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History of 56 Squadron Royal Air Force.
56 Squadron. Hawker
Hurricane of No.56 Squadron, shown in aviation art prints
available from Cranston Fine Arts the aviation art company, part of the
Royal Air Force squadron's history in aviation art.
Pilot of 56 Squadron. Wing Commander Gordon Sinclair
OBE DFC A short service commission officer, Sinclair joined 19
Squadron as early as 1937 and was still with the Squadron in 1940. Over
Dunkirk he destroyed a Bf 109 and probably another, and then on June 1 he
destroyed two Bf 110s and on a later patrol the same day he claimed a He
111 and a Do 17 destroyed. He was awarded the DFC. He knew Bader well
during his stay with 19 Squadron when Bader often flew as his No 2.
Sinclair remembers his forceful personality, but also that he was great
fun. They often played golf and squash together. In June 1940 Sinclair was
posted as Flight Commander to 3 10 Squadron at Drixford and was soon to
fly with that Squadron as part of the Duxford Wing, led by Douglas Bader.
His final score was 10 confirmed victories. He later commanded 56 Squadron
on Typhoons before promotion to Wing Commander and a post on the staff of
HO 84 Group. Sinclair retired from the RAF in 1957.
Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker
Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500,
ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with
eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and
twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four
20mm cannon.
All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in
1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600
for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion
the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the
first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the
Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the
Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more
than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and
almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain
went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all
theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533
Hurricanes were built.
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| Glorious Summer by Robert Taylor Image shows nearest, young Pilot Officer Geoffrey Page, later to become one of the RAFs most highly decorated fighter aces, powers his Mk I Hurricane over the country lane at the edge of the airfield, as he and his fellow No 56 Squadron pilots make their third scramble of the day. Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £200.00 Signed by Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC* (deceased), Wing Commander Christopher Bunny Currant DSO DFC (deceased), Group Captain Dennis David CBE DFC AFC (deceased), Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC, Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM and Wing Commander Gordon Sinclair OBE DFC (deceased)
Limited edition of artist proofs. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £ Signed by Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC* (deceased), Wing Commander Christopher Bunny Currant DSO DFC (deceased), Group Captain Dennis David CBE DFC AFC (deceased), Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC, Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM and Wing Commander Gordon Sinclair OBE DFC (deceased)
Limited edition of 250 Millennium Proof Edition Prints. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £495.00 Signed by Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC*, Wing Commander Christopher Bunny Currant DSO DFC, Group Captain Dennis David CBE DFC AFC, Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC, Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM, Wing Commander Gordon Sinclair OBE DFC, Air Commodore Cyril Brown CBE AFC AE (deceased), Air Vice Marshal Edward Crew CB DSO DFC (deceased), Group Captain John Cunningham CBE DSO DFC AE DL FRAeS (deceased), Air Commodore John Ellacombe CB DFC*, Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC, Warrant Officer Peter Fox, Flight Lieutenant Peter Hairs MBE, Squadron Leader Percy Morfill DFM, Group Captian Alan Murray DFC, Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC, Wing Commander Peter Parrott DFC AFC (deceased), Group Captain John Peel DFC DSO (deceased), Squadron Leader Arthur Bill Pond AFC, Squadron Leader Christopher Riddle (deceased) and Captain Tommy Thompson DFC JP BOAC/BA.
ITEM CODE DHM2464 |
| Glorious Summer by Robert Taylor Image shows nearest, young Pilot Officer Geoffrey Page, later to become
one of the RAFs most highly decorated fighter aces, powers his Mk I
Hurricane over the country lane at the edge of the airfield, as he and his
fellow No 56 Squadron pilots make their third scramble of the day. Signatories: Air Commodore Pete Brothers, Wg Cdr Christopher 'Bunny'
Currant, Gp Cpt Denis David, Gp Cpt Billy Drake, Wg Cdr Paul Farnes and Wg
Cdr. Gordon Sinclair.
Throughout the long hot summer of 1940 the destiny of the British
Isles, indeed the future of Europe, lay in the hands of a small band of
young RAF fighter pilots. Against them stood the vast aerial fleets of an
all-powerful Luftwaffe, gloating and confident from its victories in
Poland, France and the Low Countries. Lying in wait across the Channel,
anticipating an easy victory by its air force, were the armies of the most
powerful tyrant the world had ever known. With Europe already succumbed to
Nazi rule, Britain was alone, the last bastion among the free nations to
stand against an evil empire bent upon world domination. The battle, the
first ever to be fought entirely in the air, would change the course of
history, whatever the outcome.
Outnumbered more than five to one at the outset, the odds were so
heavily stacked against the RAF, the task looked hopeless. But as the
ferocious aerial battles continued through the long summer months, the
tactical skills, devotion and raw courage of the RAF's young flyers,
gradually turned the tide. By September end, the battle was won and the
defeated Luftwaffe retired to its plundered territories to lick its
wounds.
London Guard by Adrian Rigby Like many others, the Hurricanes of No.56 Squadron were frequently
scrambled to attack German formations heading for London. Signatories: Flt Lt Ronald H Smyth DFC AE RAF. |
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