RAF fighter command ww2

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Beaufighter VIF V8748/ZJ-R of No 96 Squadron being re-armed at Honily, 23 March 1943. The armourers are feeding belts of ball and high-explosive incendiary ammunition into the magazines of the aircraft's four 20mm Hispano cannon.

Flight Lieutenant M Cybulski (left) and Flying Officer H Ladbrook of No 410 Squadron, RCAF, with their severely charred Mosquito II at Coleby Grange, 27 September 1943. On an intruder sortie over the Netherlands the previous night the pair had attacked a Do217, closing to within 100ft before opening fire. The enemy aircraft exploded with such force that the Mosquito was enveloped by burning fuel and badly scored. Debris also damaged the port engine, which had to be shut down (note the feathered propeller)

Troops guard the burning remains of a Junkers Ju 88 of the KG 30, one of seven aircraft shot down during attacks on airfields in Yorkshire on 15 August 1940. Spitfires of No. 616 Squadron and Hurricanes of No. 73 Squadron intercepted the enemy formation as it approached the coast near Scarborough.

Squadron Leader Eugeniusz Horbaczewski, the CO of No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron, running a briefing session for his airmen in the open air at RAF Coolham, 5 May 1944. Note his P-51 Mustang Mk. III (PK-G, FB382) in the background. Amongst the pilots is Flight Lieutenant Janusz Marciniak, the CO of the "B" Flight of the Squadron (directly in front of the blackboard, looalso known as "Dziubek" (the diminutive of 'the beak' in Polish). Horbaczewski was the third highest scoring Polish fighter ace, with 16.5 confirmed kills (16 individual and one shared) and one probable kill. He was awarded several decorations, among others Virtuti Militari IV class (posthumously) and V class, four times Polish Cross of Valour, Distinguished Service Order (posthumously) and Distinguished Flying Cross (twice).
On 18 August 1944 Horbaczewski led his squadron of 12 aircraft over France on a 'Rodeo' mission, despite being ill with flu. The Poles, using the element of surprise, attacked a group of 60 Fw 190s of Jagdgeschwaders 2 and 26 over an airfield near Beauvais. Horbaczewski quickly shot down three Focke-Wulfs, but went missing during the dogfight. In 1947, the wreck of his Mustang with his body was found crashed near Velennes
Exact circumstances are unclear; he was probably shot down in combat by an aircraft of II./JG 26. The Poles were credited with shooting down 16 aircraft in this encounter, with their only loss being their squadron leader (according to German documents, eight Fw 190 of JG 26 and four of JG 2 were destroyed).

f Flying Officer Antoni "Tony" Głowacki who shot down five enemy planes in one day on 24 August 1940 while in service with No. 501 Fighter Squadron RAF. He was one of the only three pilots who achieved "ace in a day" status during the Battle of Britain. His decorations include Distinguished Flying Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Virtuti Militari, Cross of Valour and 3 bars. At the time this photograph was taken he served with No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron, 13 April 1943.
Antoni (Toni) Głowacki (10 February 1910 – 27 April 1980) DFC, DFM, was a Polish Second World War fighter pilot flying with Polish Squadrons attached to the RAF, who is notable for shooting down five German aircraft on 24 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain,

 

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Squadron Leader Jan Falkowski, the CO of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron, presenting a golden watch to Pilot Officer Władysław Śliwiński (given by his fellow squadron members) for shooting down the 200th enemy plane acredited to the squadron. RAF Northolt, 9 September 1943.
Jan Falkowski DFC** was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 9 confirmed kills.

Flight Lieutenant Zygmunt Bieńkowski of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron in the cockpit of his Spitfire, 29 August 1942. Photograph probably taken at the RAF Kirton in Lindsey
Both his parents died in Soviet Gulag camps,
During July 1943, No. 303 Squadron were stationed at RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey, where the newly arrived US Army Air Corps 94th Fighter Squadron had just been assigned. He befriended some of the American pilots, who gave him the affectionate nickname "Bing Crosby", a play on his family name.
From January 1945 to 24 February 1945, he commanded 302. On 24 February, his Spitfire Mk. XVI (TB341, "WX-B") was shot down by flak over Germany near Wesel and he was taken prisoner.
Released by American forces, by the end of the war he was a wing commander. During the war, he flew 74 sorties, claiming one Bf 109 destroyed and a Fw 190 damaged.

