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Lille-Seclin Airfield, nr Lille, France, circa November 1939
No.87 Squadron aircrew sprint to their Hurricanes during a mock scramble. The unit –
here famously pictured at Lille-Seclin – re-formed in 1937 on the Fury before operating
Gladiators and, from July 1938, Hurricanes. It deployed to France in September 1939,
but within two weeks of German invasion on May 10, 1940 was back in the UK.
After the Battle of Britain, the squadron’s crews became night-fighter, then intruder,
specialists and only began conversion to Spitfires in 1943. Future ace Geoffrey
Allard was one of No.87’s original pilots, joining in 1937 for a year, other
famous alumni include Ian ‘Widge’ Gleed and Roland Beamont. Gleed
joined on May 14, 1940 following the squadron’s mauling in
France and has claim to becoming an ace in just two days –
the fastest time achieved by an RAF pilot.
(OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH)