David Pentland .com Home Page
Order Helpline (UK) : 01436 820269

You currently have no items in your basket

Join us on Facebook!

Payment Options Display
Buy with confidence and security!
Publishing historical art since 1985

Follow us on Twitter!
FANTASTIC SAVINGS ON ORIGINAL PAINTINGS BY DAVID PENTLAND   -   MAKE US AN OFFER !
Aircraft
Search
Squadron
Search
Signature
Search
Tank
Search
Special
Offers

Product Search         
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF ALL DAVID PENTLAND PRINTS BY TITLE
ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS :
20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS
BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS
FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Hurricane - Aircraft Profile - Hawker : Hurricane

Hurricane

Manufacturer : Hawker
Number Built : 14533
Production Began : 1936
Retired :
Type : Fighter

Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon. All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built.

Hurricane


Latest Hurricane Artwork Releases !
 Wing Commander Ken Mackenzie was a formidable opponent during the Battle of Britain - even without any weaponry as on the occasion depicted here.  Then a Pilot Officer flying with No.501 Sqn, on 7th October 1940 he shot up an Me109 and followed it down to the sea, expecting it to ditch.  When his foe did not crash-land, he used the starboard wing-tip of his Hurricane, V6799 SD-X, to strike the tailplane of his opponent, sending the German fighter crashing into the water. Thus he claimed one of at least 6 victories during the Battle of Britain and 10 overall in the war.  Posted in June 1941 to No.247 Sqn, Ken Mackenzie was himself forced to ditch into the sea after damage from flak over Brittany.  He became a prisoner of war until October 1944 and served in the Royal Air Force until 1967, becoming an airline pilot until 1973.  He died in 2009.

Tribute to Ken Mackenzie by Ivan Berryman.
 Tom Dalton-Morgan was a British flying Ace who was credited with at least 17 victories during World War Two. It was in the aircraft shown here, Hurricane Mk.I P3972 of No.43 Sqn that on 13th August 1940 he claimed a Ju88 but was struck by return fire, baling out of the stricken Hurricane.  He became an Ace during the Battle of Britain and later also became a Hurricane night-fighter Ace, claiming six victories. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Service Order and Order of the British Empire, he went on to manage the Woomera rocket testing facility in Australia for 30 years.  He died in 2004, aged 87.

Tribute to Tom Dalton-Morgan by Ivan Berryman.
 Pete Brothers is shown here in his Hurricane P2921 GZ-L of No.32 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.  In one of 8 victories claimed before September 1940, he has peppered a marauding German Dornier Do.215, its port engine now trailing smoke and flame.  In this incident, he had been attacked by Me110s and had stalled while turning to meet them.  Spinning out of the stall he immediately sighted, engaged and shot down the Do.215.  He claimed an Me109 later the same day.  Pete Brothers is credited with a total of 16 victories during World War Two.  He died aged 91 in December 2008.

Tribute to Pete Brothers by Ivan Berryman.
 No one will ever know how great a fighter pilot New Zealander Cobber Kain might have been, but in his short wartime service, he was credited with 14 confirmed victories and was the RAF's first flying ace. By mid 1940, he was suffering with fatigue and was sent on leave but, as a farewell gesture to his squadron comrades, he performed a short aerial display which resulted in a fatal crash. He is depicted in his 73 Sqn Hawker Hurricane Mk 1.

Tribute to Edgar 'Cobber' Kain by Ivan Berryman.

Hurricane Artwork Collection



Hawker Hurricane MkI P2725 TM-B. by M A Kinnear.


Hawker Hurricane Mk I P2544 YK (T) by M A Kinnear.


Salute the Few by Anthony Saunders. (APB)


One to One by Ivan Berryman.

Holding the Fort by Ivan Berryman.


Ground Force by Ivan Berryman.


Hurricanes at the Ready by Graeme Lothian. (P)


Hawker Hurricane - War Horse by Graeme Lothian. (P)


Billy Drake - First of Many by Ivan Berryman.


Hurricane Mk.IIC by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to F/Lt Owen Tracey by Ivan Berryman.


Revenge of the Raider by Ivan Berryman.


One on the Run by Ivan Berryman.


501 Sqn Scramble by Ivan Berryman.


501 Squadron Hurricanes by Ivan Berryman.


Straggler's End by Ivan Berryman.


A Welcome Shore by Ivan Berryman.


Down and Out by Ivan Berryman.


32 Squadron Hurricanes - Battle of Britain by Graeme Lothian. (P)


Battle of Britain Hurricanes by Graeme Lothian. (P)


Hurricanes - 85 Squadron by Graeme Lothian. (P)


Standing Guard by Graeme Lothian. (P)


Battle of Britain - 85 Squadron Hurricanes by Graeme Lothian. (P)


The Stuka Myth by Jason Askew. (P)


Desperate Measures by Ivan Berryman.


Victory over Africa by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Squadron Leader Derek Ward by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Flt Lt Ian R Gleed by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Fl Off Tom Neil by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Flying Officer Count Manfred Beckett Czernin by Ivan Berryman.


No.615 Sqn Hurricane over Burma by Brian Bateman. (P)


Byron Duckenfield by Brian Bateman. (P)


A Pickle for Pickering by Brian Bateman. (P)


Burma - Arrival of 615 Squadron by Brian Bateman. (P)


Into the Silence by Ivan Berryman.


Clipped Signature - Tom Dalton Morgan.


Clipped Signature - Dennis David.


