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

white plans for Colditz glider
(souvenirs and ephemera)
First plans drawn in pencil on artist's paper for the 'Colditz Cock' by Flight Lieutenant Bill Goldfinch. The plans were also later used for building the 'Spirit of Colditz', a replica for the Channel Four television series on Colditz. At the beginning...
bierstein, German
(souvenirs and ephemera)
The bierstein was reputedly made during the Second World War by a Waffen SS prisoner of war.
skull cap, knitted
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Woollen hat made and worn during the Second World War by an Italian prisoner of war while working as a gardener.
teapot
(souvenirs and ephemera)
This damaged teapot was used during the Second World War by Miss E McIntyre and five others in her dormitory at Liebenau civilian internment camp, Germany. The pot was repaired by an internee using wire due to the unavailablity of glue. Miss McIntyre,...
model, The Colditz Glider
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Airfix 1974
Unassembled commemorative flying model of the Colditz Glider, that Airfix produced at the time of the BBC Television Series in 1974.
pink plans for Colditz glider
(souvenirs and ephemera) 1945
Plans for the construction of an escape glider (the 'Colditz Cock') based on the designs of Flight-Lieutenant L J E Goldfinch produced during the Second World War whilst he was a prisoner of war in Oflag IVC, Colditz Camp (Saxony, Germany). At the...
shoes, slippers, child's, handmade
(souvenirs and ephemera) 1946
A pair of child's slippers, handmade from rope (in red and beige with red pom-poms) by an unidentified German prisoner of war (POW) at Mortimer Camp near Reading, Berkshire (Camp No 88), circa 1946.
clippers, hair, German
(souvenirs and ephemera) Made by: Cito, Solingen
Hair clippers associated with an unknown Second World War prisoner of war (POW) camp barber at Stalag VIIIB, Lamsdorf, Germany.
saw, clandestine
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Lieutenant Wingfield MC DFC (1898-1989) served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) during the First World War. He was captured on 1 July 1916 and was a prisoner of war until October 1917 when he successfully escaped from Strohen Camp. As a result...
identity tag
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Second World War German prisoner of war (POW) camp identity tag associated with the POW experiences of Commander Peter Noel Buckley RN. Commander Buckley was captured following the sinking of his submarine, HMS 'Shark' by German aircraft off Stavanger (...