David Pentland Prints and Original Drawings with the Signature of Group Captain Dennis David CBE DFC AFC

Ace with 20.00 Victories

Group Captain Dennis David CBE DFC AFC

Dennis David served with distinction in both the Battle of France and Battle of Britain. He regards the RAFs success in the former - during which he was credited with 11.5 victories - as crucial to victory in the Battle of Britain. He was a member of 87 Squadron at the outbreak of war and was posted to France in 1939 as part of the Air Component. When the Blitzkrieg began on 10th May 1940, he was a Flying Officer. He destroyed a Do17 and shared a He111 on the first day, and by the time the squadron withdrew to the United Kingdom late in the month he had brought his score to 11.5 and been awarded the DFC and Bar. He continued to fly during the Battle of Britain, destroying a Ju88 and a Bf109 on the 11th August, a Ju87, a Bf110 and another shared on the 15th and a Ju88 and Bf109 on the 25th. He shot down a He111 on 15th September and the following month was posted as a Flight Commander to 213 Squadron. On 19th October he destroyed a Ju88 to bring his score to 20 and in November was posted to 152 Squadron. In 1943, with the rank of Wing Commander, he was posted to the Middle East to command 89 Squadron on Beaufighters. In November he led the Squadron to Ceylon and early the following year was promoted again to Group Captai. He served in Burma until the end of the war, after which he remained in the RAF with the Rank of Wing Commander. He died 25th August 2000.

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.

Known Victory Claims
DATE	PILOT	UNIT	SQN	CLAIMED	LOCATION	TIME	FRONT

10/05/1940	Group Captain Dennis David	No.87 Sqn RAF	Do17	Western Front
10/05/1940	Group Captain Dennis David	No.87 Sqn RAF	He111	Western Front
11/08/1940	Group Captain Dennis David	No.87 Sqn RAF	Me109	Western Front
11/08/1940	Group Captain Dennis David	No.87 Sqn RAF	Ju88	Western Front
15/08/1940	Group Captain Dennis David	No.87 Sqn RAF	Ju87	Western Front
25/08/1940	Group Captain Dennis David	No.87 Sqn RAF	Ju88	Western Front
25/08/1940	Group Captain Dennis David	No.87 Sqn RAF	Me109	Western Front
15/09/1940	Group Captain Dennis David	No.87 Sqn RAF	He111	Western Front
19/10/1940	Group Captain Dennis David	No.87 Sqn RAF	Ju88	Western Front

Known Claims : 9

Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

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

Return to Home Page

*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*