Brian Lane (pilot)
Encyclopedia
Squadron Leader
Brian "Sandy" Lane DFC
(18 June 1917 - 13 December 1942), was a British
Battle of Britain
fighter pilot
and author.
Born in Pannal
, Harrogate
, England
, Lane grew up in Pinner
before entering the RAF in 1936 . He was the son of Henry Fitzgerald William Lane and Bessie Elinor Lane (nèe Hall). After leaving school, Lane worked as a factory supervisor.
on 1 June and was commissioned int the RAF General Duties Branch on 18 May 1936 on a short service commission. On completion of his training joined No. 66 Squadron RAF
at RAF Duxford on 8 January 1937 at the rank of Pilot Officer. In June 1937 Lane moved to No. 213 Squadron RAF
at RAF Northolt
. He was promoted to Flying Officer on 23 December 1938. Shortly before the outbreak of war, Lane joined No. 19 Squadron RAF at RAF Duxford as an Officer Commanding "A" Flight, flying Spitfires
.
In June 1940, Lane married famous racing driver Eileen Ellison
in Cambridge.
During the Dunkirk evacuation in May 1940 Lane was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
(DFC) for his bravery and his official rating as a fighter pilot classed ‘exceptional’. He became acting Squadron commander on 25 May 1940 when the encumbent CO was killed over Dunkirk.
By September 1940, during the peak of the Battle of Britain, Lane’s abilities as a fighter pilot and leader were duly recognised and he was promoted to Squadron Leader.
Lane's No. 19 Squadron RAF often operated with No. 242 Squadron RAF
, and led by 242's Squadron Leader Douglas Bader
, the Squadrons often working together as part of the controversial Duxford "Big Wing
".
After the Battle of Britain, Lane continued flying with 19 Squadron until June 1941 when he was posted to the No. 12 Group RAF
staff at RAF Hucknell.
at RAF Ludham as a supernumerary
Squadron Leader
flying the Spitfire Mk. V.
He made his first operational flight with the Squadron on 13 December 1942, during which he was last seen giving chase to two Focke-Wulf 190 fighters. He never returned from this mission and was listed as Missing in Action
”. Lane has no known grave having most likely been shot down over the North Sea. It is probable he was a victim of Oblt. Leonhardt of 6./JG 1 and crashed into the sea 30 km west of Schouwen 51°42′36"N 3°13′44"E at 16:34 hrs.
During Lane’s operational career he claimed 6 (and 1 shared) enemy aircraft shot down, 2 unconfirmed destroyed, 1 probable destroyed and 1 damaged.
Historian Dilip Sarkar spent many years editing and researching the original work to replace the code words used by the war time censor with the correct names of people and places. The revised book was republished in 2009 and again in 2011.
Flight Sergeant George "Grumpy" Unwin DFM
: "He was completely unflappable, no matter what the odds, his voice always calm and reassuring, issuing orders which always seemed to be the right decisions."
Sergeant David Cox: "Quite simply Brian Lane was the best CO [Commanding Officer] I ever served under, in every respect, and when my turn came to lead, I modelled myself on him."
Corporal Fred Roberts: "...he was an absolutely wonderful man. Early on in the war, some of the officers could still be a bit snobbish, but not Brian Lane, who knew everyone in his command, no matter how lowly their rank or status, by their first names."
, London
on 25 September 2011, 69 years after his death. A crowd of about 400 people attended the short ceremony which saw guests of honour Flt Lt K A Wilkinson RAF and Mr John Milne unveil the plaque. Flt Lt Wilkinson flew under Lane's command in 19 Squadron and Milne was Lane's Rigger, responsible for refuelling Lane's Spitfire and the repair of its airframe.
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
Brian "Sandy" Lane DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(18 June 1917 - 13 December 1942), was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
and author.
Born in Pannal
Pannal
Pannal is a village in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated to the immediate south of Harrogate and in many ways is a suburb of the town. The village is served by Pannal railway station on the Harrogate Line between Leeds and York.Pannal is well known for its golf...
, Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Lane grew up in Pinner
Pinner
- Climate :Pinner's geographical position on the far western side of North West London makes it the furthest London suburb from any UK coastline. Hence the lower prevalence of moderating maritime influences make Pinner noticeably warmer in the spring and the summer compared to the rest of the capital...
before entering the RAF in 1936 . He was the son of Henry Fitzgerald William Lane and Bessie Elinor Lane (nèe Hall). After leaving school, Lane worked as a factory supervisor.
1936–1941
Lane joined the Royal Air Force in 1936, with service number 37859. After training at 3 E&RFTS Hamble in March 1936, he was posted to No. 11 Flying Training School at RAF WitteringRAF Wittering
RAF Wittering is a Royal Air Force station within the unitary authority area of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Although Stamford in Lincolnshire is the nearest town, the runways of RAF Wittering cross the boundary between Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire....
on 1 June and was commissioned int the RAF General Duties Branch on 18 May 1936 on a short service commission. On completion of his training joined No. 66 Squadron RAF
No. 66 Squadron RAF
No. 66 Squadron was a Royal Flying Corps and eventually Royal Air Force aircraft squadron.-In World War I:It was first formed at Filton on 30 June 1916 as a Training Squadron equipped with BE2c,d & e, BE12 and Avroe 504A machines. The squadron received its first Sopwith Pup on 3 February 1917,...
at RAF Duxford on 8 January 1937 at the rank of Pilot Officer. In June 1937 Lane moved to No. 213 Squadron RAF
No. 213 Squadron RAF
No. 213 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force. The squadron was formed on 1 April 1918 from No. 13 Squadron of the Royal Naval Air Service...
at RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station situated in South Ruislip, east by northeast of Uxbridge in the London Borough of Hillingdon, West London. Approximately north of London Heathrow Airport, the station also handles a large number of private civil flights...
. He was promoted to Flying Officer on 23 December 1938. Shortly before the outbreak of war, Lane joined No. 19 Squadron RAF at RAF Duxford as an Officer Commanding "A" Flight, flying Spitfires
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
.
In June 1940, Lane married famous racing driver Eileen Ellison
Eileen Ellison
Eileen Ellison was an English Grand Prix racer.Born in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, she was a daughter of Sidney and Theresa Ellison . She had a sister, Diana, and a brother, Tony....
in Cambridge.
During the Dunkirk evacuation in May 1940 Lane was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross
The Distinguished Flying Cross may refer to:*Distinguished Flying Cross , including Commonwealth countries*Distinguished Flying Cross...
(DFC) for his bravery and his official rating as a fighter pilot classed ‘exceptional’. He became acting Squadron commander on 25 May 1940 when the encumbent CO was killed over Dunkirk.
By September 1940, during the peak of the Battle of Britain, Lane’s abilities as a fighter pilot and leader were duly recognised and he was promoted to Squadron Leader.
Lane's No. 19 Squadron RAF often operated with No. 242 Squadron RAF
No. 242 Squadron RAF
No. 242 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron. It flew in many roles during its active service and it is also known for being the first squadron Douglas Bader commanded.-In World War I:No...
, and led by 242's Squadron Leader Douglas Bader
Douglas Bader
Group Captain Sir Douglas Robert Steuart Bader CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, FRAeS, DL was a Royal Air Force fighter ace during the Second World War. He was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged.Bader joined the...
, the Squadrons often working together as part of the controversial Duxford "Big Wing
Big Wing
The Big Wing, also known as a Balbo, was an air fighting tactic proposed during the Battle of Britain by 12 Group commander Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory and Acting Squadron Leader Douglas Bader. In essence, the tactic involved meeting incoming Luftwaffe bombing raids in strength with a...
".
