Battle of Britain Shoot
Sywell
April 11, 2026
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| This was a joint Centre of Aviation Photography (COAP) and TimeLine Events (TLE) photo shoot. For clarity, I have organised the images into two sections: individual studies of the Spitfire and Hurricane, and scenes featuring both aircraft alongside re enactors portraying World War Two airfield life. Curiously, some scenes from the very famous film The Battle of Britain were filmed at Sywell. |
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Left to right: Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 (P2902 'DX-R' registered G-ROBT). Built by Gloster Aircraft in 1939, P2902 first flew around October 20, 1939. By May 1940 it was serving with No. 245 Squadron at Drem, Scotland, flying shipping protection patrols. Taken on charge on May 13, 1940, it featured armour behind the pilot’s seat and self sealing fuel tanks, improvements not found on many earlier aircraft.
On May 31, 1940, flown by 19 year old Pilot Officer Kenneth McGlashan, P2902 was providing cover during the Dunkirk evacuation. After being heavily damaged by a Messerschmitt Bf 109, it crash landed on a beach near Dunkirk. The aircraft was stripped by souvenir hunters as it lay at Leffrinckoucke before gradually disappearing beneath the sand. It remained buried until 1989, when shifting sands revealed its remarkably intact remains, which were then recovered.
A lengthy restoration followed, with final work carried out in Suffolk to return the aircraft to flying condition. After changing ownership during the process, P2902 was completed and returned to the air on June 19, 2017. |
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| Left to right: Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 (P2902 'DX-R' registered G-ROBT). |
| Left to right: Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 (P2902 'DX-R' registered G-ROBT). |
| Left to right: Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 (P2902 'DX-R' registered G-ROBT). |
| Left to right: Hawker Hurricane Mk.1 (P2902 'DX-R' registered G-ROBT). |
Left to right: Supermarine Spitfire LF.Vc (EE602 'DV-V' registered G-IBSY). Constructed as a Mk Vc, it featured the universal "C" wing, allowing a combination of machine guns and 20 mm cannon armament, and is powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin 46 engine.
The aircraft served with 66 Squadron, 129 (Mysore) Squadron, and later 453 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force. During its service, it flew more than 100 operational missions, including escort duties for the famous B-17 Flying Fortress Memphis Belle.
After many years, EE602 underwent a full restoration between 2012 and 2015, returning to the air in May 2015. Now operated by Anglia Aircraft Restorations Ltd, it flies in its original wartime markings as DV-V of 129 Squadron, often referred to by its nickname "Central Railways Uruguayan Staff." |
| Here are the re-enactors and some image post-processing. |
