Burma. C. 1945-04. The RAF Spitfire Squadron, "County of Surrey" and known as "Churchill's Own", ...

Burma. C. 1945-04. The RAF Spitfire Squadron, "County of Surrey" and known as "Churchill's Own", of which the Prime Minister is honorary Air Commodore, arrived in India in 1942, to take part in the defence of that country. And in the role achieved excellent results particularly during the siege of Imphal. Operating now from an Arakan jungle strip, this famous auxiliary squadron has the much more agreeable task of driving the Japanese out of Burma. The Empire is well represented in the squadron; the Commanding Officer comes from Trinidad, and there are Australians, including twin brothers from Melbourne, Vic (shown here on one of the squadron aircraft), Canadians, New Zealanders, and Kenya men among the pilots. Among the ground crew there are still five of the auxiliary air force personnel who joined the squadron on its formation in 1938, and went with the squadron to France in 1939-11. It was the first auxiliary squadron in the RAF to land in France and later took part in the Battle of Britain.