After the Battle of Britain, Lane continued flying with 19 Squadron until June 1941 when he was posted to the No. 12 Group RAF
No. 12 Group RAF
No. 12 Group of the Royal Air Force was a command organization that exisited over two separate periods, namely the end of World War I when it had a training function and from just prior to World War II until the early 1960s when it was tasked with an air defence role.No. 12 Group was first formed...
staff at RAF Hucknell.
1941–1942
In November 1941 Lane was posted on a staff appointment to the Middle East. In June 1942 Lane returned to England to command No. 61 OTU at Mountford Bridge, until December 1942 when he joined No. 167 Squadron RAFNo. 167 Squadron RAF
No. 167 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron that formed just after the end of World War I. It was one of only three to be equipped with the Handley Page V/1500 heavy bomber....
at RAF Ludham as a supernumerary
Supernumerary
A Supernumerary is an additional member of an organization. A supernumerary is also a non-regular member of a staff, a member of the staff or an employee who works in a public office who is not part of the manpower complement...
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
flying the Spitfire Mk. V.
He made his first operational flight with the Squadron on 13 December 1942, during which he was last seen giving chase to two Focke-Wulf 190 fighters. He never returned from this mission and was listed as Missing in Action
Missing in action
Missing in action is a casualty Category assigned under the Status of Missing to armed services personnel who are reported missing during active service. They may have been killed, wounded, become a prisoner of war, or deserted. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave can be positively...
”. Lane has no known grave having most likely been shot down over the North Sea. It is probable he was a victim of Oblt. Leonhardt of 6./JG 1 and crashed into the sea 30 km west of Schouwen 51°42′36"N 3°13′44"E at 16:34 hrs.
During Lane’s operational career he claimed 6 (and 1 shared) enemy aircraft shot down, 2 unconfirmed destroyed, 1 probable destroyed and 1 damaged.
Published work
Lane was the author Spitfire!, originally published in 1942 under the pseudonym B.J. Ellan. The book is a first hand account of his experiences as a front line Spitfire pilot and is one of only a few contemporaneous autobiographical accounts of the life of a Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot.Historian Dilip Sarkar spent many years editing and researching the original work to replace the code words used by the war time censor with the correct names of people and places. The revised book was republished in 2009 and again in 2011.
Interviews
This is what some of Lane’s fellow 19 Squadron pilots and crew thought of him :Flight Sergeant George "Grumpy" Unwin DFM
George Unwin
Wing Commander George Cecil Unwin DSO, DFM & Bar , born in the town of Bolton upon Dearne, near Barnsley, Yorkshire, England. He enlisted in the RAF in 1929 as an Administrative apprentice, and in 1935, was selected for pilot training. Upon completion of training, he was posted to No. 19 Squadron...
: "He was completely unflappable, no matter what the odds, his voice always calm and reassuring, issuing orders which always seemed to be the right decisions."
Sergeant David Cox: "Quite simply Brian Lane was the best CO [Commanding Officer] I ever served under, in every respect, and when my turn came to lead, I modelled myself on him."
Corporal Fred Roberts: "...he was an absolutely wonderful man. Early on in the war, some of the officers could still be a bit snobbish, but not Brian Lane, who knew everyone in his command, no matter how lowly their rank or status, by their first names."
Memorial plaque
A permanent memorial plaque, organised by local resident Paul Baderman, was unveiled on Lane's former home in PinnerPinner
- Climate :Pinner's geographical position on the far western side of North West London makes it the furthest London suburb from any UK coastline. Hence the lower prevalence of moderating maritime influences make Pinner noticeably warmer in the spring and the summer compared to the rest of the capital...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 25 September 2011, 69 years after his death. A crowd of about 400 people attended the short ceremony which saw guests of honour Flt Lt K A Wilkinson RAF and Mr John Milne unveil the plaque. Flt Lt Wilkinson flew under Lane's command in 19 Squadron and Milne was Lane's Rigger, responsible for refuelling Lane's Spitfire and the repair of its airframe.