Photographs

1. Hawker Hurricanes

Operations: Nine Hawker Hurricanes of 85 Squadron, Royal Air Force seen from slightly below.
© IWM CH 1500
Image: IWM (CH 1500)

Hawker Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron, Royal Air Force (RAF) seen from below, October 1940.

See object record
Photographs

2. The scramble

Operations: Pilots seen running to their aircraft.
© IWM (IWM SR 10093)
Image: IWM (HU 49253)

Operations: Pilots seen running to their aircraft.

See object record
Photographs

3. Junkers Ju 87

Bombs falling away from a Junkers Ju-87 Stuka dive-bomber. The photograph appears to have been taken from a following aircraft.
© IWM (IWM SR 10092)
Image: IWM (GER 18)

Bombs fall away from a German Junkers Ju-87 Stuka dive-bomber.

See object record
Photographs

4. Polish pilots

Two airmen of the Polish Air Force Depot at RAF Blackpool receiving instruction on the controls of an aircraft, probably a Vickers Wellington medium bomber, during ground training at Squires Gate aerodrome, 27 August 1940.
© IWM CH 1150
Image: IWM (CH 1150)

Two airmen of the Polish Air Force Depot at RAF Blackpool receive instruction on the controls of an aircraft during ground training at Squires Gate aerodrome, 27 August 1940.

See object record
Photographs

5. Downtime

Spitfire pilots of No. 610 Squadron relaxing between sorties at 'A' Flight dispersal at Hawkinge, 29 July 1940.
© IWM (IWM SR 10049)
Image: IWM (HU 1062)

Spitfire pilots of No. 610 Squadron RAF relax between missions at RAF Hawkinge in Kent, 29 July 1940.

See object record
Photographs

6. Captured

Surrounded by his captors, a Luftwaffe bomber crewman is given a drink of water from a British soldier's water bottle, after baling out of his aircraft. Caption dated 30 August 1940.
© IWM (IWM SR 11475)
Image: IWM (KY 10265)

A captured German bomber crewman drinks from a British soldier's water bottle after baling out of his aircraft, 30 August 1940.

See object record
Photographs

7. Spitfires

Spitfires of No. 610 Squadron, based at Biggin Hill, flying in 'vic' formation, 24 July 1940. N3289 DW-K and R6595 DW-O nearest.
© IWM CH 740
Image: IWM (CH 740)

Supermarine Spitfire Mark Is of No. 610 Squadron RAF fly in formation, 24 July 1940.

See object record
Photographs

8. Radar stations

Chain Home: airmen and WAAF operators at work in the wooden Receiver hut at Ventnor CH, Isle of Wight, during the Battle of Britain.
© IWM C 1868
Image: IWM (C 1868)

Airmen and Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) operators at work in the receiver hut of the radar station at Ventnor, on the Isle of Wight, during the Battle of Britain.

See object record
Photographs

9. Dogfights

A still from camera gun film shows tracer ammunition from a Supermarine Spitfire Mark I of No. 609 Squadron RAF, flown by Flight Lieutenant J H G McArthur, hitting a Heinkel He 111 on its starboard quarter. These aircraft were part of a large formation from KG 53 and KG 55 which attacked the Bristol Aeroplane Company's works at Filton, Bristol, just before midday on 25 September 1940.
© IWM CH 1823
Image: IWM (CH 1823)

This camera gun film still shows tracer ammunition from an RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mark I, flown by Flight Lieutenant J H G McArthur, hitting a German Heinkel He 111. These aircraft were part of a large formation which attacked the Bristol Aeroplane Company's works at Filton, Bristol, just before noon on 25 September 1940.

See object record
Photographs

10. Dogs

Sergeant Bohumil Furst of No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF is greeted by the squadron mascot on returning to RAF Duxford, Cambridgeshire, after a sortie in his Hawker Hurricane Mark I, 7 September 1940.
© IWM CH 1296
Image: IWM (CH 1296)

Sergeant Bohumil Furst of No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron is greeted by the Squadron mascot on returning to RAF Duxford after a mission, 7 September 1940.

