Tribute to William Pitt-Brown by Ivan Berryman. BAT134 Flight Lieutenant Derek Balcombe DFC

Flight Lieutenant Derek Balcombe DFC

There is feverish activity at this time

the tired captain coaxes his aircraft gently down the glide path towards touchdown

both by friendly aircraft and by ships below

Tribute to William Pitt-Brown by Ivan Berryman. BAT134 Flight Lieutenant Derek Balcombe DFCDHM6741. Tribute to William Pitt Brown by Ivan Berryman. William Pitt Brown was a ground attack Typhoon pilot during the Normandy campaign. Prior to this he served on the North West Frontier flying Wapati and Valencia aircraft with No. 31 Sqn, before flying Curtiss Mohawks with No. 5 Sqn on the Arakan and Imphal fronts in the Burma campaign. During the Normandy campaign, he commanded No. 174 Sqn the led 121 Wing, completing more than 100 missions.