Clipped Signature - Billy Drake.


Clipped Signature - Wilfred Sizer.


Clipped Signature - 'Tommy' Thompson.


Clipped Signature - Geoffrey Page.


Clipped Signature - Jocelyn Millard.


Clipped Signature - Micky Mount.


Clipped Signature - Peter Olver.


Clipped Signature - Roland Beamont.


Clipped Signature - Laurence Thorogood.


Clipped Signature - James Pickering.


Clipped Signature - Keith Lawrence.


Clipped Signature - Kenneth Lee.


Clipped Signature - Vivian Snell.


Clipped Signature - Percival Leggett.


Clipped Signature - Harry Moon.


Clipped Signature - Doug Nicholls.


Clipped Signature - Tony Pickering.


Clipped Signature - Ken Mackenzie.


Clipped Signature - Eric Parkin.


Clipped Signature - William J Green.


Clipped Signature - John Golley.


Clipped Signature - H G 'Pat' Pattison.


Clipped Signature - Sir Kenneth Cross.


Clipped Signature - Ronnie Sheward.


Clipped Signature - John Unwin-Mann.


Clipped Signature - Robert Innes.


Clipped Signature - Alan Gear.


Clipped Signature - Sir John Lapsley.


Clipped Signature - Cyril Hampshire.


Clipped Signature - Ralph Roberts.


Clipped Signature - Marcel Comeau.


Clipped Signature - Sir Humphrey Edwardes-Jones.


Clipped Signature - Sir John Grandy.


Clipped Signature - John Vivian Stanbury.


Merlin Roar by Anthony Saunders.


Malta Relief by Tim Fisher.


Can Openers by David Pentland.


Night Reaper, 4th May 1942 by David Pentland.


Hurricane Patrol by Graeme Lothian.


Hurricanes over the Houses of Parliament by John Young. (AP)


Hurricanes Over the Needles by Graeme Lothian.


Return From Combat by Simon Smith.


Battle for Biggin by Kenneth McDonough.


Open Assault by Robert Taylor.


Defence of the Capital by Gerald Coulson.


Height and Sun by Robert Taylor.


Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson.


Close Combat by Ivan Berryman.


Guardian Angel by Gerald Coulson.


A Day for Heroes by Ivan Berryman.


Fear Nothing by Anthony Saunders.


High Patrol by Ivan Berryman.


Into the Fray by Richard Taylor.


An Early Bath by Ivan Berryman.


Late Arrival by Robert Taylor.


Bob Stanford-Tuck Tribute Folio by Nicolas Trudgian.


Holding the Line - The Battle of Britain by Nicolas Trudgian.


Fastest Victory by Robert Taylor


Uneven Odds by Robert Taylor


Assault on the Capital by Robert Taylor


Defence of the Realm by Robert Taylor.


Front Line Hurricanes by Robert Taylor.


Steinhoff Tribute by Robert Taylor.


First of Many by Robert Taylor.


Hawker Hurricane Mk I by Philip West.


The Guardians by Philip West.


Moment of Truth by Keith Woodcock.


Dawn Scramble by Keith Woodcock.


Hawker Hurricane MkI by Keith Woodcock.


Hurricane Heroes by Nicolas Trudgian.


Squadron Scramble by Nicolas Trudgian.


Glorious Summer by Robert Taylor


Hurricane Country by Nicolas Trudgian.


At the Setting of the Sun by Simon Atack.


Fury of Assault by Robert Taylor.


Tommy Leader by Robert Taylor.


Tangmere Hurricanes by Nicolas Trudgian.


Vital Force by Richard Taylor.


Undaunted by Odds by Robert Taylor.


Moonlight Hunter by Gerald Coulson.


Winter's Day at Coltishall by John Young.


Sea Hurricane by Robert Tomlin.


Ace of Burma - Tribute to Wing Commander Frank Carey by Ivan Berryman.


Arctic Hurricanes by Richard Taylor.


Winter Combat by Richard Taylor.


Maple Leaf Scramble by Robert Taylor. (GS)


Hurricane Attack by Robert Taylor. (GS)


Response to Call by Robert Taylor.


We All Stand Together by Robert Taylor.


The Greatest Day by Robert Taylor.


Battle Over Bembridge by Ivan Berryman. (PC)


Tribute to Bob Stanford Tuck by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Frank Carey by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Edgar 'Cobber' Kain by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Pete Brothers by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Tom Dalton-Morgan by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Ken Mackenzie by Ivan Berryman.

RAF Henlow, MU13 Being Bombed by David Rowlands (GL)


Breaking the Ring by David Pentland.


Doe's Griffin by David Pentland. (AP)


Operation Jubilee by David Pentland. (P)


Taxi Service by David Pentland.


Strafing Run by David Pentland.


Danger Over Dieppe by David Pentland.


Enemy Approaching by David Pentland. (P)


Unsung Hero by Adrian Rigby.

Hurricanes from Kenley by Michael Turner

Hurricane Scramble by Michael Turner.


Hurricane of No.501 Sqn by Ivan Berryman.


3 Squadron Hurricanes by Ivan Berryman.


The Last of the Many by Keith Woodcock.


London Guard by Adrian Rigby.


Battle Above Dover by Adrian Rigby.


Hurricane MK11C Night Fighters by Barry Price.


Hurricanes - July 1940 by Barry Price.

Relief Hurricane by Graham Cooke.


The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight by Trevor Mitchell.


Hurricane over Windmill by Tony Sargeant.