Polish pilots serving with No. 607 Squadron RAF studying maps on the back wing of a Hurricane as part of their training at RAF Usworth, 14 January 1941. One of the identified airmen is Pilot Officer Mirosław Orzechowski ,KIA 1943 (fourth from the left).

 

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General Władysław Sikorski, the C-in-C of the Polish Armed Forces, decorating Flying Officer Zdzisław Radomski of No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron with the highest Polish military honour, the Virtuti Militari, as well as with the Cross of Valour, 28 October 1941. During Operation 'Circus 85' on 27 August 1941 pilots of the 306th Squadron were attacked by four Bf 109 Messerschmitts over Dunkirk. F/O Radomski was the only Polish pilot wounded; although his arm was shattered he landed his Spitfire safely at his home base, RAF Northolt.

A Polish air force On September 23, 1939, he crossed the Romanian border and was interned] . He escaped from the camp and through Yugoslavia and Italy he managed to get to France. Initially, he was in Paris , and then at the Polish air base in Lyon . In December 1939 he was promoted to the second lieutenant . During the French campaign of 1940 he served in the defense of the city of Pau .

After the fall of France, through the Mediterranean Sea , he managed to get to Oran in North Africa, and then by train to Casablanca . He sailed to England and arrived at the port of Liverpool in the second half of August. He was directed to the Polish air base in Blackpool . He completed hunting training at the airports in Old Sorum and New Castle [3] . In January 1941 he completed a hunting course and was directed to combat flying, to 32 RAF Squadron based in Angle, Bristol . Flying in the regiment covered the sea convoys . The assignment for him was to 306 "Toruński" fighter squadron . August 14, 1941 during the bomber guard against the enemy fighters over northern France during the fight he shot Messerschmitt Me-109 . On August 16, Radomski shot down another Me-109 during a flight over the town of Hardelot .

On August 27, during the next flight in the 306 Squadron team over France near Calais , Radomski's plane was fired during the fight and he was shot in the arm . He realized that his hand was bloody and hung limply in the sleeve of the suit. After landing on the field in England, he was pulled out of the plane, put on a makeshift dressing and transported to a hospital that was near the landing site. Blood transfusion and amputation of the hand above the elbow saved Radomski's life

Pilot Officer Mirosław Orzechowski, one of the Polish pilots serving with No. 607 Squadron RAF, standing on a wing of a Hurricane at RAF Usworth, 14 January 1941. He was known as "Shrimp" on account of his diminutive stature and treated as the Squadron's mascot
KIA 1943

 

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Captain Francis Gabreski amongst Polish pilots at RAF Northolt, 26 February 1943, taken while Gabreski was seconded to the Royal Air Force to gain experience with No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron
Left to right - Squadron Leader Henryk Szczęsny, the Deputy Commander of No. 131 (Polish) Wing; Flight Lieutenant Tadeusz Koc of No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron; and Captain Francis Gabreski.

Francis Stanley "Gabby" Gabreski (born Franciszek Stanisław Gabryszewski; was a Polish-American career pilot in the United States Air Force who retired as a colonel after 26 years of military service. He was the top American and United States Army Air Forces fighter ace over Europe during World War II and a jet fighter ace with the Air Force in the Korean War. Credited with 34½ aircraft in aerial combat

Henryk Szczęsny was a Polish fighter ace of the Polish Air Force in World War II with 9 confirmed kills and one shared.
On January 1931 he entered to Polish Air Force Academy in DęblinDuring the Invasion of Poland he flew old PZL P.7. On 3 September 1939 he was credited with a "probable" victory over a Ju 87.[2] On 14 September, flying a PZL P.11 he shot down a He 111. He injured his leg the next day.
On 17 September, he crossed the border with Romania, in Bucharest he healed his wound. On 12 November 1939 he arrived in Marseille. He came to England in February 1940. On 6 August he was assigned to a fighter squadron. One week later he shot down a Do 17. On 19 December he was posted to No. 317 Polish Fighter Squadron. Between 20 August 1941 and 28 February 1942 he was made Commanding Officer of his squadron.
On 4 April 1943 his plane was damaged in combat with two ennemy planes, he had to parachute and was captured by the Germans. He was sent to Stalag Luft III. After his release from internment in 1945 he returned to England. He served in the RAF until 1965.

