Hawker Tempest Mk V JN751 R-B. by M A Kinnear.

Aircraft History: JN751 was built at Hawkers Langley factory and delivered to No. 20 MU at Aston Down 20th February 1944. Delivered to No.486 (NZ) Squadron initially, and subsequently received by No.3 Squadron, it became the personal aircraft of Wing Commander R P Beamont. On 8th June 1944, it became the first Tempest to shoot down and enemy aircraft (Bf109G-6, JN751 was hit in the starboard wing by a cannon shell in this combat) and during June/August it shot down over 30 V-1 flying bombs. On 1st September, following an engine failure on take-off, JN751 made a forced landing at Langley. Repaired 2nd September, Wing Commander Beamont collected the aircraft from Langley on 5th September and returned to Newchurch - this was his last flight in JN751. Returned to No.20 MU on 3rd October 1944, it was delivered to No.287 Squadron at Hornchurch on anti aircraft co-operation duties. On 18th May 1945, whilst trying to avoid a fog bank JN751 crashed on the Isle of Sheppey, killing the pilot, Flight Sergeant P.C.A. Redstone.

Wing Commander Roland P Beamont, CBE, DSO and bar, DFC and bar, DFC (USA), DL: Born on 10th August 1920, Roland Beamont joined No87. Squadron in France during November 1939. Returning to England 20th May 1940 (having destroyed a Do17 and an Me109) he went on to destroy a further three enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain. In June 1941 he was posted to No79 Squadron as a Flight Commander. In December 1941, he went to Hawker Aircraft Limited as a Service test pilot flying Hurricanes. On 29th June 1942, he was posted as Flight Commander to Hawker Typhoon equipped No.609 (WR) squadron at Duxford, and took command of the squadron in October. He returned to Hawker Aircraft during May 1943, to test fly the Tempest. In February 1944, he was tasked with forming the first Tempest Wing, No.150 at Castle Camps and later Newchurch. When leader of the five squadron Tempest Wing No.122 over Germany on 12th October 1944, Roland Beamont was shot down by ground fire, and became a POW. During his time with Nos 150 and 122 Wings he destroyed one Bf109, one Fw190, one Ju88 on the ground and thirty two V1 flying bombs. After the war Roland Beamont became Chief Test Pilot for English Electric, test flying the Canberra, P1, Lightning and TSR2 aircraft. He was the first British pilot to fly a British aircraft at Mach 1 in level flight, and later at Mach 2. After serving as Director of Flight operations for the Tornado test programme he retired and became a respected author.

Open edition print.

Image size 16.5 inches x 11.5 inches (42cm x 30cm)