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RAF Squadron Leader David Pemberton begins a diving break after his head-on attack on a German bomber on 16 August 1940.

Pemberton, flying Hawker Hurricane MK1 P2751, which had the codes JX-L, led the dozen Hurricanes No 1 Squadron in an attack on a wave of Heinkel He 111s over Surrey. He reported sending Heinkel He111P-4, G1+HP of 6/KG55, down "in flames", but his attack was followed up by Pilot Officer KT Lofts of 615 Squadron, and they are both credited with the victory.

Based at Chartres in northern France, the Heinkel was part of a raid to Feltham that was intercepted by British fighters. It turned out that the oil system had been hit, causing an engine to fail, and the bomber made a good wheels-up landing at Annington Barn Hill, near Bramber, at about 1715 - still carrying sixteen 50kg bombs.

Three of the crew were taken prisoner; another died at the time and the pilot died from his wounds three days later. After the bombs had been defused, the Heink...

Photographer and digital artist based in the UK. Landscapes, cityscapes and seascapes - and photographically crafted aviation scenes under the Flight Artworks banner: catch up on Facebook or on Instagram. Please contact me or visit my website, flightartworks.com if you would like to license my photos, although a growing range is available via Alamy. Discussions about how my pictures are made are in my blog, Aerial Combat. On Instagram also at @gary.eason. On Twitter @flightartworks and @garyeason. CHANGES: As part of a constant quality improvement process please note that I review and sometimes replace or remove earlier works. COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Please respect the considerable time, effort and investment in equipment that goes...