Hurricane Aces 1939-40.

Hurricane Aces 1941-45.

The Story of the Hurricane.

The Fly Past by Robin Smith.


Battle of Britain VC by Robert Taylor.


Hurricane Force by Robert Taylor.


Hurricane Scramble by Robert Taylor.


Moral Support by Robert Taylor.

The Other Few by Roy Cross.


Hurricane on my Tail by Stan Stokes.


Forgotten Hero by Stan Stokes.

Hurricane Poster by P Oliver.


Hawker Hurricane Mk I L1856 of 1 Sqn RAF by Keith Woodcock.

Top Aces for : Hurricane
A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name.
NameVictoriesInfo
John Randall Daniel Bob Braham29.00
Robert Stanford-Tuck29.00The signature of Robert Stanford-Tuck features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Frank R Carey28.00The signature of Frank R Carey features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
James Harry Ginger Lacey28.00The signature of James Harry Ginger Lacey features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Billy Drake24.50The signature of Billy Drake features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Geoffrey Allard23.80
William Vale22.00
Archibald Ashmore Archie McKellar21.00
F W Higginson15.00The signature of F W Higginson features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Peter Malam Brothers15.00The signature of Peter Malam Brothers features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Robert Francis Thomas Doe15.00The signature of Robert Francis Thomas Doe features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Tom Neil14.00The signature of Tom Neil features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Manfred Beckett Czernin13.00
Alan Geoffrey Page12.50The signature of Alan Geoffrey Page features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Joseph Risso11.00The signature of Joseph Risso features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
George H Westlake11.00The signature of George H Westlake features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Ken Mackenzie8.00The signature of Ken Mackenzie features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Paul Farnes8.00The signature of Paul Farnes features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Charles Palliser7.50The signature of Charles Palliser features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
James Douglas Lindsay7.00The signature of James Douglas Lindsay features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Kenneth Lee7.00The signature of Kenneth Lee features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Bob Foster7.00The signature of Bob Foster features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Wilf Sizer7.00The signature of Wilf Sizer features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Owen Vincent Tracey6.00
Keith Ashley Lawrence5.00The signature of Keith Ashley Lawrence features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
John Harry Stafford5.00The signature of John Harry Stafford features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.

Hurricane
Squadron details



No.1 Sqn RAF
Country : UK
Known Codes : , JX, NA,


No.1 Sqn RAF

In Omnibus Princeps - First in all things

On 13 May 1912, with the establishment of the Royal Flying Corps, No. 1 Company of the Air Battalion was redesignated No. 1 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. No. 1 Squadron was one of the original three Royal Flying Corps squadrons. Maitland continued as the new squadron's Officer Commanding and he was promoted to major several days after the establishment of the squadron. It retained the airships Beta and Gamma, adding Delta and Eta, as well as kites and a few spherical balloons. However, in October 1913 a sudden decision was made to transfer all the airships to the Naval Wing of the RFC (which became the Royal Naval Air Service by Admiralty dictat, not Cabinet decision, on 1 July 1914). While retaining kites 1 Squadron was reorganised as an 'aircraft park' for the British Expeditionary Force. On 1 May 1914, Major Charles Longcroft was appointed as the new squadron commander. Apart from a few weeks as a supernumerary in August and September 1914, Longcroft continued as the squadron commander until January 1915. The squadron returned to the UK from France in March 1919, being formally disbanded on 20 January 1920. On the next day it reformed at Risalpur in the North West Frontier of India (now part of Pakistan), flying the Sopwith Snipe. and from January 1920. It moved to Hinaidi near Baghdad in Iraq in May 1921, to carry out policing duties, retaining its Snipes, although it also received one Bristol Jupiter engined Nieuport Nighthawk for evaluation. It remained in Iraq, carrying out strafing and bombing against hostile tribal forces until November 1926 when it was disbanded. In early 1927 it was reformed at Tangmere, Sussex as a Home Defence Fighter Squadron, equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Siskin. After receiving the Hawker Fury Mk.1 in February 1932, the squadron gained a reputation for aerobatics, giving displays throughout the United Kingdom and at the Zurich International Air Meeting in July 1937, where its display impressed but it was clear that it was outclassed by the German Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Dornier Do 17 also displayed at Zurich. The squadron re-equipped with the Hurricane Mk.I in October 1938 By the outbreak of the Second World War the Squadron had worked up sufficiently to deploy to France as part of 67 Wing of the Advanced Air Striking Force. In October it flew over enemy territory for the first time and on the 30th of that month claimed its first victory, a Dornier DO17. Further occasional combat took place and the successes mounted. However, the situation developed significantly in April 1940, and 10th May was the date on which No 1(Fighter) Squadron became fully operation in every sense of the word. Fighting was intense and a week later the Squadron was bombed out of its base at Berry-au-Bac; then began a series of retreats ending finally in a return to the UK. The Squadron was back at Tangmere by 23rd June and operational the following month. In August it marked its entry into the Battle of Britain by destroying 2 Messerschmitt BF110s; there was no let up in the fighting until 9th September when the Squadron moved North to Wittering for a rest. It returned South for the New Year when it engaged in fighter sweeps and carried out bomber escort duties. In February, it started Rhubarb and night flying; during the month the first of its Hurricane 11As arrived. This heralded a period of change for the Squadron whose strength now included both Czechs and Poles; the emphasis increasingly focused on night flying. In July the Squadron returned to Tangmere and, having achieved night operational status, this became its main task. The Squadron continued to conduct night intruder patrol until re-equipping with Hawker Typhoons in July 1942;it then moved North to Acklington where it reverted to daytime operations. The Unit exchanged its Typhoons for Spitfire X1s in April 1944 and with these continued its bombing raids. In June the Squadron began anti-V patrols (Divers) and this became its exclusive occupation, eventually tallying 39 hits. In the autumn it reverted to carrying out bomber escorts; to extend its range it sued the airfield at Haldegham on the Continent as an advanced landing ground. In May 1945 it converted to Spitfire F21s but these were only used operationally to cover the Channel Island landings. In 1946 the Squadron returned to Tangmere and took delivery of its first jet aircraft, Gloster Meteors. These aircraft were followed by Hawker Hunter F5s, which were flown from Cyprus during 1956 Suez crisis. In June 1958 No 1(Fighter) Squadron was disbanded but was reformed almost immediately on 1st July, to fly Hunter F6s from Stradishall, by renumbering No 2683 Squadron. It then moved to Waterbeach from where, flying Hunter FGA9s, it operated in the ground attack role as part of 38 Group. The Squadron continued in this role for the next 8 years, operating out of Waterbeach and then West Raynham. July 1969 heralded a move to Wittering to commence conversion to the Harrier and become the first operational squadron in the world to fly this unique vertical/short take off and landing aircraft. Since this time No 1(Fighter) Squadron has served in many parts of the globe, including Belize and most notably, the South Atlantic during the Falklands War in 1982, where it undertook the air defence role in Ascension Island before deploying for aircraft carrier based operations over the Falkland Islands equipped with Sidewinder air to air missile. Aircraft flew for 9 hours, direct to Ascension Island which set a new distance/duration record for the Harrier. Some aircraft then flew direct to the South Atlantic, where they operated from HMS HERMES. During this conflict, over 130 sorties were flown against heavily defended targets on the Islands; 3 aircraft were shot down by enemy fire. All 3 pilots ejected successfully, although one, who sustained shoulder injuries, was captured and became the only prisoner of war; he was later repatriated to the UK. The Squadron moved to RAF Stanley in the Falkland Islands at the end of hostilities and took on air defence duties until the latter part of the year when it returned to Wittering.



