British Forces

Squadron Leader Wade

Imperial War Museum

Fine portrait of the Squadron Leader L C Wade, Officer Commanding No. 145 Squadron RAF, sitting in the cockpit of his Spitfire HF Mark VIII at Triolo landing ground, south of San Severo, Southern Italy, 12 November 1943. The photo was taken shortly before the end of Wade’s second tour of operations in the Mediterranean area, where he had become the top-scoring fighter pilot with claimed 22 and 2 shared enemy aircraft destroyed. He was promoted Wing Commander and joined the staff at Headquarters, Desert Air Force, but was killed on 12 January 1944 in a flying accident at Foggia. Victor Sierra