Tadeusz Kotz was a Polish pilot and fighter ace of World War II. He was awarded several decorations, including Poland's Virtuti Militari, four times Cross of Valour and the British Distinguished Flying Cross.
During the Invasion of Poland in 1939, Kotz fought with the Polish 161st Fighter Escadrille air unit of Łódź Army. He shot down his first enemy Messerschmitt on 2 September 1939, and also shared in the destruction of a Junkers Ju-86 while piloting a PZL P.11 airplane. On 16 September he shot down a Soviet reconnaissance bomber Polikarpov R-5.
After Poland was defeated, Kotz was ordered to evacuate to Romania along with other pilots. He escaped via Yugoslavia and Greece to France, and then to the UK to serve with the Royal Air Force. Commencing in late 1940, Kotz served with No 317, No 308 and No. 303 Squadron, flying the Spitfire.
Later, he became a Squadron Leader with No. 303 Squadron. In February 1943 Kotz was shot down in combat with II./JG 26 over Northern France, but evaded capture and returned to England via German occupied France, Spain and Gibraltar to return to the UK on 21 February 1943. In September 1944, he attended the Aviation School in Weston-super-Mare. His wartime score was 3 and 3 shared destroyed, 2 probables, and 3 damaged.

 

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Squadron Leader Stanisław Łapka, the CO of No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron, being helped into his parachute by his ground crew at RAF Hutton Cranswick, March 1943. Note the squadron emblem and Polish national marking on his Spitfire VB (WX-L, EN865).

As ground staff work on another Spitfire, Squadron Leader Stanisław Łapka, the CO of No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron, roars low over the airfield for the benefit of the photographer at RAF Hutton Cranswick, March 1943.

Warrant Officer Aleksander Pietrzak (centre) of No. 316 Polish Fighter Squadron after bailing out of his Mustang aircraft when it was hit by debris from an exploding V1 flying bomb. Probably RAF West Malling, 2 July 1944.
He was killed flying a mustang in 1945

11 Aug 1943 27 Sept 1943 5 July 1944 7 July 1944 12 July 1944 4 Aug 1944 5 Aug 1944 14 Oct 1944 18 Oct 1944 23 Mar 1945​

1/2 FW190 one FW190 one V-1 one V-1 two V-1s one V-1 two V-1 one Me109 1.5 Me109s one Me262

Damaged Destroyed Destroyed Destroyed Destroyed Destroyed Destroyed Destroyed Destroyed Damaged

[Escort to Roune] [Ramrod 261] [Diver patrol] [Diver patrol] [Diver patrol] * [N. of Roune] [N. of Roune] [Escort to Duisburg] [Ranger to Denmark] [Ramrod 1514 to Bad Oeynhausen]

Warrant Officer Aleksander Pietrzak

 

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Squadron Leader Eugeniusz 'Dziubek' Horbaczewski's kills being painted on his P-51 Mustang (FB387) at Brenzett, 3 August 1944. The Polish ace was the CO of No. 315 Squadron and a record of his thirteen and a half aerial victories and four V-1s destroyed was painstakingly transferred to this newly delivered aircraft. On 18 August 1944 Horbaczewski led his squadron of 12 aircraft over France on a 'Rodeo' mission, despite being ill with flu. The Poles, using the element of surprise, attacked a group of 60 Fw 190s of Jagdgeschwaders 2 and 26 over an airfield near Beauvais. Horbaczewski quickly shot down three Focke-Wulfs, but went missing during the dogfight. In 1947, the wreck of his Mustang with his body was found crashed near Velennes

Bolesław Michal Gładych
He was commissioned on 1 September 1939, too late to see active service in the Polish campaign. He led a group of newly commissioned pilots to evacuate the PZL P.7 fighters of the Polish Pilot's School to neutral Romania. Escaping from the Romanian internment camp Turnu Severin he reached France, where he joined the recently formed Polish manned "Finnish" Squadron, intended to participate in the Finnish-Soviet war. The squadron became an Armee de l'Air Polish volunteer unit - Groupe de Chasse I/145. The unit was equipped with the experimental Caudron C.714 "Cyclone" fighter.'Mike' claimed several air victories with the French Air Force, although this cannot be confirmed from surviving records.

He had several encounters during the war with Luftwaffe ace Hauptmann Georg-Peter Eder. In two different dogfights Eder severely damaged his aircraft, both times Eder flew alongside his victim and waggled his wings, before flying away.
The two aces met in combat once more in 1944, when again Eder shot up Gladych's P-47 aircraft over Vechta, but the Pole tricked Eder by flying through the German flak barrage to escape. ( in 1950 Eder and Gladych met by chance at a pilots reunion in Frankfurt and managed to confirm they had been adversaries in each case.)