No.238 Sqn RAF
Country : UK
Disbanded 4th October 1948
Known Codes : , VK, FM, KC, WF,


No.238 Sqn RAF

Ad finem - To the end



No.247 Sqn RAF
Country : UK
Disbanded 31st December 1963
Known Codes : , HP, ZY,


No.247 Sqn RAF

China-British

Rise from the east



No.28 Sqn RAF
Country : UK
Known Codes : , BF, US,


No.28 Sqn RAF

Quicquid agas age - Whatwsoever you may do



No.6 Sqn RAF
Country : UK
Known Codes : , JV, NI, XE, ZD,


No.6 Sqn RAF

Oculi exercitus - The eyes of the army

The squadron was formed on 31 January 1914, at Farnborough as No. 6 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. Its first squadron commander was Major John Becke. The Squadron finished the war flying RE8s, and shortly after the end of the War, it transferred to Iraq and re-equipped with Bristol Fighters. During the following years, it undertook operations against various uprisings before transferring to Egypt in 1929 and receiving Fairey Gordon bombers. Following increased tension between Arabs and Jews No 6 Sqn moved to Ramleh in Palestine during 1937 with Hawker Hardys. During the early part of WWII, the Squadron and its Lysanders remained in Palestine, but detached aircraft to the Western Desert until 1941 when Hurricanes were on strength. Further action in the Desert on anti-tank duties continued from 1942 until the end of the North African campaign. After converting to rocket-firing Hurricanes in 1944, the Squadron moved to Italy and flew the remainder of the War over the Balkans. A brief stint in Palestine after the War as followed by a move to Cyprus with Tempests.In July 1945, the squadron moved to Palestine. They cooperated with the police, patrolling the Kirkuk-to-Haifa oil pipeline to prevent terrorist attacks. The squadron remained in the Middle East until 1969. During this period, the squadron went from being equipped with Hurricanes (and for a brief period four Spitfires due to a lack of available Hurricanes) to Hawker Tempest Mk. VIs and subsequently De Havilland Vampire FB.5s. In January 1950 the squadron moved to RAF Habbaniya in Iraq with many moves back and forth between RAF Habbaniya and RAF Shaibah in Iraq, RAF Abu Sueir and RAF Deversoir in the Suez Canal Zone, RAF Nicosia in Cyprus, RAF Mafraq and RAF Amman in Jordan and detachments throughout the Middle East Throughout this period, it continued to operate Vampires and a twin-seat Gloster Meteor T.7 until re-equipped with De Haviland Venoms The Squadron finally left the Middle East in 1969 when it moved to Coningsby to become the first Phantom Squadron. During 1974, No 6 Sqn moved to RAF Coltishall and re-equipped with Jaguar fighter bombers. Operational deployments with the Jaguar have seen the squadron involved in Operation Granby (Gulf War 1), Warden (later Op Resinate North - Northern Iraq - until 2003) and Deny Flight (Balkans). In April 2006 No 6 Sqn moved to RAF Coningsby where it was the last RAF Sqn operating the Jaguar. On Monday 6 September 2010, No 6 Squadron, the first Typhoon fighter squadron in Scotland, officially stood up at Royal Air Force Leuchars.



