STANDARD PRINT (Type “A” and “B”)
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high definition copy (145k)
In addition to the artist, six of 'The Few' who flew operationally with
257 Squadron during the Battle of Britain have countersigned the standard
prints:
Ron Forward and Reg Nutter were RAF Volunteer Reserve pilots who
learned to fly in their spare time and were amongst the first to join the
squadron when it was reformed in May 1940. Ron Forward became the first 257
Squadron pilot to engage an enemy aircraft. David Hunt, also a founder
member, was shot down in September at the height of the battle and became an
early member of the Guinea Pig Club.
In September 1940 the squadron was revitalised both by an influx of new pilots
transferred from other squadrons and also under the leadership of a new
commanding officer, Squadron Leader Robert Stanford Tuck (not a signatory).
Peter Brothers joined from 32 Squadron as a Flight Commander, already
with 10 aircraft to his credit. Later he rose to the rank of Air Commodore in
the post war RAF. Henry Hoyle, also from 32 Squadron, had previously
seen action with the RAF's Advanced Air Striking Force in France during the
spring of 1940 flying Fairy Battle bombers. Alan Hedges had also been in
action throughout the summer with 245 Squadron.
SPECIAL MULTI-SIGNED COPIES (Type “C”)
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a high definition copy (214k)
Fifty copies of the limited edition (in the range, Nos 400 – 500) have
been signed around all four sides of the prints’ white border by other
Hurricane pilots, making 40 signatures in all; 15 of them took part in the
Battle of France and 37 in the Battle of Britain, as listed below.
In June 1940, between the end of the Battle of France and the start of
the Battle of Britain, RAF Fighter Command had 28 operational Hurricane
squadrons. All the signatories flew with one or more of these squadrons at some
time in 1940 and all 28 squadrons are represented by at least one signatory,
thus making this group of prints and signatures somewhat unique.
All the signatories had joined the RAF, the Volunteer Reserve, or the
Auxiliary Air Force, prior to the outbreak of war in September 1939 and thus
were already committed to what lay ahead. After 1940 most saw service with
Hurricane units in the other main theatres of war including, Malta, the Western
Desert, the Far East, Russia and at sea with the MSFU. They are:
|
|
|
Sqdn. |
|
|
Sqdn. |
|
Tom Dalton-Morgan |
B |
43 |
Mike Bussey |
F |
229 |
|
Jack Rose |
FB |
32,3 |
Ron Forward |
B |
257 |
|
Maurice Mounsdon |
B |
56 |
Alan Hedges |
B |
245, 257 |
|
Alex Thom |
B |
79, 87 |
Henry Hoyle |
FB |
32, 257, 145 |
|
Tom Neil |
B |
249 |
Reg Nutter |
B |
257 |
|
Peter Ottewill |
F |
43 |
David Hunt |
B |
257 |
|
Bob Foster |
B |
605 |
Bill Whitty |
FB |
607 |
|
Colin Birch |
FB |
1 |
Peter Brothers |
FB |
32, 257 |
|
Guy Harris |
F |
32, 253 |
Jack Riddle |
B |
601 |
|
Nigel Kemp |
B |
85, 242 |
Bob Doe |
B |
238 |
|
Peter Dawbarn |
FB |
253, 17 |
Dudley Honor |
FB |
145 |
|
Derek Yapp |
FB |
245, 253 |
Bunny Currant |
FB |
151, 605 |
|
Bob Kings |
B |
238 |
Tim Elkington |
B |
1 |
|
Tony Pickering |
B |
32, 501 |
Ron Smyth |
B |
111, 249, 615 |
|
Ray Sellers |
B |
111, 46 |
Jocelyn Millard |
B |
1, 242, 615 |
|
Bill Green |
B |
501, 504 |
Donald Scott |
FB |
73 |
|
Roy McGowan |
B |
46 |
Ken Mackenzie |
B |
43, 501 |
|
Doug Nicholls |
B |
85, 242, 151 |
Lawrence Thorogood |
B |
87 |
|
Des Fopp |
FB |
17 |
Bob Innes |
B |
253 |
|
Wilf Sizer |
FB |
213 |
Eric Seabourne |
B |
238 |
F=Battle of France
B=Battle of Britain
Sqdn= Squadron posted
to, or attached to, in 1940
