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Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence DFC (deceased)
Keith Lawrence was born in New Zealand at Waitara on November 25th 1919. After attending Southland Boys High School at Invercargill, Lawrence went to work in a local bank in December 1936. In November 1938 he applied to join the RAF and was accepted for pilot training in Britain and sailed in February 1939. In November 1939 Keith Lawrence completed his flying training and joined the newly-formed 234 Squadron, which flew Spitfires throughout the Battle of Britain. Whilst based at St Eval in Cornwall, Lawrence shared 234s first victory on 8th July 1940 with the destruction of a Ju88 which was attacking a convoy in the Western Approaches. 234 Squadron was posted to Middle Wallop on 15 August. On 15 September Lawrence was posted to 603 Squadron at Hornchurch, and on 8 October moved to 421 Flight at Gravesend, a unit which early the following year became 91 Squadron. During the Battle of Britain he destroyed two enemy aircraft and damaged four others. Whilst on a weather reconnaissance on 26 November 1940, Lawrences Spitfire was shot down by ME 109s, his Spitfire breaking up and throwing him clear to parachute into the sea. Lawrence was picked up by a RNLI lifeboat, and having suffered severe leg injuries and a dislocated arm, was taken to hospital. He returned to 91 Squadron on the 16th of January 1942. On the 17th of February 1942 Lawrence was posted to 185 Squadron in Malta. At this time, the island's capital Valetta and its airfields were suffering almost constant bombardment from bombers with fighter escorts which generally considerably outnumbered the defending fighters. While in Malta, Lawrence was promoted to squadron commander. The Squadron flew Hurricanes until Spitfires arrived on 9 May. Lawrence returned to the UK from Malta at the end of June 1942, and began a long period as an instructor. He served at three different Operational Training Units, and after receiving training at the Central Gunnery School at Sutton Bridge, became a gunnery instructor flying Spitfires. Lawrence returned to operations with 124 Squadron from early February until the end of April 1945. The unit had been successfully intercepting German reconnaissance aircraft at 50,000 feet plus, using Spitfire VIIs with pressurised cockpits, flying from Manston. As Lawrence arrived, it was re-equipping with Spitfire IX's to carry out dive-bombing attacks on V2 sites around The Hague from RAF Coltishall. After each aircraft had dropped its 1000 lb bomb-load, it flew on to captured airfields in Belgium, and refuelled and re-armed, before bombing targets again during the return flight to Coltishall. The unit also carried out daylight escorts for bombers raiding into Germany. From the end of August 1945 Lawrence flew Meteors with 124 Squadron until he was released from the RAF in March 1946. He returned to New Zealand and settled in Christchurch but later returned to Britain. He died on 2nd June 2016.
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Items Signed by Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence DFC (deceased) |
| Clipped Signature - Keith Lawrence. Price : £45.00 | A New Zealander, he joined No.234 Sqn RAF flying Spitfires throughout the Battle of Britain, scoring two victories. He joined No.603 Sqn then No.91 Sqn, where his Spitfire was shot down by Me109s and he baled out into the sea. He returned and joine...... | |
| Those Valiant Few by Robert Taylor. SOLD OUT | The Battle of Britain commenced at the beginning of June 1940, and for the next two and a half gruelling months the young men of Royal Air Force Fighter Command, duelled with the cream of Goerings Luftwaffe over the skies of southern England. It wa...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Those Valiant Few by Robert Taylor. (AP) SOLD OUT | The Battle of Britain commenced at the beginning of June 1940, and for the next two and a half gruelling months the young men of Royal Air Force Fighter Command, duelled with the cream of Goerings Luftwaffe over the skies of southern England. It wa...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Those Valiant Few by Robert Taylor. (B) SOLD OUT | The Battle of Britain commenced at the beginning of June 1940, and for the next two and a half gruelling months the young men of Royal Air Force Fighter Command, duelled with the cream of Goerings Luftwaffe over the skies of southern England. It wa...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Height and Sun by Robert Taylor. (AP) SOLD OUT | If you had the height, you controlled the battle. If you came out of the sun, the enemy could not see you. If you held your fire until you were very close, you seldom missed. These three basic rules contributed to the prowess in aerial combat of som...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Height and Sun by Robert Taylor. (B) SOLD OUT | If you had the height, you controlled the battle. If you came out of the sun, the enemy could not see you. If you held your fire until you were very close, you seldom missed. These three basic rules contributed to the prowess in aerial combat of som...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. Price : £180.00 | If the German and Italian forces were to succeed in their campaign in North Africa something had to be done about Malta. British submarines and torpedo carrying aircraft based on the tiny Mediterranean island were wreaking havoc with Axis shipping, ...... | |
| Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. (AP) Price : £270.00 | If the German and Italian forces were to succeed in their campaign in North Africa something had to be done about Malta. British submarines and torpedo carrying aircraft based on the tiny Mediterranean island were wreaking havoc with Axis shipping, ...... | |
| Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. (B) Price : £230.00 | If the German and Italian forces were to succeed in their campaign in North Africa something had to be done about Malta. British submarines and torpedo carrying aircraft based on the tiny Mediterranean island were wreaking havoc with Axis shipping, s...... | |
| Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. (XX) SOLD OUT | If the German and Italian forces were to succeed in their campaign in North Africa something had to be done about Malta. British submarines and torpedo carrying aircraft based on the tiny Mediterranean island were wreaking havoc with Axis shipping, ...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. (Y) Price : £150.00 | If the German and Italian forces were to succeed in their campaign in North Africa something had to be done about Malta. British submarines and torpedo carrying aircraft based on the tiny Mediterranean island were wreaking havoc with Axis shipping, ...... | |
| Valiant Response by Robert Taylor. (AP) SOLD OUT | The Spitfires of 54 Squadron, quickly scrambled from nearby Hornchurch, clash with the Me109s from 1./JG51 over Kent. Below, Me110s from KPRG210 are about to receive unwelcome attention as the rest of the Spitfires hurtle down upon them and in the ...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| Valiant Response by Robert Taylor. (B) Price : £295.00 | The Spitfires of 54 Squadron, quickly scrambled from nearby Hornchurch, clash with the Me109s from 1./JG51 over Kent. Below, Me110s from KPRG210 are about to receive unwelcome attention as the rest of the Spitfires hurtle down upon them and in the ...... | |
| Valiant Response by Robert Taylor. (C) SOLD OUT | The Spitfires of 54 Squadron, quickly scrambled from nearby Hornchurch, clash with the Me109s from 1./JG51 over Kent. Below, Me110s from KPRG210 are about to receive unwelcome attention as the rest of the Spitfires hurtle down upon them and in the ...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| George Cross Island Association 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Print by John Young. Price : £280.00 | Official limited edition print of the 60th Anniversary of the George Cross Island Association. Spitfires from one of Maltas most famous squadrons, 249, climbing up over Valetta harbour in the summer of 1942. The panorama beneath the aircraft is the...... |
| George Cross Island Association 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Print by John Young. (Y) Price : £240.00 | Official limited edition print of the 60th Anniversary of the George Cross Island Association. Spitfires from one of Maltas most famous squadrons, 249, climbing up over Valetta harbour in the summer of 1942. The panorama beneath the aircraft is the...... |
Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence DFC (deceased) |
| Pack of 4 Hurricane and Typhoon prints by Gerald Coulson. Pack Price : £500.00 Saving : £350 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Defence of the Capital by Gerald Coulson. Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. Striking Back by Gerald Coulson. Normandy Sunrise by Gerald Coulson. | |
| Hawker Hurricane Fighter Print Pack. Pack Price : £390.00 Saving : £405 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Merlin Roar by Anthony Saunders. (I) Hurricane Patrol by Graeme Lothian. (C) Defence of the Capital by Gerald Coulson. Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. Hurricane Mk.IIC by Ivan Berryman. (F) | |
Pack 861. Two Hurricane Aircraft prints by Gerald Coulson. Pack Price : £290.00 Saving : £140 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Defence of the Capital by Gerald Coulson. Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. | ||
Hawker Hurricane Prints by David Pentland and Gerald Coulson. Pack Price : £220.00 Saving : £140 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. Can Openers by David Pentland. (D) | ||
Hawker Hurricane Aviation Prints by Robert Taylor and Gerald Coulson. Pack Price : £340.00 Saving : £150 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Undaunted by Odds by Robert Taylor. Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. |
Pilot Signed Hurricane Prints by Robert Taylor and Gerald Coulson. Pack Price : £330.00 Saving : £160 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Undaunted by Odds by Robert Taylor. Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson. |
Squadrons for : Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence DFC (deceased) | ||
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence DFC (deceased). A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name. | ||
Squadron | Info | |
Country : UK Founded : 1st February 1918 Fate : Disbanded 1st April 1946 Baroda Danger is our opportunity | No.124 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. | |
Country : UK Founded : 21st October 1918 Fate : Disbanded 1st May 1943 Ara fejn hu - Look where it is | No.185 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available. |
Aircraft for : Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence DFC (deceased) | |||
A list of all aircraft associated with Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence DFC (deceased). A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name. | |||
Squadron | Info | ||
Manufacturer : Hawker Production Began : 1936 Number Built : 14533 | Hurricane Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon. All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built. | ||
Manufacturer : Supermarine Production Began : 1936 Retired : 1948 Number Built : 20351 | Spitfire Royal Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph up to The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I 34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575 miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine guns, for MKs V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936. and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19 squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named Seafires. By the end of production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408 Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires in front line use until April 1954. |
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