No.80 Sqn RAF
Country : UK
Disbanded 28th September 1960
Known Codes : , W2, AP, EY, GK, YK,


No.80 Sqn RAF

Nil nobis obstare potest - Nothing can stop us

80 Squadron was formed at Montrose on the 10th August 1917, and saw action in France, specialising in the ground attack role. Remaining in Belgium after the war, they moved to Egypt in May 1919 where it was renumbered 56 the following year. 80 squadron re-formed at Kenley on 8th March 1937, equipped with Gloster Gauntlets and Gladiators. Posted to Egypt in May 1938, the squadron joined No.33 to form a Gladiator Wing for defence of the Suez canal. When Italy entered the war, 80 squadron was stationed at Amriya equipped with Gladiators and one Hurricane. In November 1940, the squadron moved to Greece and in February 1941, the squadron equipped with a mixture of Gladiators and Hurricanes was used on bomber escort duties. In March the Germans came to the aid of their Italian Allies and on 24th March the squadron was evacuated to Crete and then to Palestine. In November 1941 they returned to the Western Desert to take part in the relief of Tobruk. During 1942-43, the squadron was on defence duties and convoy escort work over the Eastern Mediterranean. Posted to Italy in January 1944 and then onto the UK, they were re-equipped with Spitfires Mk IX. 80 Squadron then took part in bomber escorts, sweeps and armed reconnaissance. They began to re-equip with the Hawker Tempest, and were used for anti V1 operations. 80 Squadron was posted to the continent to support the Arnhem landings and roamed over Germany in the ground attack role. They remained in Germany as part of the occupation force until 1949. It was then sent to Hong Kong on air defence duties equipped with Spitfires and Hornets between 1949 and 1955. Disbanded in 1955, 80 Squadron reformed in Germany as a P R Squadron equipped with Canberras PR7. They finally disbanded in September 1969.



No.87 Sqn RAF
Country : UK
Disbanded 3rd January 1961
Known Codes : , LK, PD,


No.87 Sqn RAF

United Provinces

Maximus me metuit - The most powerful fear me

No. 87 Squadron was formed from a major part of D Squadron of the Central Flying School at Upavon on 1st September 1917. In April 1918, 87 Squadron was equipped with Dolphins when it was sent to France to fly in fighter and ground attack operations. This the squadron did to the end of the Great War, returning back to the UK in February 1919, and was disbanding on 24th June 1919.

87 Squadron was reformed on 15th March 1937 at Tangmere and was equipped with Hawker Furies until being re-equipped with the Gloster Gladiator in June when the squadron was based at Debden. In July 1938, 87 Squadron was again re-equipped with Hawker Hurricanes and with the outbreak of World War Two the squadron was moved to France as part of the Air Force supporting the British Expeditionary Force. 87 Squadron supplied air support to the troops on the Northern Front until their airfields were overrun by the German forces. The squadron was then moved to Yorkshire, moving again to south-west England in July for defence roles both day and night. The squadron was mainly used in a night fighter role during the Battle of Britain and remained mainly in that role until the end of 1942, while also beginning intruder missions in March 1941. The squadron was then moved to Gibraltar In November 1942 as part of the build up for the invasion of North Africa, remaining there until September 1943 when the squadron again moved to Sicily. In January 1944, the squadrons main role was to patrol over the Balkans form their base in Italy. In August 1944, the squadron returned to night duties performing fighter-bomber missions and in this role 87 squadron remained until the end of the war. On 30th December 1946, the squadron was disbanded.

No.87 reformed on 1st January 1952 at Wahn as a night-fighter squadron in Germany, initially operating the Meteor jet fighter but by the end of 1957 the Meteor was replaced with the Javelin until the squadron was finally disbanded in January 1961.


Pilots of 87 Sqn c.1941. Second from the right is P/O G. L. Roscoe.

Many thanks to Flight Lieutenant Alex Thom DFC who supplied this photo.



Hurricane
Pilot and aircrew signature details





Wing Commander Roland Bee Beamont CBE DSO DFC DL
Our estimated value of this signature : £65
Died : 2001

Wing Commander Roland Bee Beamont CBE DSO DFC DL

One of World War IIs great characters, Bee flew Hurricanes with 87 Squadron, later leading a Tempest Wing. He had 8 victories plus a further 32 VIs destroyed. After the war he became a highly respected Chief Test Pilot.Wing Commander Roland Beamont, one of the RAFs top buzz bomb interceptors, was born in Enfield England on August 10, 1920. Educated at Eastborne College, Beamont accepted a short service commission with the Royal Air Force in 1938. He commenced flying in 1939 at the the No. 13 Reserve Flying School at White Waltham. His initial duty was with the Group Fighter Pool at St. Athan where he learned to fly the Hurricane. Beamont was soon posted with the No. 87 Squadron which was part of the Advanced Air Striking Force in France. Seeing action in both France and Belgium prior to the Allied withdrawl, Beamont rejoined 87 Squadron in England during the Battle of Britain. In the spring of 1941 Beamont was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after destroying five enemy aircraft. As Commanding Officer of 609 Squadron, Beamont pioneered both day and night ground attack missions utilizing the Typhoon. Beamont was credited with destroying 25 trains in a three month period. He was then made responsible for organizing and commanding the first Tempest Wing at Newchurch. Three days after D-Day Bearnont shot down an Me-109, marking the first aerial combat victory for the Hawker Tempest. In the summer of 1944 Beamont destroyed 32 buzz bombs prior to leading his wing to a Dutch Airfield at Volkel on the Continent. In October of 1944 Beamont was shot down during a ground attack mission over Germany, and he remained a prisoner of war until wars end. Following repatriation Beamont became an experimental test pilot with the Gloster Aircraft Company, which had developed the RAFs first jet aircraft. Turning down a permanent commission with the RAF, Beamont then joined English Electric Company in Wharton as the Chief Test Pilot for the B3/45 (Canberra) jet bomber program. He managed all prototype testing on the Canberra, and in the process set two Atlantic speed records. Later Beamont was involved with the supersonic P1/Lightning program, and became the first British pilot to fly at twice the speed of sound. From 1965 until 1970 he was a founding member of Britains highly succesful Saudi Arabian export program. For several years prior to his retirement in 1979, Beamont was Director of Operations for British Aerospace and Panavia where he was in charge of flight testing for the Tornado. Since his retirement Beamont has authored nine books, and published numerous magazine articles. He is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Scociety and an Honorary Fellow of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots in America. He died 19th November 2001.







Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC*
Our estimated value of this signature : £65
Died : 2008

Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC*

Learnt to fly at the age of 16 and joined the RAF two years later in 1936. He first saw action in 1940 when as a Flight Commander in 32 Squadron, based at Biggin Hill, he flew his Hurricane against the fighters and bombers of the Luftwaffe. He recalls this as an intensely busy period, during which he shot down an Me109 - his first enemy aircraft; by the end of August that same year his tally of enemy aircraft shot down increased to eight. Awarded the DFC, he was transferred to 257 Squadron where he joined Bob-Stanford Tuck as a Flight Commander. Promoted in 1941 to Squadron Leader, Pete Brothers then took command of 457 Squadron RAAF, equipped with Spitfires. A year later when 457 Squadron returned to Australia, Pete took command of 602 Squadron. In the early autumn of 1942 he went on to become Wing Leader of the Tangmere Wing, succeeding his old friend, Douglas Bader. By the end of the war Pete Brothers had amassed 875 operational hours over a 44-month period. He was credited with having personally shot down 16 enemy aircraft and damaged many more. He later went on to command 57 Squadron during the Malaya campaign. Upon return to the UK Pete Brothers joined the V-Force, flying Valiant-4 jet bombers. He retired in 1973. Sadly, Pete Brothers died 18th December 2008.





Flight Lieutenant Roy Daines DFM
Our estimated value of this signature : £45

Flight Lieutenant Roy Daines DFM

Roy Daines joined the RAF as soon as he was able, and after completing his hurried training as a pilot, was posted to join 247 Squadron in the autumn of 1940. Here he flew Gladiators and Hurricanes on coastal patrols, 247 being the only squadron to fly Gladiators during the Battle of Britain, before converting to nightfighting Hurricanes. Later, in 1943, he flew Typhoons with 247 before being posted to join 65 Squadron flying Spitfires and Mustangs.







Wing Commander Bob Doe, DSO, DFC*
Our estimated value of this signature : £60
Died : 2010

Wing Commander Bob Doe, DSO, DFC*

In 1939 he joined the R.A.F. and upon completion of his training was posted to 234 squadron. During the Battle of Britain he achieved great success. He was one of the very few pilots to successfully fly both Hurricanes and Spitfires and was one of the top scorers of the Battle with 14 and two shared victories. He was awarded the DFC in October and a BAR in November. He joined 66 squadron as a Flight Commander then moving to 130 squadron in August 1943 saw him in 613 squadron flying Mustangs. October 1943 he was posted out to the Far-East, forming 10 squadron, Indian Air Force, which he led on the Burma front. Awarded the DSO in 1945. He stayed on in the R.A.F. after the war, retirement in 1966 was followed by opening a Garage business which proved successful. Sadly, we have learned of the passing of Bob Doe on 21st February 2010.







Group Captain Byron Duckenfield AFC
Our estimated value of this signature : £50
Died : 2010

Group Captain Byron Duckenfield AFC

Byron Duckenfield started at Flying Training School on 25th November 1935 in a Blackburn B2 at Brough. As a Sergeant, he joined No.32 Sqn at Biggin Hill on 8th August 1936 and flew Gauntlets and Hurricanes. He joined 74 Squadron at Hornchurch on 11th April 1940, flying Spitfires, and on 5th May was posted to 501 Squadron flying Hurricanes at Tangmere. On the 11th of May at Betheniville, he survived a crash in a passenger transport Bombay aircraft in an aircraft in which he was a passenger, While comin ginto land the aircraft at 200 feet the aircraft stalled and the aircrfat fell backwards just levelly out as it histhe ground. 5 of th epassengers were killed when the centre section collapsed and crushed them. Duckenfield was fortunate as he had moved position during the flight. as the two passengers sitting each side of where he was sitting had died in the crash. (it was found later that the Bombay had beeb loaded with to much weight in the aft sectiion. ) recovering in hospital in Roehampton. On 23rd July 1940, he rejoined No.501 Sqn at Middle Wallop, then moved to to Gravesend two days later, scoring his first victory, a Ju87, on the 29th of July 1940. During August and September he scored three more victories. After a spell as a test pilot from 14th September 1940, he was posted to command 66 Squadron on 20th December 1941, flying Spitfires. On 26th February 1942 he took command of 615 Squadron flying Hurricanes from Fairwood Common, taking the squadron to the Far East. In late December 1942 he was shot down in Burma and captured by the Japanese. He remained a POW until release in May 1945. After a refresher course at the Flying Training School in November 1949, he took command of No.19 Squadron flying Hornets and Meteors from Chruch Fenton. After a series of staff positions, he retired from the RAF as a Group Captain on 28th May 1969. Duckenfield would write later his details :

