An Original 1969 Cinema Lobby Card for the film Battle of Britain. Signed by Nine R.A.F. Pilots who took part in the Battle:
1. F/Lt. W.L.B. Walker [Went into action in June 1940 with 616 Squadron after just five hours training. Two months later he was shot down in Spitfire R6701 over Dover by one of Germany’s most famous air aces, Werner Molders, in an Me109]
2. Squadron Leader Percival H. Beake DFC [posted to 64 Squadron on Spitfires in the summer of 1940 at the height of the Battle, and flew with them until June 1941 when he was posted to 92 Squadron at Biggin Hill. In May 1944 he took command of 164 Squadron at Thorney Island flying Typhoons, moving to France after the Normandy Invasion. With two victories to his credit, he was awarded the DFC in September 1944]
3.Wing Commander Peter V. Ayerst DFC [posted to 73 Squadron in August 1939, flying Hurricanes. He went to France with the Squadron, scoring his first victory in April 1940. After a spell instructing, when he shared in the destruction of a He111 on a training flight, he had postings with 145 and 243 Squadrons. In July 1942 he went to 33 Squadron, before promotion to Flight Commander with 238 Squadron, both postings with further combat success. Later became Spitfire test pilot at Castle Bromwich. Final victory tally – 5 destroyed, 1 probable, 3 damaged and 2 further destroyed on the ground]
4. F/O Terence M. Kane [Joined 234 Squadron at St Eval on September 14th 1940 flying Spitfires, and shared in the destruction of a Ju88 eight days later. The following day he failed to return from a routine section patrol, his Spitfire having been damaged off the French coast. He bailed out at 6000 feet and was picked out of the Channel by the Germans. His Spitfire, R6896, crashed into the Channel, however not before he had destroyed a Bf109. He was sent to several P.O.W. camps including Stalag Luft III. After the war he served in Fighter Control Branch, retiring on May 29th 1974 as Wing Commander.
5. F/Lt. Richard Leoline Jones [Joined 64 Squadron at Kenley in July 1940 flying Spitfires, moving to 19 Squadron in September which was part of the legendary Duxford wing still flying Spitfires. He rejoined 64 Squadron in November 1940, then based in Hornchurch, moving in January 1941 to Rochford with the Squadron. From there he moved into test flying, being the only RAF pilot based at the Witney De Havilland factory. He was awarded the Air Efficiency Award in 1944.
6. Group Captain Byron Duckenfield [Posted to 501 Squadron and after six days cheated death when on board a Bristol Bombay transport aircraft which crashed in France, killing three Squadron members and the crew. Back in his Hurricane cockpit, he clashed with a Do215, claiming one as a probable and shooting down another, before fighting off an Me109. Later posted to RAF Northolt serving as a test pilot at the Air Fighting Development Unit, he was awarded the Air Force Cross before taking command of 66 and 615 Squadrons. He spent two and a half years as a prisoner of the Japanese in Rangoon Jail after being forced to land his aircraft in a shallow creek.
7. Wing Commander Robert Foster DFC [a Hurricane pilot in 605 Squadron]
8. Squadron Leader Michael Wainwright [destroyed a Me109 off the South Coast on July 25th 1940. Two months previously, the 20 year old member of 64 Squadron had claimed another 109 over Dunkirk during the Battle for France. Retired in 1958, but continued flying as an instructor and civil airline pilot.
9. F/Lt. Terry Clark DFM [Air Gunner with 76 Squadron].
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