A fine model, well detailed, but for me, the mount is heavy handed. I would have preferred a stout wire (coat hanger diameter) instead of the highly visible plastic. As in all model planes I prefer them in the more flexible pose of taxiing or parked. I also think it would be better not to single out particular pilots but give more details of the actual plane.
Note of my family connection with F/O John Allen D.F.C. who was based at Hornchurch and was killed on 24th July 1940.
I was about 11 years old when my mother told me that my cousin's fiance F/O John Allen D.F.C.
had been killed in the Battle of Britain 24th July 1940, shot down as a fighter pilot near Margate. I intend to visit his war grave this year now that I have learned of his RAF career (in a 15 page history).
He was born in 1918 in Kenya, the son of a missionary. To enable him to follow in his father's career John came to England for tuition but he was advised to learn more about the world first, so he joined the RAF in 1932 to train as a pilot. At first he was stationed at Montrose in Scotland, flying Hawke Furys. In spite of crashing into a snow covered mountainside and lying under the wreckage in the snow overnight he was found by a shepherd, taken back to base to recover from minor injuries, he completed his training. Now wearing his wings he was posted to RAF Hornchurch initially flying Gloster Gladiators. He was deployed at Dunkirk defending the retreating British Army from the attacks of vastly superior Messerschmitt 109 (and other types) of which he shot down seven, now flying the newly issues Spitfire Mk 1. He was awarded the D.F.C personally by HM King George V1 (I have the photo).As a fighter pilot he was constantly in action against the Luftwaffe during this period. Among other exploits he was involved in rescuing his CO who was shot down and crash landed on the field of Calais Aero Clube which was encircled by Panzer tanks. Using a 2-seater Miles Master (unarmed, painted bright yellow and a very slow speed flier) he was sent to Calais to help rescue the CO and escort the Miles Master safely back to England, fending off enemy aircraft. There are other exploits recorded but eventually an ace German fighter shot him down as he was nearing the Kent coast; as he was about to crash his engine spluttered back to life and he decided to try and make it back to base but the engine died and the Spitfire crashed in flames and John was killed.