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With the Battle of Britain won and the threat of Nazi invasion diminished, early 1941 brought orders from RAF High Command to take the fight back across the Channel to Hitler's forces in occupied Europe. At the fighter stations in No.11 Group, Wing Leaders were appointed to direct the offensive. These were men already proven to be outstanding squadron commanders, each now given three squadrons of fighters and told to conduct sweeps, probe the enemy defences and provoke the Luftwaffe to fight.
Distinguished officers such as Douglas Bader, Victor Beamish, John Peel and Harry Broadhurst rose to the challenge with zeal, but it was the appointment of Squadron Leader 'Sailor' Malan to lead the Biggin Hill Wing which did most to rewrite the tactics of air combat at this time. His 'Ten Rules of Air Fighting' became avid reading in every crew-room in Fighter Command. The fine spring weather of late May and early June brought almost daily conflict with the Luftwafte and each time the Wing's techniques were sharpened. At a time when Britain was effectively under siege, Fighter Command proved that they could hold their own against the enemy.
To commemorate the achievements of the Biggin Hill Wing, Nicolas Trudgian has excelled himself once again in his evocative painting of 'Sailor' Malan leading the Wing across the misty Kent countryside just after sunrise. The roar of three squadrons of Spitfire MkV's shatters the quiet dawn all the way to the French coast where raging battle commenced.
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