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

THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 - 1945: GREAT BRITAIN: PERSONALITIES
part of "MINISTRY OF INFORMATION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Ministry of Information official photographer
Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh C T Dowding, Commander in Chief of Royal Air Force Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.
WAR INDUSTRY IN BRITAIN 1939-1945
part of "MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs)
Factory Entertainments and Visits: Morale boosting schemes were introduced to enable workers to see the results of their labours in use or to visit others working in war production industries. Photograph shows: Workers from a Spitfire factory examining...
WOMEN ON THE HOME FRONT 1939 - 1945
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Royal Air Force official photographer
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF): RAF and WAAF flight mechanics working together on a Bristol Beaufighter Mark VI in a servicing hangar at No. 51 Operational Training Unit, Cranfield, Bedfordshire. They are pictured adjusting the undercarriage,...
THE ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS, 1939-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Goodchild A (F/O)
Mrs Garden, the wife of a fighter pilot, serving as a plotter at the ROC Centre at Bromley, Kent.
THE ROYAL OBSERVER CORPS, 1939-1945.
part of "AIR MINISTRY SECOND WORLD WAR OFFICIAL COLLECTION" (photographs) Made by: Goodchild A (F/O)
Personnel at work in the ROC Centre at Bromley, Kent, with aircraft movements being plotted and information received being passed to RAF Fighter Command.
Tempests Attacking Flying-bombs
(art) Made by: Monnington, Walter Thomas (Sir) (PRA) 1944
image: two Tempests attack a flying bomb in the sky above a farmhouse with an oast house. Outside the farmhouse there is a white horse in a pen rearing up in fright and two cows in the foreground.
Southern England, 1944. Spitfires Attacking Flying-Bombs
(art) Made by: Monnington, Walter Thomas (Sir) (PRA) 1944
image: A squadron of low-flying Spitfires dive towards an idyllic pastoral scene with cows grazing in a tree-lined field. The plane's action frightens a horse causing it to pull a cart into the river, (a detail which evokes Constable's 'Haywain'). The...