Gladych reached the UK in 1940 going thefamous No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron in October 1940, . He claimed 3 Bf 109's shot down and a probable in 2 sorties on 23 June 1941, although after the second sortie he then crashed his damaged Spitfire at RAF Manston, and hit a telegraph pole, receiving a fractured skull, facial cuts, and a fractured collarbone.
IN 1943 Gladych mistakenly almost shot down the aircraft carrying Prime Minister Winston Churchill. RAF Fighter Command grounded Gladych as a punishment
After ending his second RAF tour in January 1944, Gladych, along with fellow Pole Flt Lt. Witold Lanowski, arranged a wholly unofficial secondment to the 56th Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Forces in early 1944. Recruited by Major Francis Gabreski of the 56th, who as a captain had previously been attached to the RAF Polish Fighter Wing in 1942, Gladych helped organized battle training for American replacement pilots, and was assigned to Gabreski's 61st Fighter Squadron
When the Polish authorities became aware of the arrangement in June 1944 they attempted to discipline the pair with threats of expulsion from the Polish Air Force. Both continued to fly with the Americans, however, and were consequently expelled. Therefore, Gladych's combat claims with the USAAF are not recognised by the Polish Air Force. Gladych was not formally accepted into the USAAF either (his kill credits were officially recognized, however), and continued to fly unofficially until October 1944, when the Polish Air Force finally relented and sanctioned his secondment. Gladych was carried in American records by his RAF rank of squadron leader but was known in the unit by his equivalent American rank of major. He became the leading figure among six Polish pilots flying with the 61st Fighter Squadron, all but one of whom survived the war.

Gladych had claimed a further 10 air kills and 5 ground kills by the end of September 1944. Gladych reported that on 8 March 1944 while escorting bombers to Berlin, he engaged three Focke-Wulf Fw 190s. Low on fuel, he attempted to disengage after shooting down one of the Fw 190s, but the other two fighters boxed him in and tried to force him to land. As he approached a German airfield configured for landing, Gladych suddenly opened fire on the airfield with his remaining ammunition. German flak gunners responded, but missed Gladych and shot down the two following Fw 190s. When he crossed the English coast his P-47 ran out of fuel, forcing Gladych to bail out.

It was then claimed he flew further (unofficial?) operations with an unnamed P-51 group, claiming a Me-262 jet downed, but this is not confirmed by USAAF records and his ten credited kills were all made with the 61st FS. It is also claimed he intentionally understated the total of his air victories lest he be promoted and transferred off combat duties.

He was awarded the Virtuti Militari, Cross of Valour with three bars by the Polish Air Force, the DFC by the RAF, and the Silver Star and two clusters, the Air Medal and three clusters by the USAAF. He also claimed to have been awarded the Croix de Guerre for the sortie on 8 March 1944 when he strafed an airfield after shooting down an Fw 190.

He nicknamed the numerous P-47's assigned to him Pengie, after the nickname of his then girlfriend, a Canadian WAAF, continuing the series up to Pengie V as he received newer aircraft. The name included a cartoon image of a penguin on the left side of the engine cowling.

His wartime 'score' totals 17 claimed destroyed, 2 probables, 1 shared damaged, and 5 ground kills. His ten kills with the 56th FG are officially recognized by the U.S. Air Force, as are the 4 kills by Lanowski. (USAF Historical Study No. 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II, Air Force Historical Research Agency)

Sergeant Eugeniusz Nowakiewicz of No. 302 Polish Fighter Squadron adopts a classic Churchillian pose on the wing of his Spitfire (WX-L) at RAF Exeter, November 1941
Five enemy aircraft destroyed, shot down and POW in 1942

Ground staff re-arm a Mustang III of No. 315 Polish Fighter Squadron at Coolham, 15 June 1944. The squadron had converted to Mustangs in March, and formed part of No. 133 Wing in the 2nd TAF. Its staple fare of long-range sweeps, bomber escorts and dive-bombing sorties was interrupted in July when it was switched to anti-diver patrols. The squadron would shoot down a total of 53 V-1s.

The driver of a mobile canteen operated by the Church Army offers tea to a Spitfire IX pilot of No 165 Squadron at Detling, Kent. The aircraft, coded SK-H, carries a 90gal auxiliary fuel tank beneath its fuselage. No 165 Squadron, part of ADGB, concentrated on escort operations until it stood down to convert to Mustangs at the beginning of 1945.

