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

brassard, British, Home Guard, General Post Office
(uniforms and insignia)
Second World War period British General Post Office (GPO) Home Guard armband. British Home Front associations.
badge, British, Women's Home Defence Force
(uniforms and insignia)
Second World War, British Home Front, Women's Home Defence Force badge. An unofficial organisation founded by Dr Edith Summerskill (nicknamed 'Flossie Bang Bang'), Labour MP for Fulham West, in December 1941. No uniform was worn just this enamel badge....
badge, civilian, British, Salvage Steward
(uniforms and insignia) Made by: F8G
Second World War British Home Front badge for a civilian Salvage Steward. The Salvage Steward badge was introduced in February 1942 for those authorised to collect or organise salvage. Red badges were worn by part-time stewards appointed by local...
Hat, Women's Land Army
(uniforms and insignia)
Second World War period British Women's Land Army (WLA) hat. The Women's Land Army (WLA), better known as the 'Land Girls', was established at the outset of the Second World War in order to free up male agricultural workers for the armed forces. An...
Coat (Wool Pile) ATS Teddy Bear Coat
(uniforms and insignia)
Second World War period overcoat of the type worn by members of the British Army's Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) - female personnel who worked the anti-aircraft artillery predictor ranging equipment and later, the searchlight sites, during cold...
Tie: WLA
(uniforms and insignia)
The Women's Land Army (WLA), better known as the 'Land Girls', was established at the outset of the Second World War in order to free up male agricultural workers for the armed forces. An estimated 80,000 'Land Girls' were employed by 1943, involved in...
Steel Helmet, Civilian pattern: Supplementary Fire Party
(uniforms and insignia) Made by: H Ltd 1941
The London Blitz of 1940 highlighted the inadequacies of the authorities to gain control. The ARP in all their forms were stretched to capacity, therefore when 1kg magnesium incendiary bombs crashed through roofs later to ignite undetected, the...
Overalls, Civilian Factory Workers
(uniforms and insignia)
Second World War period overalls worn by aircraft factory worker Edith Fosdike who was employed at AV Roe, Chadderton (Manchester) between 1940-1943. Mrs Fosdike was one of fifty women who worked on the 'Burr' bench, responsible for filing rough edges...
steel helmet, Mk I (modified), Women's Voluntary Service
(uniforms and insignia) Made by: Thomas Firth and Sons Ltd (Sheffield) 1914
British First World War steel helmet, which has been modified for further service. The manufacturer's code, 'FS 137', indicates that this helmet was made by Thomas Firth and Sons Ltd of Sheffield. This firm produced steel helmets between 1915 and 1919....
badge, headdress, British, Home Guard
(uniforms and insignia) Made by: A Stanley and Sons, Walsall
Second World War period plastic badge for women serving in the Home Guard. This badge is associated with the service Mrs A Fletcher (née Ascott) in the the 58th County of London (Civil Service Battalion) Home Guard. From April 1943 onwards, women were...