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

A Barrage Balloon, Green Lanes, Finsbury Park 1939
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1939
image: a barrage balloon floating above some tents and a vehicle in a park with a row of houses in the background.
An ARP Control Room in Southwark
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1940
image: An ARP Control Room supported with heavy columns. A woman sits at a desk in the centre with papers piled up on it. Other women sit at phone booths taking and awaiting phone calls.
An Air Raid Shelter in Chelsea
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1940
image: A crowded underground shelter propped up by large columns. Men, women and children line benches which stretch the length of the room.
A Mechanical Traction (MT) Lecture for ATS
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1941
image: A large military warehouse with the doors wide open. Inside a class of ATS workers listen to a lecture in front of a blackboard. Outside two dogs play on the yard and a mechanic is fixing a red cross vehicle.
Inspection and Drill, ATS
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1941
image: Lines of ATS workers parade before two senior officers. In the foreground an ATS worker and a dog watch on in the centre and on the right two more workers are sat on a bench watching the drill.
ATS Quarters
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1941
image: A camp of Nissen huts contained within small brick enclosures. ATS workers use the roped pathway which connects the huts, going about their daily business. In the background is dense woodland.
D and C Companies : St Quentin Line, ATS Camp
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1940
image: An ATS encampment with military accommodation lining a road. ATS women are in conversation, walk down the road, carry out daily duties and cycle. A cat crosses the road.
ATS at Mess
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1940
image: Female ATS personnel queue up in the centre to receive their food in the Mess. Other women are already seated eating at tables on the left and right. In the background, two people perform on a stage.
An ARP Post
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1939
image: A makeshift ARP Post with three men sat at a table in the centre. On the left of the room, uniforms hang on coat- hangers with boots beneath. On the right are four deckchairs with another man busy writing.
Light Anti-aircraft Defences : a quadruple Lewis Gun
(art) Made by: Gross, Anthony (CBE) (RA) 1941
image: A quadruple Lewis gun on an anti-aircraft outpost on a clifftop. Six men are stationed at the outpost and are observing the sky using binoculars. On the right, the land cuts away down to the sea and harbour.