Flight Lieutenant Józef Żulikowski of No. 306 Polish Fighter Squadron in the cockpit of his Spitfire IXC (BS456, UZ-Z) with long-range petrol tank under-slung between the two ducted radiators at RAF Northolt, 16 November 1942. The blanks by the wing cannons are where two further 20mm cannons are fitted when required.

• Me-109 - April 14, 1942
• Me-109 - January 21, 1945
• Me-262 - April 9, 1945

 

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King George VI meets the pilots of No. 111 Squadron RAF, accompanied by the Squadron Commander, Squadron Leader H Broadhurst, at Drem, East Lothian. The squadron moved later that day to Wick.

Three Supermarine Spitfire Mark Is of No. 611 Squadron RAF fly in loose line astern over two other aircraft of the squadron at Digby, Lincolnshire.

Pilots of No 87 Squadron run to their Hurricane fighters for a mock 'scramble' at Lille-Seclin, November 1939. By now some replacement Hurricanes were arriving in France fitted with de Havilland three-bladed variable-pitch propellers, as evident in this photograph.

An airman watches as Algerian dock workers roll barrels of oil along the quayside at Algiers. Behind them is Hawker Sea Hurricane Mark I, W9182, of the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit mounted on the fo'c'sle catapult of a Catapult Armed Merchantman (CAM ship).

Still from camera-gun film, showing cannon fire from 25 yards range striking the port engine and wing root of a Junkers Ju 88, intercepted over the Bay of Biscay by Flight Lieutenant J Singleton (pilot) and J W Haslam (radar operator), in a De Havilland Mosquito NF Mark II of No. 25 Squadron RAF based at Church Fenton, Yorkshire.

Still from gun camera film shot by Flight Lieutenant A G "Sailor" Malan, leader of 'A' Flight, No. 74 Squadron RAF, recording his first aerial victory, a Heinkel He 111 over Dunkirk. Although debris and billowing smoke issue from the Heinkel's starboard engine and the starboard undercarriage has dropped, Malan's claim was categorised as unconfirmed since he did not observe the aircraft's destruction. 'A' Flight was based at Hornchurch but was flying out of Rochford at this time in order to shorten the patrol range to France. By the end of July 1941, Malan had achieved a total of 27 and seven shared confirmed victories, and two and one shared unconfirmed victories to become the highest scoring pilot of the war in Fighter Command.

Welkin Mark I, DX318, in flight. Two examples of this aircraft served with the Fighter Interception Unit for evaluation.

Once the Blitzkrieg had begun, the Hurricane squadrons in France were plunged into almost constant action, flying interception patrols and providing escort for RAF light bombers. Their airfields were subject to frequent Luftwaffe strafing attacks, with little or no warning. Here, personnel of No 85 Squadron at Lille-Seclin check air activity overhead while in the background two Hurricanes sit at 'stand-by', their pilots strapped in ready for immediate take-off, 10-12 May 1940.

Short Stirling Mark Is of No. 15 Squadron RAF, meet up with their fighter escort of Hawker Hurricanes over the south-eastern coast of England, on a 'Circus' operation to bomb a target in Lille, France. Photograph taken from the mid-upper turret of one of the three participating Stirlings.

 

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Pilots of No 1 Squadron at Vassincourt show off one of their Hurricanes to Mr Mahmoud Abu Fath, a member of the Egyptian Parliament, January 1940. Looking at the camera is Flying Officer Billy Drake, who became a 20-kill ace and survived the war.

 

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Ground staff play with a ball next to a No 85 Squadron Hurricane at Lille-Seclin, November 1939. Note the fabric-covered outer wings characteristic of early-production aircraft. These were initially chosen to ensure a faster rate of production, but were soon substituted for stressed-skin metal wings. Visible also is the Watts fixed-pitch wooden propeller and the gas detection patch painted below the cockpit.

Spitfire F Mk.5b. Several aircraft in Russian markings being checked before delivery to Russia, Abadan. The three aircraft closest to the camera have chassis numbers; BM186, AD236, BL625

 

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Pilots and ground crew gather around the fuselage Balkenkreuz from No 87 Squadron's first kill, a Heinkel He111 shot down by Flight Lieutenant Robert Voase-Jeff on 2 November 1939. Pilot Officer Dennis David, who damaged another Heinkel on the same day, autographs the trophy. Watching on the right is a new member of the squadron, Pilot Officer Roland Beamont (in flying helmet, with initials on his Irvin flying jacket), a future ace and famous postwar test-pilot.

