And now a few of the most beautiful aircraft to have taken wing...
Spitfire Mk Ia P9398 (Coded KL-B) flown by F/O A.C. Deere of No 54 Sqn, May 1940, Battle of France
Alan Christopher Deere is possibly New Zealand’s most famous fighter pilot of the Second World War. He was also one of the luckiest, surviving several near-death experiences to become one of the outstanding pilots of the Battle of Britain.
In mid-May of 1940, Deere destroyed six Luftwaffe aircraft over Dunkirk (and was shot down himself), and claimed another eight between July and September 1940 during the Battle of Britain.
A short tour of the United States teaching fighter tactics to American pilots was followed by command of a Canadian Spitfire squadron and, in February 1943, an appointment as Wing Leader at RAF Biggin Hill. During his tenure at Biggin Hill, Deere led more than 120 sorties, and earned a DSO, before going on to command the Free French fighter wing through D-Day and the liberation of France.
Deere finished the war as New Zealand’s second-highest-scoring air ace – behind Colin Gray – with 22 confirmed victories, 10 probable victories and 18 damaged. During the war he was awarded a DSO and DFC & Bar and, in May 1945, an Order of the British Empire (OBE). Deere went on have a prestigious post-war career, including service as Aide-de-camp to Queen Elizabeth II in 1962.
After his death on 21 September 1995, Alan Deere’s ashes were scattered over the River Thames from a Spitfire.
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Spitfire Mk I P9386 (Coded QV-K) flown by Sqn Ldr B.J.E. Lane of No 19 Sqn, Summer 1940
Shortly before the outbreak of war, Brian John Edward Lane joined No. 19 Squadron RAF at RAF Duxford as an Officer Commanding "A" Flight, flying Spitfires. He assumed the role of acting Squadron commander on 25 May 1940 when the incumbent CO was killed.
By September 1940, during the peak of the Battle of Britain, Lane’s abilities as a fighter pilot and leader were duly recognized and he was promoted to Squadron Leader. Lane's No. 19 Squadron RAF often operated together with No. 242 Squadron RAF part of the controversial Duxford "Big Wing."
In November 1941 Lane was posted on a staff appointment to the Middle East, but returned to England in June 1942. In December 1942, Lane joined No. 167 Squadron (Spitfire Mk. V) as Squadron Leader. He made his first (and only) operational flight with the Squadron on 13 December 1942, during which he was last seen giving chase to two Focke-Wulf 190 fighters over the North Sea. He never returned from this mission and was listed as MIA. It is probable he was a victim of Oblt. Leonhardt of 6./JG 1 and crashed into the sea 30 km west of Schouwen.
During Lane’s operational career he was awarded the DFC and claimed 6 (and 1 shared) enemy aircraft shot down, 2 unconfirmed destroyed, 1 probable destroyed and 1 damaged.
Lane was the author of Spitfire!, originally published in 1942 under the pseudonym B.J. Ellan. The book is a first-hand account of his experiences as a Spitfire pilot and is one of only a few autobiographical accounts of a Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot. A revised edition was republished in 2009 and again in 2011, replacing the code words used by the war time censor and correcting names of people and places.
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Spitfire Mk Ia N3267 (Coded XT-S) flown by F/Lt J.C. Boulter of No 603 Sqn, 29 August 1940, Battle of Britain
John Clifford Boulter claimed 5 aerial victories (plus another probable) and was awarded a DFC before being critically injured on 17 February 1941 when his Spitfire Mk.IIA (P7597) was struck by a Hurricane as he was about to take off.
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