The War and Peace Battle of Britain Experience is an historic and educational exhibition surrounding the momentous 16-week battle during the summer and autumn of 1940.

In July of 1940 Hitler devised his next stage in World War 2: Operation Sea Lion – the invasion of Britain. Scheduled for mid-September, forces would land between Brighton and Folkestone, advancing in phases to cut off London.

Preparations were made for the military government of Britain after the invasion; prominent citizens were to be arrested, raw materials seized and able-bodied men despatched to German service on the continent.

The German army was confident of success, but first air superiority had to be won… and unfortunately for them they reckoned without the might of the British RAF. Vastly outnumbered five to one, the brave British and later commonwealth military and civilian participants of this Battle ensured that Britain would not submit to German rule nor: “ would the world yield itself to Hitler's gospel of hatred, appetite and domination ”. 

Following a visit to RAF Uxbridge on 16 August during a day of battle, Churchill was “ so moved ” to deliver his famous speech on 20 August to the House of Commons: “ The gratitude of every home in our island, in our Empire and indeed throughout the world, except in the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen, who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of world war- by their prowess and by their devotion. Never in the field of human conflict has so much been owed by so many to so few.”

The Germans realised that the RAF could not be defeated in 1940. As Germany was also preparing to attack Russia, Operation Sea Lion was cancelled indefinitely and eventually abandoned altogether. The Battle of Britain was over. Strangely, for such a ground breaking Battle, the first to be decided purely in the air and the first real test of air power as a defensive and offensive weapon, it did not really end, so much as petered out 2,936 allied pilots served during the Battle of Britain; 544 of which never returned.

Comprising a full-sized replica Supermarine Spitfire MkI/II, Hawker Hurricane, Messerschmitt Me 109 and an exhibition trailer, The Battle of Britain Experience tells the story of three brave pilots during the campaign: allied pilots Robert Stanford Tuck and Adolph “Sailor” Malan and German Adolf Galland. It also pays tribute to the brave women of the Air Transport Auxiliary – the civilian female ferry pilots who moved the planes around without instruments, radio or weapons.

The aircrafts are available for bookings - Contact us.

General terms.....

The Battle of Britain
The name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940. The objective of the campaign was to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF), especially Fighter Command. The name derives from a famous speech delivered by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in the House of Commons: "...the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin."

German military terms

Luftwaffe
German air force

Wehrmacht
Nazi Germany's armed forces

Blitzkrieg
A highly mobile form of infantry and armour working in combined arms teams