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 for "Hurricane fragments"

fragment, aircraft, Hurricane
(vehicles, aircraft and ships)
Taken from wreck of Hurricane in Russia and passed to N. Young, R&I, by Russian visitor.
Collection: aircraft fragments, RAF (F.C. Harrold)
(vehicles, aircraft and ships)
These aircraft fragments belonged to Pilot Officer Frederick Harrold' s Hurricane, he was killed in action during the Battle of Britain. Harrold, of Hills Road, Cambridge, was killed on Saturday, 28th September over Deal, Kent, having only just been...
aircraft perspex, fragment, RAF (F.C. Harrold)
(souvenirs and ephemera)
This perspex fragment belonged to Pilot Officer Frederick Harrold's Hurricane, he was killed in action during the Battle of Britain. Harrold, of Hills Road, Cambridge, was killed on Saturday, 28th September over Deal, Kent, having only just been posted...
2 aluminium fragments, Hurricane
(souvenirs and ephemera)
Recovered form Hurricane crash site at Ebury Bridge, 15 September 1940. According to 'The Battle of Britain: Then and Now' Hurricane P2725 crashed in Ebury Bridge Road.
fragment, aircraft, Hurricane
(vehicles, aircraft and ships)
Taken from wreck of Hurricane in Russia and passed to N. Young, R&I, by Russian visitor.
Griffith, Adolf John (IWM interview)
(sound) Made by: IWM (Production company) 1992-10-20
British officer served as observer with 825 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Furious in GB coastal waters, 1940-1941; served with 810 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Ark Royal in Atlantic and Mediterranean, 1941; served with 830 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm on Malta...
ROYAL NAVAL HURRICANE SQUADRON 3 [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: Admiralty (Production sponsor) 1940
Fragments of film joined by spacer.
MALTA CONVOY [Main Title]
(film) Made by: British Movietone News (Production company) 1944
A dramatic eye-witness account by Royal Navy Commander Anthony Kimmins of Operation 'Pedestal' (10 - 15 August 1942), the Royal Navy's bold and ambitious attempt to resupply the besieged island of Malta that narrowly succeeded in achieving its object...
MISCELLANEOUS NAVAL MATERIAL 11 [Allocated Title]
(film) Made by: Admiralty (Production sponsor) 1942
Fragments spliced together
Offers to give or sell exhibits 1954-1957
part of "Offers to give or sell exhibits" (museum's administrative records) 1953-12-31
2 Subfiles as follows: