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Keith Lawrence

Name : Keith Lawrence Died : 2nd June 2016 Air Victories : 5.00 Awards : Distinguished Flying Cross

Keith Lawrence was born in New Zealand at Waitara on November 25th 1919. He went to Southland Boys’ High School at Invercargill until leaving in December 1936 when Lawrence went to work in a local bank. In February 1938 Keith Lawrence joined the Civil Reserve of Pilots and was accepted for further 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. 234 squadron flew Spitfires in early May 1940 in time for the Battle of Britain. Keith Lawrence shared 234's first victory when on 8th July Lawrence shared in the destruction of a Ju88, while attacking a convoy in the Western Approaches. In September Lawrence was posted to 603 Squadron and moved to 421 Flight, which then became 91 Squadron in early 1941. During the Battle of Britain he destroyed two enemy aircraft and damaged four others. Whilst on a weather reconnaissance on 26 November 1940 Lawrence's Spitfire was shot down by Bf109’s, his Spitfire breaking up and throwing him clear to parachute into the sea. Lawrence was picked up by a Royal Navy minesweeper, and having suffered leg and arm injuries he was taken to hospital, returning to 91 squadron 8 weeks later on the 10th of January 1942. On the 17th of February 1942 Lawrence was posted to Malta, where he joined 185 Squadron at the time Malta was going to see some of the hardest fighting. Lawrence became one of Maltas best known squadron commanders. Arriving in February 1942 he flew Hurricanes until Spitfires arrived in May. A New Zealander, Lawrence had flown Spitfires in Britain. He was lucky to survive being shot down on October 26 when his Spitfire disintegrated and he parachuted into the sea with a broken leg and a dislocated arm. Lawrence returned to the UK from Malta in August 1942, returning to operations in Maly 1945, as commanding officer or 124 Squadron flying Spitfire IXs.

Artwork signed by this Pilot or Aircrew

Clipped Signature - Keith Lawrence.

Those Valiant Few by Robert Taylor.

Height and Sun by Robert Taylor. (AP)

Merlins over Malta by Gerald Coulson.

Valiant Response by Robert Taylor. (AP)

George Cross Island Association 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Print by John Young.

Portrait of Pilot Officer Keith Ashley Lawrence DFC, 234 amd 603 Sqn New Zealand by David Pritchard

High Spirits by David Pritchard

Aircraft for : Keith Lawrence
A list of all aircraft associated with Keith Lawrence. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
Aircraft	Info
Hurricane Click the name above to see prints featuring Hurricane aircraft. 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.
Spitfire Click the name above to see prints featuring Spitfire aircraft. 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.

Squadrons for : Keith Lawrence
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Keith Lawrence. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
Squadron	Info
No.124 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 1st February 1918 Fate : Disbanded 1st April 1946 Baroda Danger is our opportunity Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.124 Sqn RAF	No.124 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.
No.185 Sqn RAF Country : UK Founded : 21st October 1918 Fate : Disbanded 1st May 1943 Ara fejn hu - Look where it is Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.185 Sqn RAF	No.185 Sqn RAF Full profile not yet available.

Last edited : 16:14, June 22, 2017
Last editor : kc

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