In Defence of Britain

Overall size: 25½” x 13½”

By Philip E West

Spitfires (Mk 1) of 92 Squadron out of Biggin Hill in September 1940 are about to take on the enemy during the Battle of Britain. The aircraft in the background is flown by Pilot Officer Alan Wright – his list of victories was eleven, three destroyed, two probables, two possibles and seven damaged.

Signed by two Spitfire pilots.

Flying Officer T W (Terry) Green was trained by the United States Army in Georgia and Alabama. He was awarded his wings in March 1942 and joined 501 Sqdn at Middle Wallop later that year. He was posted overseas when 501 were rested in Northern Ireland. He joined 232 Sqdn in North Africa in March 1943 and stayed with them through Tunisia on to Malta to cover the invasion of Sicily and then on to Sicily to cover the invasion of Italy at Salerno. The Sqdn then flew their Spitfires some 2,500 miles to the north of Syria on the Turkish border to cover what Churchill called the invasion of “the soft underbelly of Europe”. Since this was aborted they moved us back to Corsica to cover the invasion of the south of France at Frejus. They stayed in France until September 1944 where the Sqdn was disbanded after handing over their Spitfires to the Free French Air Force.

Finally, Terry was posted to 1675 Heavy Conversion Unit at Abu Sueir, Egypt for fighter affiliation duties with aircrews converting from twins to B24 Liberators.

He was demobilised in June 1945 and carried on as a weekend flyer in the RAF Volunteer Reserve at Woodley and Fairoaks until 1952.

Fl/Lt. Alec A Ince – Royal Canadian Air Force joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in January 1941 and by midsummer he had travelled to Quebec, then to North Sidney, Nova Scotia, followed by Victoriaville, Quebec for air crew training in Oshawa, Ontario flying Tiger Moths and next to Montreal, Quebec for advanced training on Harvards. By January 1942 he arrived in Shropshire, England at an advanced flying school at RAF base Fern Hill, followed by operational training on Spitfires, marks one and two at RAF station Aston Down, near Stroud. By midsummer 1942, the training there was complete and Alec was posted to 402 Sqdn at RAF Kenley where they were occupied with escorting American bombers to Northern France on bombing expeditions, which lasted until the American Mustang and Thunderbolt fighters arrived to take over from the RAF fighter squadrons. Their duties then changed to “Hit and Run” raids along the south and south-east coast of England where many dog fights took place over coastal towns. The policy of the Canadian Government was to repatriate aircrews back to Canada after four years on active service and Alec was returned to the University to complete his education.

If you recall the film “Reach for the Sky” featuring Kenneth Moore – Alec was the pilot who actually flew the Spitfire sequences in place of Kenneth Moore!

 
Edition size: 250

200 Signed and Numered Price: £95.00
25 Artist Proofs Price: £125.00