From 5th June 1940 to 28th August 1940 65 Squadron was based at Hornchurch.

On Monday 12th August 1940, Spitfire R6712 was slightly damaged in a bombing attack on the runway. While attempting to get airborne R6712, piloted by Pilot Officer K.G. Hart, suffered a bomb blast which caused a reversal of the propeller, stalling the engine on the point of take off.

Pilot Officer Hart was killed, aged 23, on the 28th December 1944, as a Squadron Leader with 18 Squadron, operating Bostons from Falconara, Italy.

The setting for the print "Spitfire!", while being fictitious, is actually made up of several real life elements.

The pavilion is taken from the cricket pitch at Penshurst and the oast houses are based on some I found just down the road from there.

The large house beyond the pond is from Ockley in Surrey and you can see it clearly from the A29 should you ever be in those parts. I understand the people who own the house actually bought the print because of the Spitfire and were then quite surprised to find their house in it!

The barn is also based on one at Ockley but it is fairly typical of barns anywhere.

The car is a 1939 Singer Roadster and is owned by a friend of mine. He is particularly proud of it and so I couldn't resist putting in the little boy who is christening it in a rather rude fashion.

As to the characters portrayed, I leave that up to your imagination, although for my part I always considered the girl behind the pavilion to be the daughter of the formidable looking matron and her little brother the ones telling tales. I wouldn't want to be in her shoes when she gets home!

For all enquiries regarding these prints please contact:
Bill Perring
D'Arcy Collection
8 Marlpit Lane
Coulsdon
Surrey
CR5 2HB

Tel: 01737 555727