The Battle of Britain: 10 July - 31 October 1940

---

The Battle Begins.

Wednesday July 10th 1940 marks the official beginning of the Battle of Britain. Three Hurricanes of 145 Squadron were scrambled into driving rain to intercept a lone radar contact not long after sunrise. They broke through the overcast into clear skies at 10,000' and spotted a single Dornier Do 17 of 4.(F)/121 on a reconnaissance mission. Two of the Hurricane pilots, Flight Lieutenant R.G. Dutton and Pilot Officer R. D. Yule engaged the enemy aircraft, eventually shooting it down just south of Southampton. The victory was shared equally between the two pilots. The first engagement of the Battle of Britain was over.

Available as a Limited Edition (of 80) collector's giclee print £80. Signed and numbered by the artist.

3 August 1940 - 43 Squadron - Brothers in Arms
Widespread fog over southern England and the Channel gradually lifted into low cloud, limiting operations by both sides. Fighter Command made a single claim, an enemy fighter shot down near Hove by Pilot Officer C. A. Woods-Scawen of 43 Squadron. Charles Woods-Scawen was the younger of two brothers serving in the RAF, both of whom died within a day of each other during the Battle of Britain.  Both brothers had been awarded the DFC.

Available as a Limited Edition (of 80) fine art giclee print for £80. Signed and numbered by the artist.

1 September 1940 - 1 Squadron.
The first large raid of the day coasted in over Kent and split up into several smaller formations, each protected by Bf 110s and Bf 109s. Fourteen squadrons were scrambled to intercept and the skies over Kent became a swirling mass of aircraft as the RAF tried to penetrate the fighter screen and get at the bombers. Pilot Officer P.V. Boot DFC of 1 Squadron claimed his sixth victory, a Messerschmitt Bf 109.

Available as a Limited Edition (of 80) fine art giclee print for £80. Signed and numbered by the artist.

1 October 1940 - 41 Squadron

Pilot Officer George Bennions DFC of 41 Squadron shot down his 12th and final kill before a cannon shell exploded in his cockpit, blinding him in one eye and wounding his right arm and leg. He baled out, landing at Dunstalls Farm, and after emergency treatment at Horsham Hospital, he was transferred to Queen Victoria Hospital.

Bennions became a founder member of the Guinea Pig Club when he underwent plastic surgery by Archie Mclndoe. His DFC (gazetted 1st October 1940) was awarded on the day he was shot down.

Original acrylic on artboard (A3 - 42 x 29.7cm).

Available as a Limited Edition (of 80) fine art giclee print . Individually signed and numbered by the artist.