If You Dare by Simon Cattlin

“If You Dare” ( “gin ye daur” ) is the motto of 603 Squadron, the painting is of 3 of 603’s Spitfires climbing over the coast on a vectored approach to intercept a Luftwaffe raid during early September 1940.  603 Squadron converted from Gloucester Gladiators to Spitfires during 1939 and intercepted and destroyed the first Luftwaffe bomber to raid Britain on October 16th 1939. The squadron moved from Turnhouse to Hornchurch on August 27th 1940 where it remained for the rest of the Battle of Britain.

I’ve positioned the Spitfires to climb up-sun to the south west to intercept the raid, another squadron is in action to the north and a formation of German aircraft can be seen heading towards London.