Air Commodore Alan Deere - New Zealand Battle of Britain Ace

Some photographs from the family archives - click on photo to see large version - use "Back" button to return here

His classic 1959 autobiography, "Nine Lives", has recently been republished by Crecy in the UK (ISBN 0-907579-82-5)

Photo taken at the time of his appointment as Aide de Comp to Queen Elizabeth "A" Flight of 54 Squadron at Hornchurch in between sorties during the Battle of Britain
Group Captain A.G."Sailor" Malan, Squadron Leader Jack Charles and Alan Deere, Biggin Hill, 1943 A post Battle of Britain re-union of some of the "few" with Lord Dowding
Alan Deere with fellow New Zealander Johnny Checketts at Biggin Hill A Page from 54 Squadron records during the Battle of Britain
Hawker Hunter flight post war in Malta With Spitfire "Kiwi 1" at Hornchurch in1940
Spitfire prototype photographed at the Duxford display in1937 Alan Deere conversing with the NZ High Commissioner, Bill Jordan at Biggin Hill in1943. At the time he was Wing Commander of the Biggin Hill Wing
Alan Deere's Spitfire Mk 9B ("AL") escorting American bombers in the later stages of the war Always the reluctant celebrity - here visiting the HMV factory that produced radios for Spitfires during the war
 

Spitifre 1 "Kiwi" parked in its revetment at Hornchurch during the Battle of Britain

First solo flight at the De Havilland School of Flying in 1937 
Preparing for Bomber escort operation when Wing Commander at Biggin Hill - in his personalised Spitfire "AL" (image courtesy Peter R Arnold collection) Another shot from Biggin Hill

(image courtesy Peter R Arnold collection)

Last revised 22 October, 2009