A North American Mustang Mk I of No. 35 (PR) Wing banks over the French countryside during a tactical reconnaissance sortie, 2 November 1943.

 

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Part of an Allied convoy in the North Atlantic led by Catapult Armed Merchant (CAM) ship EMPIRE SPRAY, with a Hawker Sea Hurricane Mark I of the Merchant Ship Fighter Unit at readiness on the steam catapult over the fo'c'sle, 22 October 1941. The MSFU operated within No. 9 Group, Fighter Command.

Still from camera-gun footage shot from a Hawker Typhoon Mark IB flown by Flying Officer W V Mollett of No. 266 Squadron RAF, showing the shooting down of a Junkers Ju 52/3mg6e minesweeping aircraft of the Minensuchgruppe off Lorient, France. Cannon shells from Mollett's aircraft are striking the sea and the fuselage of the Ju 52, which crashed into the sea shortly afterwards. Mollet shared the destruction of the Ju 52 with Flying Officer N J Lucas, also of 266 Squadron

Still from camera gun footage shot from the Supermarine Spitfire Mark VB of Squadron Leader J A F MacLachlan, Commanding Officer of No. 132 Squadron RAF, when, during a sortie south of Paris with Flight Lieutenant A G Page, they shot down four training aircraft and two Junkers Ju 88s in ten minutes. This shows one of two Henschel He 126s claimed by MacLachlan falling in flames.

Still from camera gun footage taken from Hawker Typhoon Mark IB, EJ917, of No. 266 Squadron RAF flown by Flight-Sergeant D Erasmus, showing his shooting down of a Focke Wulf Fw 190 which had just shot down 266's Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader A S MacIntyre, in a dogfight over the Brest peninsula, France. Here a major hit on the port wing starts an explosion in the fuel tanks which engulfs the whole aircraft.

 

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Sous-Officier Pierre Clostermann, when serving as a pilot a with No. 341 (Alsace) Squadron of the Free French Air Force.
Joining the Free French Air Force in Britain in 1942, Clostermann scored 33 recorded victories, earning the accolade "France's First Fighter" from General Charles de Gaulle. His many decorations included the Grand-Croix of the French Légion d'Honneur, the Croix de Guerre, and the DFC and bar. His wartime reminiscences The Big Show (Le Grand Cirque) became a notable bestseller.
In his 432 sorties, Clostermann was credited officially with 33 victories (19 solo, 14 shared, most of them against fighters) and five "probables", with eight more "damaged". He also claimed 225 motor vehicles destroyed, 72 locomotives, five tanks, and two E-boats(fast torpedo boats). Many references credit him with 29 to 33 victories, although these probably include his "ground" kills of enemy aircraft. Recent, more detailed analysis of his combat reports and squadron accounts indicate that his true score was 11 destroyed, with possibly another seven, for a total of 15–18 victories

On 6 December 1939 King George VI, with the Duke of Gloucester and Viscount Lord Gort (Commander-in-Chief of the BEF), inspected RAF Air Component units at Lille-Seclin. Here, the King reviews personnel from No 615 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force, drawn up in front of one of their Gladiators. A Blenheim IV from one of the Air Component's strategic-reconnaissance squadrons can be seen in the background.

On 6 December 1939 King George VI, with the Duke of Gloucester and Viscount Lord Gort (Commander-in-Chief of the BEF), inspected RAF Air Component units at Lille-Seclin. Here the King greets Squadron Leader J. S. 'Johnny' Dewar, commanding No 87 Squadron, in front of a smart line-up of Hurricanes.
Wing Commander John Scatliff Dewar, DSO, DFC (1907 – 1940) was a World War II RAF fighter pilot, who was killed in action during the Battle of Britain.
Dewar was given command of No. 87 Squadron RAF on 29 November 1939 and led the Squadron during operations during the Battle of France, distinguishing himself by his superb piloting and leadership skills. On 7 May 1940, returning from a sortie in bad weather and low on fuel, Dewar had to force land his Hurricane at an unserviceable airfield at Villefranche. As he touched down his wheels dug into the mud and the aircraft overturned, severely injuring his right shoulder.
In spite of his injury, he refused to ground himself and continued to fly. He claimed a Dornier Do 17 shared and two Junker Ju 87s of I./StG 2 on 11 May, and another Ju 87 the next day. For this and his leadership of 87 Squadron he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). On 20 May 1940, in the face of the advancing German Army, Dewar ordered his squadron to return to England
He continued to fly operationally from RAF Exeter with No. 87 Squadron during the Battle of Britain, claiming two Bf 110 fighters on 11 July, a share in a Ju 88 on 13 August, and a Ju88 destroyed on 25 August
On 12 September 1940 he was reported missing, Dewar was the highest RAF ranking officer to be lost during the battle of Britain

