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

MAKING A COMPOST HEAP [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Realist (Production company) 1942
Instructional film for gardeners and those with allotments on how to make a compost heap.
CLEAN MILK [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Anstey, Edgar (Production individual) 1943-06
Instructional film on efficient milking procedures.
LIVING WITH STRANGERS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Realist (Production company) 1941-07
Consideration of the social problems arising out of evacuation.
ATLANTIC TRAWLER [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Cameron, Ken (Production individual) 1944-10
The life of trawlermen in wartime, the normal discomforts and dangers of the work increased both by enemy action and by the loss of good ships and good men to the Navy.
WORDS AND ACTIONS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Halsted, H G (Production individual) 1943
An attempt to interpret the 'Democracy' for which British troops are fighting.
WE WON'T FORGET (reel 2 only) [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Realist (Production company) 1941
Reel two only of a film expressing Britain's gratitude for American aid during the Blitz.
CHARTING THE SEAS [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Hollingsworth, John (Production individual) 1948
A documentary about the work of the Hydrographic Department of the Admiralty, responsible for surveying and charting the world's coastlines and ocean beds to assist navigation.
COLLAPSIBLE METAL TUBES [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Realist (Production company) 1942
Second World War British Ministry of Information part animated newsreel trailer encouraging the public to return empty metal tubes to their local chemist for salvage.
THE QUEEN'S LIFEGUARD [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Colonial Film Unit (Production individual) 1952
Profile of the Queens Life Guard and its ceremonial duties.
CHOOSE CHEESE [Main Title]
(film) Made by: Realist (Production company) 1940
Film advocating the advantages of cheese over meat, bearing in mind the fact that food was rationed at the time of production.