Appeal for Information
One of our newest members and relative of Brian Lane, seen in this picture taken during the Battle of Britain. If anyone with knowledge or material regarding Brian Lane, please get in touch as the member is researching him. This picture shows three pilots of No. 19 Squadron RAF confer at Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, after a sortie: (left to right): Flight-Lieutenant W J 'Farmer' Lawson, Squadron Leader B J E 'Sandy' Lane (Commanding Officer) and Flight-Sergeant G C 'Grumpy Unwin.
ROYAL AIR FORCE FIGHTER COMMAND, 1939-1945.© IWM (CH 1367A)
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IA, P9368 'QV-K', of No. 19 Squadron RAF, being rearmed between sorties at Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire. P9368 was often flown by the Commanding Officer, Squadron-Leader B J E 'Sandy' Lane, and was also the preferred aircraft of 'A' Flight commander Flight-Lieutenant W J 'Farmer' Lawson.
ROYAL AIR FORCE FIGHTER COMMAND, 1939-1945.© IWM (CH 1322)
The Commanding Officer of No. 19 Squadron RAF, Squadron Leader B J E "Sandy" Lane (left) and one of his flight commanders, Acting Flight-Lieutenant W G Clouston, standing in front of a Supermarine Spitfire at Fowlmere, Cambridge.
ROYAL AIR FORCE FIGHTER COMMAND, 1939-1945.© IWM (CH 1371)
The Intelligence Officer of No. 19 Squadron RAF (back to the camera) receives pilots' accounts of a sortie at Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire. The pilots are (left to right): Squadron Leader B J E 'Sandy' Lane (Squadron Commanding Officer), Flight-Lieutenant W J 'Farmer' Lawson and Sergeant D Lloyd.
ROYAL AIR FORCE FIGHTER COMMAND, 1939-1945.© IWM (CH 1391)
Squadron Leader B J E "Sandy" Lane, Officer Commanding No. 19 Squadron RAF, standing in front of his Supermarine Spitfire Mark I at Duxford, Cambridgeshire. Lane joined the RAF in 1936 and flew with Nos. 66 and 213 Squadrons RAF before the outbreak of the Second World War. He joined 19 Squadron as a flight commander in 1939 and became temporary commanding officer when the existing CO was killed over Dunkirk on 25 May 1940. He fought through the Battle of Britain and was formally appointed as the Squadron Commander after the demise of the next CO on 5 September 1940. Between November 1941 and February 1942 Lane served on staff appointments in the Middle East, before returning to the United Kingdom to command No. 61 Operational Training Unit. In December 1942 he was given the command of No. 167 Squadron RAF but was killed four days after his arrival during combat over the Dutch coast with Focke Wulf Fw 190s of 6/JG1
ROYAL AIR FORCE FIGHTER COMMAND, 1939-1945.© IWM (CH 1461)
Squadron Leader B J E 'Sandy' Lane, the Commanding Officer of No. 19 Squadron RAF (facing camera), relaxes with some of his pilots in the Squadron crew room at Manor Farm, Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire.
ROYAL AIR FORCE FIGHTER COMMAND, 1939-1945.© IWM (CH 1370)
A group of pilots of No. 19 Squadron RAF discuss a recent sortie by Manor Farm at Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire. Standing from left to right are: Sergeant B J Jennings, Flight-Sergeant G C 'Grumpy' Unwin, unknown, Flying Officer J C Dundas (of No. 616 Squadron RAF), Flight Sergeant H Steere, and Squadron-Leader B J E 'Sandy' Lane, the Squadron's Commanding Officer. Flight-Sergeant Unwin's pet German Shepherd dog 'Flash' can be seen to the left.
