ENDLESS SUMMER

Having successfully intercepted raiders aiming to attack naval facilities at Portsmouth, Squadron Leader Sandy Johnstone leads the Spitfires of 602 Squadron low across Chichester harbour as they head back to their base at RAF Westhampnett, summer 1940.

August 1940: and neither Portsmouth, home of the Royal Navy, nor the radar stations on the nearby Isle of Wight were scenes of tranquillity. They had joined a growing list of targets as Goering’s marauding bombers attacked both the airfields of Fighter Command and the defences of southern England. The port had witnessed the Luftwaffe’s first major air raid on an English city, an ominous foretaste of what was to afflict London, Coventry and many other big cities in the weeks ahead. The Battle for Britain was gathering momentum as depleted squadrons of young, increasingly exhausted fighter pilots battled to stem the Nazi onslaught.

Amongst those defending Portsmouth was 602 Squadron, the unit chosen by renowned artist Anthony Saunders to take centre stage in his dramatically beautiful painting Endless Summer. Led by their inspirational CO, Squadron Leader Sandy Johnstone, Anthony portrays them on their way back to base having successfully intercepted a large force of Ju88s. With the sun slowly dropping in the evening sky they are nearly home; the rooftops of the ancient village of Bosham and the still waters of Chichester Harbour a welcoming sight for the weary warriors.