Burma

At first light, 12 Hurricanes IIC aircraft of 615 Squadron, myself in the lead, took off from Chittagong for central Burma to attack the Japanese air base at Magwe, 300 miles away on the banks of the River Irrawaddy. Arriving at Yenangyaung, we turned downstream at minimum height for Magwe, 30 miles to the South and jettisoned drop tanks. Just before sighting the enemy base, the squadron climbed to 1200 feet and positioned to attack from up sun. On the ramp at the base, in front of the hangers, were 10 or 12 Nakajima KI - 43 Oscars in a rough line up (not dispersed) perhaps readying for take. These aircraft and the hangars behind them were attacked in a single pass, before withdrawing westward at low level and maximum speed. A few minutes later perhaps 20 miles away form Magwe, I was following the line of a cheung (small creek), height about 250 feet, speed aboput 280 mph, when the aircraft gave a violent shudder, accompanied by a very lound, unusual noise. The cause was instantly apparent: the airscrew has disappeared completely, leaving only the spinning hub. My immediate reaction was to throttle back fully and switch off to stop the violently overspeeding engine. Further action was obvious: I was committed to staying with the aircraft because, with a high initial speed, not enough height to eject could be gained without the help of an airscrew. So I jettisoned the canopy and acknowledged gratefully the fact that I was following a creek; the banks of either side were hillocky ground, hostile to a forced landing aircraft. Flying the course of the creek, I soon found the aircraft to be near the stall (luckily, a lower than normal figure without an airscrew) extended the flaps and touched down wheels-up with minimum impact ( I have done worse landings on a smooth runway!) My luck was holding, if one can talk of luck in such a situation. December is the height of the dry season in that area and the creek had little water, it was shallow and narrow at the point where I came down: shallow enough to support the fusalage and narrow enough to support wing tips. So I released the harness, pushed the IFF Destruct switch, climed out and walked the wing ashore, dryshod. The question may occur -Why did not others in the squadron see their leader go down? - the answer is simple, the usual tatctic of withdrawal from an enemy target was to fly single at high speed and low level on parallel courses until a safe distance from target was attained. Then, the formation would climb to re-assemble. Having left the aircraft, I now faced a formidable escape problem? I was 300 miles from friendly territory: my desired route would be westward but 80% of that 300 miles was covered by steep north-south ridges impenetrably clothed in virgin jungle; these were natural impediments, there was also the enemy to consider. Having thought over my predicament, I decided the best I could do - having heard reports of mean herted plainspeope - was to get as far into the hills as possible and then find a (hopefully sympathetic) village. I suppose I may have covered about 15 miles by nightfall when I came upon this small hill village and walked into the village square. Nobody seemed surprised to see me (I suspect I had been followed for some time) I wa given a quiet welcome, seated at a table in the open and given food. Then exhaustion took over, I fell asleep in the chair and woke later to find myself tied up in it. Next day I was handed over to a Japanese sergeant and escort who took me back to Magwe and, soon after that, 2.5 years captivity in Rangoon jail.

Sadly we have learned that Byron Duckenfield passed away on 19th November 2010.







Squadron Leader Jocelyn G P Millard
Our estimated value of this signature : £45
Died : 2010

Squadron Leader Jocelyn G P Millard

Volunteering for the RAFVR in August 1939, J G Millard was called up for full time service the following month. Converting to Hurricanes, he was posted to 1 Squadron at Wittering in October 1940, and shortly after transferred to Dougla Baders 242 Squadron at Coltishall. In November he moved to 615 Squadron at Northolt. After the Battle of Britain he spent time as an instructor, going to Canada. He later became Squadron Commander of 35 SFTS. Sadly, Jocelyn Millard passed away on the 10th of May 2010.






Wing Commander Roger Morewood
Our estimated value of this signature : £45
Died : 2014

