Battle of Britain Album #20: No. 257 Squadron RAF

Three Hurricanes of No. 257 Squadron landing at Martlesham Heath, November 1940. The aircraft in the center is being flown by the CO, Squadron Leader Roland Robert 'Bob' Stanford Tuck. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1673.

 

Flight Lieutenant Howard Peter 'Cowboy' Blatchford of No. 257 Squadron who rammed the upper wing of an Italian CR.42 biplane fighter during an attack by the 'Corpo Aereo Italiano' on 11 November 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1676.

 

Squadron Leader Robert Stanford Tuck (standing center) poses with pilots of No. 257 Squadron under the nose of Tuck's Hawker Hurricane at Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, November 1940. They are displaying helmets and other equipment salvaged from Italian aircraft shot down on 11 November. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1674.

 

A pilot of No. 257 Squadron poses with trophies taken from shot-down Italian aircraft during an attack by the 'Corpo Aereo Italiano' on 11 November 1940. In the background is Squadron Leader Robert Stanford Tuck's Hurricane. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1678.

 

Hurricane pilots of No. 257 Squadron at Martlesham Heath, November 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1671.

 

Squadron Leader R R 'Bob' Stanford Tuck, commanding No. 257 Squadron, in the cockpit of his Hawker Hurricane at Martlesham Heath, November 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1680.

 

Flight Lieutenant Howard Peter 'Cowboy' Blatchford of No. 257 Squadron who rammed the upper wing of an Italian CR.42 biplane fighter during an attack by the 'Corpo Aereo Italiano' on 11 November 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1679.

 

 

Battle of Britain Album #19: No. 245 Squadron RAF

+Hurricane Mk Is of No. 245 Squadron, in flight from Aldergrove, near Belfast, November 1940. The lead aircraft is P3101 DX-?, the mount of the CO, Squadron Leader J W C Simpson. Imperial War Museum photo HU 104454.

 

 

Battle of Britain Album #18: No. 242 Squadron RAF

Squadron Leader Douglas Bader (front center) with pilots of No. 242 Squadron grouped around his Hurricane at Duxford, September 1940. CH 1413. During the Second World War, the squadron was notable for (firstly) having many pilots who were either Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) personnel or Canadians serving in the RAF – to the extent that it was sometimes known, unofficially, as "242 Canadian Squadron" – and (secondly) for being the first squadron to be commanded by Douglas Bader.

 

Squadron Leader Douglas Bader of No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron, standing by the cockpit of his Hurricane at Duxford, 26 September 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1405.

 

Flight Lieutenant Eric Ball, Squadron Leader Douglas Bader and Pilot Officer William 'Willie' McKnight of No. 242 Squadron admire the nose art on Bader's Hurricane at Duxford, September 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1412.

 

Three pilots of No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron standing outside the Officers' Mess at Duxford, 20 September 1940. They are (left to right): Pilot Officer William 'Willie' McKnight, Squadron Leader Douglas Bader and Flight Lieutenant George Ball. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1342.

 

Three decorated fighter pilots of No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron RAF, standing outside the Officers' Mess at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. They are (left to right): Pilot Officer W L McKnight, Acting Squadron Leader D R S Bader (Commanding Officer), and Acting Flight Lieutenant G E Ball. By the date this photograph was taken these pilots had, between them, shot down over thirty enemy aircraft. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1342.

 

Pilot Officer William 'Willie' McKnight of No. 242 Squadron outside the Officer's Mess at Duxford, September 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1339.

 

Pilot Officer William 'Willie' McKnight of No. 242 (Canadian) Squadron, Duxford, September 1940 Between May and November 1940, McKnight achieved 16.5 victories in combats over France and England. He was shot down and killed during a low level intruder sortie ('Rhubarb') over France, on 12 January 1941. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1321.

 

Flying Officer Marvin K 'Ben' Brown of No. 242 Squadron at Duxford, September 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1408.

 

Flight Lieutenant P S Turner of No. 242 Squadron RAF, rests on the tail elevator of his Hawker Hurricane Mk I, after landing at Fowlmere, near Duxford in Cambridgeshire, September 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1376.

Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 242 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain, 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1430.

 

“High Patrol” by Ivan Berryman. Hawker Hurricane Mk 1s of No 242 Sqn patrol a glorious September sky as the Battle of Britain reaches its climax in the Summer of 1940. The nearest aircraft is that of Sqn Ldr Douglas Bader, flying V7467 in which he claimed four victories, plus two probables and one destroyed. P/O W L McKnight (LE-A) and P/O D W Crowley-Milling (LE-M) are in close attendance.

 

“Assault on the Capital” by Robert Taylor. Robert Taylors final painting in his 60th Anniversary trilogy features a scene from the attacks on the afternoon of September 7, 1940. Led by Herbert Ihlefeld, Me109Es of II/LG 2 dive through the bomber formation giving chase to Hurricanes of 242 Squadron as Ju88s of KG30, having unloaded their bombs, head for home. One Ju88 has been hit and is already losing height, and will not return. Following behind He111s of KG53 try to keep formation as they fly through flak. The sky is alive with action.

 

“Into the Fray” by Richard Taylor. Squadron Leader Douglas Bader leads the Hurricanes of 242 Squadron in an aggressive diving attack upon a large force of Heinkel 111s approaching the Kent coast, whilst Spitfires from 66 Squadron tangle with the escorting Bf109s of JG52. It is September 1940, and the climax of the Battle of Britain. Throughout those critical months in 1940, the RAF engaged opposing pilots of the Luftwaffe time and time again and this atmospheric new painting depicts one such frantic engagement as one of the most legendary fighter Aces of the war, Douglas Bader leads his unit into battle.

 

 

Battle of Britain Album #17: No. 151 Squadron RAF

Group Captain Victor Beamish, Station Commander at North Weald (center, in forage cap), with Squadron Leader Edward 'Teddy' Donaldson, CO of No. 151 Squadron (fourth from left), and other Hurricane pilots of No. 151 Squadron in front of a Hurricane, July 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 494.

 

Squadron Leader Edward 'Teddy' Donaldson, CO of No. 151 Squadron, and Wing Commander Victor Beamish, the Station Commander at North Weald, standing in front of a Hurricane, July 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 491.

 

Group Captain Victor Beamish, Station Commander at North Weald (center, in forage cap), with Squadron Leader Edward 'Teddy' Donaldson, CO of No. 151 Squadron (fourth from right), and other Hurricane pilots of No. 151 Squadron, July 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 492.

 

 

Battle of Britain Album #16: No. 111 Squadron RAF

Hurricane pilots of No. 111 Squadron relax with a pet dog outside their caravan at dispersal, Wick, Scotland, April 1940.

 

Hawker Hurricane, No. 111 Squadron, April 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 103.

 

“Holding the Line - The Battle of Britain” by Nicolas Trudgian. They came across the English Channel at wave top height, their propeller slipstreams leaving wakes on the surface of the water. Nine Dornier Do17Z bombers of 9th Staffel, KG76, detailed to attack the RAF airfield at Kenley as part of Reichsmarshal Goring's prelude to Operation Sealion - the invasion of Britain. Hitler knew that RAF Fighter Command had to be destroyed in the air and on the ground if his plans were to succeed, but the German High Command failed to take into account the resilience of the young Hurricane and Spitfire pilots, and their determination to hold this last vital line of defense. The Dorniers were spotted as they approached the English coast, and Hurricanes were scrambled to intercept. The German bombers cleared the North Downs with feet to spare and spread out into attack formation as they lined up on the hangars at Kenley. As they came in over the airfield Hurricanes of 111 Squadron came diving upon them. Suddenly all hell broke loose. Bombs rained down on to the airfield and buildings went up in flames. One Dornier was brought down and two more, badly damaged by ground fire, were finished off by the Hurricane pilots. Now the chase was on to catch the others before they could escape back to their base in Northern France. Only one of the nine Dorniers that set out would return to base on that 18th day of August, 1940.