Wing Commander R P Beaumont, wing leader of No. 150 Wing, leaning against a Hawker Tempest Mark V of No. 3 Squadron RAF at Newchurch Advanced Landing Ground, Kent.
Roland Prosper "Bee" Beamont, CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar was a British fighter pilot for the Royal Air Force and an experimental test pilot during and after the Second World War. He was the first British pilot to exceed Mach 1 in a British aircraft in level flight] and the first to fly a British aircraft at Mach 2

During the Second World War, he flew more than five hundred operational sorties. He also spent several months as a Hawker experimental test pilot developing the Hawker Typhoon and Tempest, and was responsible for introducing these types into operational squadron service. He pioneered the ground attack capabilities of the Typhoon and led the air to air campaign against the V-1 flying bomb

In 1945 he commanded the Air Fighting Development Squadron at RAF Central Fighter Establishment, before leaving the service in 1947. During his subsequent career as English Electric Aviation chief test pilot (and later for BAC), he directed the flight test programmes of the Canberra, the Lightning, and TSR-2, making the maiden flight of each type.

When he retired from test flying in 1968, he had flown 167 different types during a total of 5,100hr and 8,000 flights—of which more than 1,100 were supersonic. He set three Atlantic records in the Canberra, including Britannia Trophy for the first double Atlantic flight in one day. In 1971, he became Panavia flight operations director, responsible for the testing of the Tornado, retiring in August 1979 following the maiden flight of the first production Tornado. After retirement he contributed to aviation journals and wrote a number of books about his experiences.

 

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One of No 144 Wing's control vehicles at Ste Croix-sur-Mer, after the advance guard of pilots had arrived on 10 June. The senior flying control officer, Squadron Leader J G Edison (with headphones), is standing in the back of the lorry. Seated to his left is Wing Commander 'Johnnie' Johnson, the wing leader. In the front, with some of the pilots, is the padre, Squadron Leader F Lane, of Regina, Saskatchewan.

 

[Steve27752]

Excellent pics, will you be doing SAAF?

 

[dinomartino1]

Excellent pics, will you be doing SAAF?

I have put some on from korea, new thread

 

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Hurricane IIBs of Duxford-based No 601 Squadron in flight, 21 August 1941.

A still from camera gun footage taken from a Supermarine Spitfire Mark I of No. 609 Squadron RAF flown by Pilot Officer R F G Miller, showing a Heinkel He 111 of KG 53 or KG 55 taking hits in the port engine from Miller's machine guns. The aircraft was one of a force which bombed the Bristol Aeroplane Company's factory at Filton, Bristol. Miller was killed two days later when he collided head on with a Messerschmitt Bf 110 of III/ZG 26 over Cheselbourne, Dorset.

Spitfire Mark VB, R6923 QJ-S, of No 92 Squadron RAF based at Biggin Hill, Kent, banking towards the photographing aircraft. R6923 was originally a Mark I, converted to a Mark V after serving with No. 19 Squadron and No. 7 Operational Training Unit in 1940. It was shot down over the sea by a Messerschmitt Bf 109 on 22 June 1941

Pilots of No 452 Squadron RAAF, standing in front of a Supermarine Spitfire Mark IIA at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire. This unit was the first Australian squadron to be formed in Fighter Command

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.

A section of three Hawker Hurricane Mark Is of No. 257 Squadron RAF, take off from snow-bound Coltishall, Norfolk, led by the Squadron's Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader R R Stanford Tuck, in V6864 'DT-A'.

 

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Squadron Leader D O Finlay, the former British Olympic hurdler and Commanding Officer of No. 41 Squadron RAF, standing by a Supermarine Spitfire Mark IIA with four of his pilots at Hornchurch, Essex. They are (left to right): Flying Officer John MacKenzie, Flight-Lieutenant A D J Lovell, Squadron Leader Finlay, Fligh-Lieutenant N Ryder and Pilot Officer R Ford.