Wing Commander Roger Morewood

An uncle suggested to Roger Morewood that he should join the RAF so Roger did at the age of 17. Roger said : I was going be a pilot, that was the only reason to join. Roger trained to fly in a Tiger Moth biplane before joining 56 Squadron - regarded within the RAF as an elite unit - flying open cockpit Gauntlet fighters. The squadron were then re-equipped with Gloster Gladiators - the last RAF biplane - then the Hawker Hurricanes that would join Spitfires in fighting off Hitlers Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. While serving with 56 Squadron Roger Morewood was assigned the dangerous role of long-range fighter sweeps over the coast of occupied France and Holland but left to help form 248 Sqn at Hendon with whom he served throughout the Battle of Britain flying Blenheims. Roger said: We had a few panic station alerts when we were scrambled. We wouldd be leaping into our aircraft with flying suits over our pyjamas as we tried to get into the air in a minute and a half. In July 1942 Morewood went to 9 OTU and later HQ Transport Command. After a long post-war career in the RAF he retired in 1957. Roger Morewood once said of his squadron: It was damned dodgy. We had a high loss rate on operations. And on one sortie - then aged 21 - he nearly met his maker : I flew across to Den Helder (Northern Holland) in a long-nosed Blenheim to look after this battleship at the entrance to the Zuiderzee. We flew round this thing and sure enough I saw some aircraft coming up. They were twin-engine bombers naturally - Messerschmitt 110s. That was a bit hairy. My two blokes (other pilots) shoved off in a hurry into a cloud, and there was me popping away until I ran out of ammunition. There was just me left. I realised there was no point chasing - I was not going to knock his wings off. So I started flying home. After making hardly any noise all flight the chap (navigator) in the back said you haveve got somebody on your tail now - you had better move swiftly. So I moved to left and right. We got a pretty hefty clobbering. His turret disappeared at the back. My poor navigator wore a tin hat and I dont blame him. He got a bullet half way through his armour. He was alright. I had a dreadful wound. If I shook my hand really hard I could get blood out of one finger. I was hit all over the place. We took dozens of bullets. The aircraft was ruined. That is all there was to it. We were still going home - even with the North Sea to go across. So I trundled off back and ditched the damn thing. Thank God it didnt blow up. We literally got away with it. It was the hairiest trip I ever did. On another occasion, Roger intercepted a German weather forecasting flying boat called Weary Willy : I was in a Beaufighter at this time. I flew upwind and had a shot at him downwind. Then all the guns jammed. So I pulled alongside him - not too close - and waved him good luck lad. Anyway he sank when he got back to Norway. That was that one finished. Flying from Shetland, his squadron attacked German shipping off Norway. Roger was rested and spent two years training new Beaufighter pilots but still managed to go on some operations, mainly attacking convoys off the coast of Holland. Roger Morewood said: job was to attack the flak ships, floating anti-aircraft batteries, so other Beaufighters could attack the cargo ships. It could be pretty hairy as 12 Beaufighters lined up to have a crack at the target. You wouldd see tracer shells from your mates plane whizzing over your head or underneath you. They were a bigger danger than the Germans Wing Commander Roger Morwood was posted to the Mediterranean where he contracted TB. He recalled: "In hospital, they treated you with whisky in milk and a pint of Guinness for breakfast, very primitive stuff." When the war ended and the RAF were scaled down, Roger continued to serve in various postings around the UK until 1947. after leaving the RAF Roger was recalled again as an instructor at the Central Flying School, but with the rank of flight lieutenant. He was posted to Edinburgh and then Glasgow University squadrons. finnaly leaving service in 1957. Wing Commander Roger Morewood notched up more than 5000 flying hours in 32 different types of aircraft. Roger Morewood died in early December 2014.







Wing Commander Bob Stanford Tuck DSO DFC**
Our estimated value of this signature : £85
Died : 1987

Wing Commander Bob Stanford Tuck DSO DFC**

Bob Stanford Tuck was a flamboyant fighter pilot, his dashing good looks, courage, and success in the air coming to epitomise the young flyers who fought and won the Battle of Britain. To the British public he was a hero in the mould of the knights of old, and today his name is legend. In the early stages of the Battle of Britain Bob fought with 92 Squadron flying Spitfires, quickly becoming one of the leading aces. Promoted to command 257 Squadron, now flying Hurricanes, Bobs dashing style of leadership inspired his pilots to great success. He went on to command the Duxford and Biggin Hill Wings, taking his personal score to 29 air victories before being shot down by ground fire over Northern France in 1942. He died on 5th May 1987.







Group Captain Peter Townsend CVO, DSO, DFC
Our estimated value of this signature : £90
Died : 1995

Group Captain Peter Townsend CVO, DSO, DFC

Peter Townsend was one of the most inspirational fighter leaders of the Battle of Britain. In February 1940, flying a Hurricane, he had shot down the first German aircraft to fall on English soil in World War II, and this was the first of a string of successes for the popular commander of 85 Squadron. Shot down twice, wounded, and flying part of the Battle when he couldnt walk, Peter Townsend survived to lead the first night-fighter squadron. He later became Equerry to King George VI, a post he held for 8 years. He died 19th June 1995.







Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson
Our estimated value of this signature : £40
Died : 2017

Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson

Battle of Britain pilot flying Hurricanes, he flew Spitfires with 611 Sqn and then 616 Sqn at Kirton-in-Lindsey and 19 Sqn at Fowlmere during 1940 and after a spell instructing returned to operations on Spitfires, with 234 and 165 Squadrons. After spending time with 53, 24 and 10 Operational Training Units, he left the RAF in November 1945 and served in the RAFVR.
Ken said :
From 1st September 1939 I wrote myself off. I thought, 'you've got no chance' lasting through whatever is going to be. It was quite obvious, in the way the Germans were moving, they were going to make a hell of a war out of it, so I was ready for war. I can remember saying 'we've got to stop this fellow Hitler'. When you think of all the thousands of citizens that were being killed by this absurd bombing. They had to pay for it didn't they. Yes, we lost people. Friends that didn't come back. I don't think we were the sort of people to brood over it, ever. You have to get into an attitude to make sure that you're as cold as a fish. Once someone has failed to return, that's it. Fortune smiled on me and not on some of the others. I can only say that whoever it was who popped off at me, wasn't a very good marksman. It transpired that we were doing something far more important than we thought. As far as we were concerned, it was just that there were some untidy creatures from over the other side of the channel, trying to bomb England and the United Kingdom. And we didn't want them to bomb us. After all, we never asked the Germans to start this nonsense, did we? But they did, and we had to stop them, and we did. It's our country. You die for you country.




Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

Join us on Facebook!

Sign Up To Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with all our latest offers, deals and events as well as new releases and exclusive subscriber content!

This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts.  Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE

Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269.  Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com

Follow us on Twitter!

Return to Home Page