“We feared the Typhoons most of all. These aircraft continued to attack a target in spite of heavy ground fire, coming
round again and again causing complete devastation. This created low morale from which we never recovered. I was lucky to survive — the only means of escape was to get out of your tank and run like hell”
... German ex-tank commander visiting the Typhoon D-Day Museum, Shoreham.

After the success of the Hurricane it was with eager anticipation that the RAF looked forward to receiving Hawker’s new replacement for the ageing Battle of Britain fighter. But when the Typhoon arrived it was a disappointment. Originally planned as a high altitude interceptor, its rough, tough design made it too slow and not sufficiently manoeuvrable in high-level dogfights, forcing the RAF to look for another role for their new aircraft.

It was not long before this sturdy aircraft, with its distinctive frontal radiator scoop, had become the benchmark of all ground attack aircraft to serve in World War II. At the time of D-Day and during the Allied advance through Europe, the Typhoon became the backbone of the 2nd Tactical Air Force’s ground attack Wings. Deadly at low-level, and fast - it
it could top 400mph at low altitude - the Typhoon could outrun the Mel09 and Fw190, and was robust enough to take the considerable flak damage that ground attack inevitably attracts, and to get its pilot home. Heavily armed with cannon, rockets and bombs, the Typhoon’s sharp-shooting pilots became the scourge of the German ground forces, exampled by the action at Mortain on 7 August 1944 when Typhoons wiped out the 1st SS Panzer Division.

The Typhoon’s brute force profile, lethal armament, and wide undercarriage, so well suited for the temporary grass strips used by the advancing Allied air forces following the Normandy invasion, is graphically portrayed by Gerald Coulson’s fine study Normandy Sunrise. Here, in the brightening morning sky, Typhoons are prepared for the first sortie of the day. One has already fired up its big, powerful engine, blowing up whirlwinds of Normandy dust; ground crew hover, ready to remove chocks prior to taxi and take-off A second is readied, while the remainder of the squadron, widely dispersed around the temporary field, are about to set about their deadly missions of the day.

THE SIGNED AND NUMBERED EDITION with 3 signatures

Flight Lieutenant JAMES KYLE DFM

Warrant Officer DOUGLAS ORAM

Flying Officer FRANK WHEELER DFC

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Flight Lieutenant Sir JOHN ATKINSON KCB DFC

Squadron Leader RIK A C DUPRÉ

Warrant Officer JACK HODGES DFC

Squadron Leader L F W STARK DFC*, AFC, C de G (Belg)

(see the profiles of the Signatories below)

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The Signatories

Flight Lieutenant JAMES KYLE DFM joined the RAF in 1941 and trained as a pilot in Dallas, Texas, before returning home to become a member of 197 Typhoon Fighter Squadron at Drem upon its formation. In March 1943 the Squadron moved to Tangmere, and he became one of a precious few survivors of a full tour of operations, being awarded the DFM in 1944. He was demobilised in 1947 as a flight commander with 80 Tempest Fighter Squadron in Germany. He spent some years away from the service but the urge to fly never left and he rejoined the RAF in 1951 and became a Qualified Flying Instructor. He retired in 1974 after 30 years service.

Warrant Qfficer DOUGLAS ORAM
Doug Oram joined the RAF in 1942 and went out to America to train as a pilot. In 1944 he joined 174 Typhoon Fighter Squadron at Westhampnett, and spent a year on operations serving throughout occupied Europe. In 1945 he became a Flying Instructor and left the RAF in 1946. However he rejoined in 1947 and stayed in the service until retirement in 1967.

Flight Lieutenant Sir JOHN ATKINSON KCB DFC
John Atkinson joined the RAF from Oxford University in 1938 and completed his pilot training in England. His first operational posting was in 1940 to 234 Squadron at St Eval, Cornwall, flying Spitfires, before moving on to 609 Squadron at Warmwell, Dorchester. In 1942 he converted to Typhoons with 609 Squadron at Duxford, and from there to Biggin Hill and Manston, launching fighter operations over France. When his tour of operations ended in 1943 he was awarded the DFC and went on to become a Flying Instructor until the War was over. Released from the RAF in 1945, he went on to have a successful career in the civil service, and was Knighted in 1979.

Squadron Leader RIK A C DUPRE joined the RAF in 1940 and on completing his pilot training in Canada returned to England to join 609 Typhoon Squadron at Manston. After D-Day the squadron moved to France and continued to serve in occupied Europe, providing close support for the Army. He stayed with 609 for the duration of the war, and in 1945 took a permanent commission serving mainly in the Far East. He retired from the RAF in 1967.

Warrant Officer Jack Hodges DFC joined the RAF in late 1940, and after completing his pilot training in Canada he returned to England and was then briefly sent to a Photo Reconisance Unit flying Spitfires. He moved to a OTU in Annan, Scotland on Hurricanes before finally moving to a holding unit in Redhill, flying Typhoons. In 1944 he was posted to join 175 Squadron. Shortly after this he moved to 174 Squadron at Westhampnett. He served on operations throughout occupied Europe until the end of the War, being awarded the DEC in 1945 for successfully leading a group of Typhoons against a German Armoured Division.

Squadron Leader L F W STARK DFC*, AFC, C de G (Belg)
‘Pinkie’ Stark joined the RAF in 1941 and trained to be a pilot in Canada. On his return to England he spent some time flying Avro Ansons before being sent to a Typhoon OTU and then posted on operations in 1943 to 609 Typhoon Fighter Squadron, based at Manston. He served on with 609 Squadron throughout occupied Europe, eventually taking over as the Squadron Commander and, awarded the DFC, became an Ace as one of the most successful Typhoon pilots in aerial combat. In February 1944 he moved to 263 Typhoon Fighter Squadron as a flight commander, and gained a Bar to his DFC. In 1947 he completed the Empire Test Course and was posted to Boscombe Down as a test pilot. He was awarded the AFC and C de G (Belg).

Flying Officer FRANK WHEELER DEC
Frank Wheeler joined the RAF in 1941, training in England as a pilot after which he completed a period of instructing. In January 1944 he was posted to join 174 Typhoon Fighter Squadron at Westhampnett. his first operation being as an escort to the Mosquitos taking part in Operation Jericho, the Amiens Jailbreak. He stayed with 174 Squadron for the remainder of the War, serving throughout occupied Europe. and in 1945, at the end of his tour of operations. he was awarded the DFC.