fighters

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RAF ace Stanford Tuck shot down over France

January 28, 2012 in 1942, January 1942, fighters by Editor

A British publicity shot of Stanford-Tuck in his Spitfire, with his current tall of kills displayed.

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RAF cover British retreat in the desert

January 26, 2012 in 1942, January 1942, fighters by Editor

Flying Officer E M "Imshi" Mason of No. 274 Squadron RAF Detachment relaxes on his parachute after hitchhiking by air and road back to the Detachment's base at Gazala, Libya, following an aerial combat 10 miles west of Martuba in which he shot down three Italian Fiat CR 42s, and then had to force-land near his victims. Mason was at this time the most successful fighter pilot in the Western Desert, having shot down 13 enemy aircraft during the First Libyan campaign, all with 274 Squadron. He added a further two victories in Malta and Iran, flying with No. 261 Squadron RAF. He was posted back to the Western Desert in January 1942 to take command of No. 94 Squadron RAF and was shot down and killed on 15 February while leading this unit on its first operation flying the new Curtiss Kittyhawk. Mason was noted for being the only bearded pilot in the RAF.

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Five Stuka’s shot down in one sortie

December 5, 2011 in 1941, December 1941, fighters by Editor

A later official portrait of Clive Caldwell in Australia, as a Wing Commander flying Spitfires in the defence of northern Australia.

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Escape from occupied Europe

September 20, 2011 in 1941, September 1941, fighters by Editor

One of the fast launches employed by the RAF for the rescue of pilots who had to ditch in the Channel.

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Hurricat attack on a Focke Wolfe

September 14, 2011 in 1941, September 1941, fighters by Editor

A Hurricat - a catapult adapted Hurricane fighter is prepared on the launch rail of a CAM ship in port. The pilot had to be prepared to launch at very short notice, whatever the sea condition. If he was far out at sea he could only expect to ditch the aircraft or parachute out and then hope to be picked up by one of the convoy escorts.

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Dogfight over the Libyan desert

August 29, 2011 in 1941, August 1941, fighters by Editor

A Messerschmitt Me 109 from JG 27, based in North Africa, receives a new coat of paint .

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Attack on a Ju 88 over the Irish Sea

August 26, 2011 in 1941, August 1941, fighters by Editor

A Junkers Ju 88 bomber in flight, pictured over North Africa later in 1941.

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Night fighter interception over the North Sea

August 23, 2011 in 1941, August 1941, fighters by Editor

Bristol Beaufighter in flight

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Low level air attack in Iraq

May 17, 2011 in 1941, May 1941, fighters by Editor

A Hurricane Mk II b with long range tanks, from No 79 Squadron based at Swansea, used for convoy escorts.

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Second ‘Eagle Squadron’ formed

May 15, 2011 in 1941, May 1941, fighters by Editor

The Spitfire VBs of No 92 Squadron in MaY 1941, based at Biggin Hill, one of the front line stations in the south. The Mk V Spitfire now usually had the B armament - two 20mm cannons and four machine guns after reliability problems with the cannons had been resolved. Had cannons been available during the previous summer Fighter Commands success rate would have been even better.

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RAF fighters go on offensive

February 28, 2011 in 1941, February 1941, fighters by Editor

A posed shot of a Hurricane being re-armed with the 3,990 rounds of .303 ammunition that each plane carried, 28th March 1941

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RAF and RAAF control the skies over Libya

December 28, 2010 in 1940, December 1940, fighters by Editor

RAAF Gladiators return to their base in the Desert.

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Hugh Dowding is retired from the RAF

November 25, 2010 in 1940, November 1940, fighters by Editor

Hugh Dowding, official portrait

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Spitfire versus Messerschmitt 109s

October 31, 2010 in 1940, October 1940, fighters by Editor

RAF Spitfire in flight

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A multi-national Royal Air Force

October 8, 2010 in 1940, October 1940, fighters by Editor

Indian air force pilots arrive in Britain 8th October 1940

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Douglas Bader leads the ‘Big Wing’ into attack

September 15, 2010 in 1940, September 1940, fighters by Editor

The RAF met successive waves of German aircraft on the 15th September and came off best, although not as decisively as the contemporary propaganda suggested.

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Spitfire versus Dornier

September 11, 2010 in 1940, September 1940, fighters by Editor

A rare close up aerial perspective of Battle of Britain combat.

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Spitfire versus Messerschmitt

September 3, 2010 in 1940, September 1940, fighters by Editor

Spitfires in flight: relatively rare contemporary British image

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303 Squadron’s first combat patrol

September 1, 2010 in 1940, August 1940, fighters by Editor

An Me 109 that just made the coast of France. 303 Squadron shot down six in under an hour on their first combat patrol.

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Hurricanes attack bombers head on

August 27, 2010 in 1940, August 1940, bombers, fighters by Editor

Hurricanes from No.85 Squadron in flight earlier in 1940

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