
3 in Stokes Mortar Bomb
(weapons and ammunition)
First World War period British trench mortar projectile. This Stokes Mortar bomb was made by female labour and was originally acquired as part of Womens' Work Collection. Original IWM display caption reads as follows: 'ASSEMBLED AND FINISHED BOMB /...
machine-gun ammunition belt box, Zeppelin
(weapons and ammunition)
This machine-gun ammunition belt box was recovered from the crash site of the German airship L31, after it was shot down on the night of 1 October 1916. In common with other Zeppelin equipment it is constructed with lightness in mind, being made of...
dummy rifle, British
(weapons and ammunition)
This dummy rifle saw service as a training-aid during both World Wars. In configuration it resembles a pre-First World War Mark 1 or Mark 2 Short, Magazine Lee-Enfield rifle and bears the mark of a unit of the Volunteer Training Corps - the First World...