See object record
Photographs

11. Know your enemy

The cockpit of a captured Heinkel He 111 undergoing examination, 2 October 1940.
© IWM HU 104726
Image: IWM (HU 104726)

An RAF airman examines the cockpit of a captured German Heinkel He 111, 2 October 1940.

See object record
Photographs

12. Crashed

Locals watch as troops and police inspect Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 (W.Nr. 3367) "Red 14" of 2./JG52, which crash-landed in a wheatfield at Mays Farm, Selmeston, near Lewes in Sussex, 12 August 1940. Its pilot, Unteroffizier Leo Zaunbrecher, was captured.
© IWM HU 50153
Image: IWM (HU 50153)

Locals watch as troops and police inspect a German Messerschmitt Bf 109 which crash-landed in a field near Lewes, Sussex. The pilot, Unteroffizier Leo Zaunbrecher, was captured.

See object record
Photographs

13. Chatting

British Personalities: Squadron Leader Peter Townsend DSO DFC chatting with ground crew who are seated on his Hawker Hurricane at Wick, Scotland.
© IWM CH 87
Image: IWM (CH 87)

Squadron Leader Peter Townsend chats with groundcrew sitting on his Hawker Hurricane at Wick, Scotland.

See object record
Photographs

14. Marking the sky

Operations: Pattern of condensation trails left by British and German aircraft after a dog fight.
© IWM H 4219
Image: IWM (H 4219)

Patterns of condensation trails left by British and German aircraft after a dogfight, 18 September 1940.

See object record
Photographs

15. 'Mickey Mouse'

A member of staff at a technical college preparing to remove the 'Mickey Mouse' staffel emblem from the rear fuselage of a shot-down Messerschmitt Bf 109E4, 'Red 2', of 3./LG 2, 2 October 1940.
© IWM HU 88420
Image: IWM (HU 88420)

A member of staff at a technical college prepares to remove the 'Mickey Mouse' emblem from the rear fuselage of a shot-down German Messerschmitt Bf 109, 2 October 1940.

See object record
Photographs

16. A place to sit

Schoolgirls sitting on part of a Nazi bomber which crashed near their farmhouse.
© IWM HU 106837
Image: IWM (HU 106837)

Schoolgirls sit on part of a Nazi bomber which crashed near their farmhouse, 16 August 1940.

See object record

Related content

Sergeant Joan E Mortimer, Flight Officer Elspeth C Henderson and Sergeant Helen E Turner standing outside damaged buildings at Biggin Hill, Kent.
© IWM CH 1550
Second World War

10 Inspiring Stories Of Bravery During The Battle Of Britain

The Battle of Britain called for incredible feats of bravery. The persistent, destructive and targeted German aerial attacks during the summer of 1940 placed those involved in Britain's defence in huge danger. People who showed incredible bravery in withstanding the threat to Britain were often recognised with gallantry awards. 

A Royal Air Force anniversary parade taking place outside Buckingham Palace. RAF personnel in blue uniform march, watched by British soldiers and civilians.
IWM (Art.IWM ART LD 3911)
Battle of Britain

7 Artworks Of The Battle Of Britain

As the Battle of Britain raged in the skies over Britain in the summer of 1940, a range of British artists were quick to record and interpret this vital event. Their work was commissioned or purchased by the War Artists Advisory Committee (WAAC), the body that oversaw the British official war art scheme of the Second World War.

Four pilots stand beside the wreckage of a plane.
© IWM (CH 2064)
Second World War

8 Things You Need To Know About The Battle Of Britain

The Battle of Britain was a major air campaign fought over southern England in the summer and autumn of 1940. Here are 8 things you need to know about one of Britain’s most important victories of the Second World War.