 

 

Battle of Britain Album #15: No. 87 Squadron RAF

A pilot of No. 87 Squadron stands on the nose of his Hurricane, with one hand on the propeller, Exeter, November 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1641.

 

Flight Lieutenant Ian 'Widge' Gleed of No. 87 Squadron in the cockpit of his Hurricane, pointing at his 'Figaro the Cat' artwork, Exeter, November 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1639.

 

A Hurricane pilot of No. 87 Squadron dons his flying kit, seen from beneath the wings of another aircraft, Exeter, November 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1640.

 

“Tribute to Flt Lt Ian R Gleed” by Ivan Berryman. Flight Lieutenant Ian Widge Gleed is depicted in his personal Hurricane 1 P2798 (LK-A) of 87 Sqn shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf.110 on 15th August 1940. Just visible beneath the cockpit of the Hurricane is his mascot, Figaro, shown kicking a swastika. His aircraft was also easily identifiable by the red flash on its nose, a feature that was retained even when P2798 was painted all black for its night fighter role. Gleed scored many victories before being shot down and killed whilst flying a Spitfire Vc in the Western Desert in April 1943.

 

 

Battle of Britain Album #14: No. 85 Squadron RAF

Hawker Hurricane P2923 VQ-R of No. 85 Squadron, flown by Plt Off Albert G Lewis, at Castle Camps, July 1940. Imperial War Museum photo HU 104510.

 

Hawker Hurricane Mk I P2923 VQ-R of No. 85 Squadron, flown by Pilot Officer Albert G Lewis, taxiing out at Castle Camps, July 1940. Imperial War Museum photo HU 104493.

 

Two armorers service the machine guns of a Hawker Hurricane Mk I of No. 85 Squadron, while a third unpacks belts of .303 inch ammunition at RAF Debden, 25 July 1940. Imperial War Museum photo HU 54510.

 

Rear view of a Hurricane of No. 85 Squadron being run up at Castle Camps, July 1940. Imperial War Museum photo HU 104485.

 

Hawker Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron RAF, October 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1500.

 

Hawker Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron in flight, October 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1499.

 

Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain, 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1512.

 

Hawker Hurricane Mk Is of No. 85 Squadron RAF, October 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1510.

 

Distant view of Hawker Hurricanes of No. 85 Squadron in flight, October 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1498.

 

Squadron Leader Peter Townsend, the CO of No. 85 Squadron (with walking stick) with pilots at Church Fenton, in front of one of the unit’s Hurricanes, 14 October 1940. Imperial War Museum photo CH 1473.

 

“Defence of the Capital” by Gerald Coulson. High over London, Hurricanes of 85 Squadron engage Me 109s in an intense dogfight during the heavy fighting of August 1940.

 

“Close Combat” by Ivan Berryman. Whilst flying with A Flight of 85 Squadron on 30th July 1940, Geoffrey Allard encountered a pair of Messerschmitt Bf.110s about 40 miles from the coast, apparently patrolling near a convoy. After Squadron Leader Townsend, flying Red 1, had made two unsuccessful attacks, Allard closed to 150 yards and began to fire continuously, eventually closing to just 25 yards, whereupon the starboard engine of the Bf.110 began to disintegrate. This was just one of eight victories that Allard claimed during the Battle of Britain to add to a previous eight that he had scored flying Hurricanes during the Battle of France.

 

“Defence of the Realm” by Robert Taylor. In the azure skies above London and the south-eastern Shires of England during the long, hot summer of 1940, a small band of RAF fighter pilots, substantially out-numbered, and against all odds, flew and fought a savage aerial battle in defense of the Realm. Their success in repelling the might of the Luftwaffe has become legend. They were Churchill's FEW. Fresh from the heat of battle after a dog-fight over the city, No. 85 Squadrons C.O., Peter Townsend, levels off and turns his Hurricane for home to re-fuel, re-arm, and rejoin the fight. A symbolic portrayal paying tribute to the Hawker Hurricane and its legendary pilots who, between them, accounted for four of every five enemy aircraft destroyed during the momentous Battle of Britain.