Hawker Hurricane Mk.I

Hawker Hurricane Mk I P.3522 of No. 32 Squadron, flown by Pilot Officer Rupert Smythe and Sgt Bernard Henson 14 August 1940

I have added to this three pilots having a good chat over a cupper in front of the Hurricane. I've intended the pilot on the left to be Sgt B Henson who was the last to fly GZ-V on the afternoon of 14th August 1940 when he crash landed at RAF Tangmere with bullet through the crankcase! The pilot in the middle is Pilot Officer R F Smythe who flew GZ-V in the morning of the same day and I'm imagining here he's handing over the aircraft to Sgt Henson talking through a piece of action he was involved in earlier. The officer in the flying jacket and jumper, I'm assuming meanwhile, is the Squadron Leader who's ordered the change in aircraft assignment.

Ten days later on 24 August, Pilot Officer R F Smythe was to be severely wounded in action and unable to return to flying duties after being downed by an Me.109 over Dover while on 17th November, Sgt Henson, with 257 Squadron since September, was shot down and killed by German fighter ace Adolf Galland ten miles east of Harwich.