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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Collections search

ARP incendiary bomb scoop: British
(equipment)
Second World War Air Raid Precautions (ARP) 'incendiary scoop'. The implement was designed used for shovelling sand on an incendiary bomb or even, as circumstances allowed, the dislodgement and removal of small incendiary bomb devices. British Home Front...
bell, ARP
(equipment) 1939
Second World War period British Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warden's 'all clear' hand bell. If a gas attack was suspected warning was given locally by means of the ARP warden's hand rattle and the all clear was announced through the ringing of hand bells.
warning sign, Air Raid, all clear/warning
(equipment)
Second World War period British Air Raid Precautions (ARP) warning sign. A sign of this type was included in the fabric of the Cabinet War Rooms and used more generally to indicate air raid conditions to personnel sheltering in deep bomb proofs, control...
Carbine, Machine, Sten, 9mm Mk 2
(weapons and ammunition) Made by: RSAF Enfield
The Sten 'Machine-Carbine' was the standard submachine-gun of the British and Canadian armies during the Second World War. Mk 2 version was produced on a larger scale than any other model. At least 2,600,000 were manufactured, by six different...
Monopoly
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: John Waddington Ltd, London & Leeds
Second World War period British board game. Its wartime provenance is reflected by the fact that the 'property accessories' have been replaced by wooden parts, and a Spinner has been substituted for the dice. Waddington made a variety of board games such...
war savings commemorative plaque, British
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: De La Rue Plastics 1943
Second World War British home front war savings campaign plaque in moulded bakelite, manufactured by De La Rue Plastics. The rectangular ivory-coloured plastic presentation wall plaque specifically commemorates support for the 'Per Ardua Ad Astra...
war savings commemorative plaque, British
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: De La Rue Plastics 1944
Second World War British home front war savings campaign plaque in moulded bakelite, manufactured by De La Rue Plastics. The rectangular ivory-coloured plastic presentation wall plaque specifically commemorates support for the 'For Freedom War Savings...
badge, 'V For Victory' Favour
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Second World War British Home Front 'V' for Victory Favour badge. The responsibility and origins of the 'V' for Victory campaign lay with the BBC who in July 1941, in the wake of the desperate Russian defensive operations following the German invasion,...
trench club
(weapons and ammunition)
This trench club is one of the most commonly encountered patterns used by the German Army during the First World War. It is a simple wooden truncheon, studded with boot-nails. Clubs of this type were mass-produced in Army workshops. This particular club...
ARP incendiary bomb scoop: British
(equipment)
Second World War period Air Raid Precautions (ARP) 'incendiary scop'. The scoop was used for shovelling sand on an incendiary bomb or even, as circumstances allowed, the dislodgement and removal of small incendiary bomb devices. British home front...