Squadron Leader R R Stanford-Tuck, Commanding Officer of No 257 Squadron RAF, sitting in the cockpit of his Hawker Hurricane Mark I, V6864 'DT-A', at Coltishall, Norfolk. The Burmese flag is seen painted on the starboard side of the aircraft and on the port side were painted 26 victory symbols.

A section of three Hawker Hurricane Mark Is of No 257 Squadron RAF fly over the airfield at Coltishall, Norfolk, as another aircraft of the Squadron,V7607 'DT-H', is prepared for take-off.

 

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Acting Wing Commander C B F Kingcombe, Commanding Officer of No. 92 Squadron RAF, at Biggin Hill, Kent. He later commanded No. 72 Squadron RAF before becoming leader of the Kenley Wing in 1942. In 1943 he was posted to North Africa to take command of No. 244 Wing, at the end of which, he had brought victory score to 18 enemy aircraft

A still from camera-gun film taken from a Supermarine Spitfire Mark I of No. 609 Squadron RAF, flown by by Pilot Officer J D Bisdee, as he dives on a formation of Heinkel He IIIs of KG 55 which had just bombed the Supermarine aircraft works at Woolston, Southampton.

Four pilots of No 92 Squadron RAF based at Manston, Kent, pick through the wreckage of a Junkers Ju 87B, which they shot down while it was attempting to attack a convoy in the English Channel on 5 February 1941. The Squadron Commander, Squadron Leader J A Kent, who led the section, examines a fire extinguisher at far left.

Squadron Leader J M Bryan, Commanding Officer of No. 198 Squadron RAF, inspects the damaged starboard wing of his Hawker Typhoon Mark IB, JR366, at Manston, Kent, after returning from a 'Roadstead' mission on 27 September 1943. The operation involved an attack on three flak ships off the Dutch islands. Anti-aircraft fire from the vessels exploded cannon shells in the starboard ammunition pan of Bryan's aircraft, blowing off the panel and holing the wing. Bryan returned unhurt and made a safe landing at base, but two other Typhoons were shot down.

 

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Six Hurricane Mk IIBs of 'B' Flight, No. 601 Squadron RAF based at Duxford, Cambridgeshire, flying in starboard echelon formation near Thaxted, Essex.

King George VI conferring a Bar to Flying Officer A G Lewis's DFC in an awards ceremony at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Lewis, a South African, had just returned to service with No. 249 Squadron RAF, after being shot down and badly burnt on 28 September 1940, he shot down 18 enemy aircraft
Albert Gerald Lewis, DFC & Bar (10 April 1918 – 14 December 1982) was a South African fighter pilot and fighter ace who scored an ace in a day during the Battle of Britain,

Spitfire pilots of No 234 Squadron at rest in the pilots' room at Warmwell, 26 July 1941. The Squadron had spent much of its time in the West Country, flying convoy patrols and bomber escorts to the French ports.

 

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Flight Lieutenant Zdzisław Henneberg of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron being decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross by Air Marshall Sholto Douglas, 15 December 1940. The first four Polish recipients of the DFC received their awards for their participation in the Battle of Britain during a presentation ceremony at RAF Leconfield.
KIA 1941, no known grave

A still from camera-gun film taken from a Supermarine Spitfire Mark I of No. 609 Squadron RAF, flown by by Pilot Officer J D Bisdee, as he dived on a formation of Heinkel He IIIs of KG 55 which had just bombed the Supermarine aircraft works at Woolston, Southampton. Tracer bullets can be seen heading towards the formation as Bisdee opens fire.

Night fighter pilots of No. 85 Squadron RAF, wait in the crew room at Debden, Essex, ready for a sortie during the period of the full moon between 10-16 March 1941. They are (left to right): Flying Officer W F Carnaby, Flight-Lieutenant J E Marshall, Squadron Leader P W Townsend (with 'Kim' the Squadron mascot), and Pilot Officer G L Howitt. Marshall, Townsend and Howitt are wearing darkened goggles to accustom their eyes to night vision before going outside the crew room.

American pilots of No. 71 (Eagle) Squadron RAF gathered in front of one of their Hawker Hurricanes at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire, 17 March 1941

No 91 Squadron Spitfire pilots at the butts, Hawkinge, 23 July 1941. Archery was in vogue with several squadrons, a supplement to the more usual forms of recreational target practice.