Bader's Bus Company by Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor’s famous painting portrays Spitfires of the Tangmere Wing flying a southerly course towards the Pas de Calais and a doubtless engagement with Adolf Galland’s ‘Abbeville Boys’. The glorious colors of sunrise glint on the sleek fighters as they streak out over the early morning cumulus clouds. The painting depicts a peaceful prelude to what will inevitably become an intense dogfight for the younger pilots and takes its unusual name from the witty message chalked up on one of the Wing’s notice boards – ‘Bader’s Bus Company – daily tickets to the Continent – Return tickets only!’. Every time the mercurial Wing Leader crossed the French coast he would announce: ‘Bader’s Bus Company on time’.

Signatures:

Air Vice Marshal Johnnie JOHNSON CB CBE DSO** DFC* – 38 victories

Group Captain Hugh “Cocky” DUNDAS CBE DSO* DFC – 7 victories

Air Marshal SIR Denis CROWLEY-MILLING KCB CBE DSO DFC* AE – 8 victories