Brooks Aviation Art 

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The Battle for Britain
Knight's Cross edition
by Robert Taylor


With the Battle of Britain in its early stages, on the morning of Wed.10 July 1940,
a convoy of slow-moving cargo ships heading along the south coast came under attack from a formidable force of Dornier Do17 bombers, escorted by five squadrons of fighters.
RAF Fighter Command scrambled several squadrons to meet the oncoming force in an effort to protect the ships, and a massive dogfight involving more than a hundred aircraft developed in the vicinity of Dover.
Here we see a head-on attack between two seasoned pilots high over the port of Dover late that morning. A Spitfire from 610 Squadron, flown by Squadron Leader Andrew Smith, has taken on a Me109 from I./JG3, the two aircraft having flashed past each other at a closing speed nearing 800mph. Smith was forced to crash-land his damaged aircraft at Hawkinge following this encounter, but the gallant squadron commander was to lose his life following combat with Me109s just two weeks later.
Signed by four Battle of Britain fighter pilots of the RAF and two of the Luftwaffe.
Richard Jones - Terence Kane - Jocelyn Millard - Tom Dalton Morgan.
Günther Rall - Günther Seeger.

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  See also: Aces edition


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The signatories
Richard L Jones  In July 1940 Richard Jones was posted to 64 Squadron at Kenley, flying Spitfires. He was involved in heavy fighting over the Channel during the Battle of Britain, with the squadron suffering many losses during July and August.
Towards the end of the Battle of Britain, in October, he moved to 19 Squadron flying Spitfires from Fowlmere, and was heavily involved in the fighter sweeps taking place at that time.
   
Terence Kane Terry Kane joined the RAF in July 1938, and after a short time as an Instructor, in July 1940 was posted to 234 Squadron flying Spitfires at St Eval, where he helped down a Ju88.
On 23 September he shot down an Me109 during a patrol, but was in turn himself shot down moments later, and baled out over the Channel close to the French coast. Rescued from the water by the Germans, he spent the remainder of the war as a POW.
*
   
Jocelyn Millard Volunteering for the RAFVR in August 1939, J G Millard was called up for full-time service the following month. Converting to Hurricanes, he was posted to 1 Squadron at Wittering in October 1940, and shortly after transferred to Douglas Bader ’s 242 Squadron at Coltishall.
In November he moved to 615 Squadron at Northolt. After the Battle of Britain he spent time as an Instructor, going to Canada. He later became Squadron Commander of 35 SFTS.
*
Tom Dalton Morgan Joining the RAF in 1935, Tom served with 22 Squadron. In June 1940 he was posted to Tangmere as a Flight Commander with 43 Squadron, flying Hurricanes, scoring his first victory on 12 July. In action over the Channel he was hit by crossfire, bailing out with slight wounds. He resumed flying but was again wounded on 6 September. Ten days later
he was given command of 43 Squadron. In January 1942 he became a Controller. Promoted to Wing Commander with 13 Group, he led the Ibsley Wing, consisting of 4 Spitfire,
2 Whirlwind, and 2 Mustang squadrons.
His final victory in May 1943 brought his score to 17. Briefly attached to the USAAF 4th Fighter Group, he was then Operations Officer with the 2nd TAF.
   
Günther Rall Günther Rall was a young pilot with III./JG52 at the outbreak of war, and quickly demonstrated his natural ability and leadership qualities. He scored his first victory early in the Battle of Britain, and by July 1940 was leading 8./JG52. After transferring to the Eastern Front his victories soon mounted but he was hospitalised following a crash. Returning to combat as Kommandeur of III./JG52, he gained the Wing's 500th victory, before being
posted Kommandeur of II./JG11 on the Western Front, flying high altitude intercepts in Me109Gs. He was later Kommandeur of JG300, and finished the war as the 3rd highest Ace in history with 275 victories. He was awarded the Knight ’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.
   
Günther Seeger In February 1940 Günther Seeger was an Unteroffizier with 3./JG2, scoring his first victory in the early days of the Battle of Britain. He served on the Channel Front until December 1942, including several months with the Geschwaderstabsschawm. He transferred to the Mediterranean theatre with 11./JG2, before joining 6./JG53. In February 1943 he joined 7./JG53, becoming Staffelkapitan in September 1944. Awarded the Knight ’s Cross, Günther Seeger flew over 500 combat missions and scored 56 victories, all of them in the West.