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

scarf, Jacqmar, 'LES LAURIERS DE LA VICTOIRE
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Jacqmar 1945
Second World War period Jacqmar scarf. British, 'home front', 1945, associations
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 8 MAY 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
Huge crowds of people are gathered in Whitehall to listen to Churchill's Victory speech and to celebrate Victory in Europe Day. The crowd is a mix of service personnel, civilians and children. Behind them can be seen the Cenotaph. People line the...
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 8 MAY 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A number 3 double-decker bus slowly pushes its way through the huge crowds gathered in Whitehall to hear Churchill's Victory speech and celebrate Victory in Europe Day. The crowd is a mix of service personnel, civilians and children. Behind the bus,...
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 8 MAY 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A young man holds aloft a large Union Flag amongst the huge crowd of people that has gathered in Whitehall to listen to Churchill's Victory speech and to celebrate Victory in Europe Day. The crowd is a mix of service personnel, civilians and children....
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 8 MAY 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A mounted policeman moves through crowds of people gathered in Whitehall, London, to hear Churchill's Victory speech and to celebrate Victory in Europe Day, 8 May 1945.
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 8 MAY 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer
A mounted London policeman pushes his way through the crowds of people gathered in Whitehall, London, to hear Churchill's Victory speech and to celebrate Victory in Europe Day. The policeman is trying to clear a path through the crowds to allow traffic...
VE-Day Celebrations outside Buckingham Palace
(art) Made by: Faithfull, Leila 1945-05-08
image: Triptych showing civilians gathered under the trees outside Buckingham Palace.
VE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN LONDON, 8 MAY 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs)
A truck of revellers passing through the Strand, London
VE DAY IN LONDON, 8 MAY 1945
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR PRESS AGENCY PRINT COLLECTION" (photographs)
Two small girls waving their flags in the rubble of Battersea, snapped by an anonymous American photographer.
VE Day mug
(souvenirs and ephemera) 1945
Second World War British made earthenware mug commemorating the formal cessation of hostilities in North West Europe, VE Day, 8 May 1945. It is likely (given the method of inscription) that this commemorative item was rapidly produced to take advantage...