No.1 Squadron of the Royal Air Force was one of the most celebrated teams of World War II, and played a pivotal role in defending the United Kingdom in the Battle of Britain before going on the offensive with bombing raids over continental Europe.
Among its ranks was Pilot Officer A V “Taffy” Clowes, seen below standing by the nose of his Hawker Hurricane Mk I at Wittering in October 1940.
The wasp emblem was painted on the nose of his aircraft during the Battle of Britain, and Mr Clowes added a new stripe to the body for each enemy aircraft which he shot down.
His final score was at least twelve.
British watch brand AVI-8, which specialises in pilot watches inspired by historic aircraft and pilots, is paying tribute to Mr Clowes with a new collection it calls the Hawker Hurricane Clowes Automatic.
It comes in a large 46mm case with an oversized crown and a caseback inscribed with the No. 1 Squadron insignia.
It has a moulded dial with camo pattern drawn directly from Clowes’ Hawker Hurricane and carries applied indexes filled with high grade lume.
As a tribute to Clowes and the No. 1 Squadron he flew for, his aircraft code is stamped at the 6 o’clock position along with a custom seconds hand counter-balance created in the form of his Hawker Hurricane.
The squadron motto In omnibus princeps (“First in all things”) is written at the bottom of the dial.
AVI-8 has opted for an NH series Japanese automatic movement to keep time.
The collection is on sale now with prices from £330.
