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

[Vegetables to Grow] Sep-Oct
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
One of a set of six bimonthly posters on growing vegetables, see PST 20656-PST 20661
[Vegetables to Grow] Nov-Dec
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
One of a set of six bimonthly posters on growing vegetables, see PST 20656-PST 20661
[Vegetables to Grow] Mar-Apr
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
One of a set of six bimonthly posters on growing vegetables, see PST 20656-PST 20661
[Vegetables to Grow] Jan-Feb
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1942
One of a set of six bimonthly posters on growing vegetables, see PST 20656-PST 20661
Your National Wheatmeal Bread is Here!
(posters) Made by: Unknown
No description available
Food is a Munition of War - Don't Waste It
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
PST 0667 is the master copy of a large format version
Don't Forget Jimmy's Orange Juice and Cod Liver Oil
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
PST 4958 is a large format version
Help Win the War on the Kitchen Front
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
No description available
Builders - You are Hitting Back
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist)
whole: the main image is positioned in the top left corner, with five other images placed one above another, down the right edge. The title is separate and positioned in the upper third, in orange and in black. The text is separate and placed in the...
La Victoire du Droit [The Victory of Right]
(posters) Made by: Unknown (artist) 1918
whole: the six separate images are positioned down the centre, each held within a black border. The title is separate and positioned in the upper quarter, in red. The text is separate and occupies the remainder, in red and in black. Black borders divide...