In late May 1942, as a result of a series of Luftwaffe hit and run raids along the south coast, 56 Squadron was detached from Snailwell to Manston ('A' Flight Gillam) and Westhampnett ('B' Flight Dundas). The coastal patrols that followed were the very first operational sorties by Typhoons. Whilst the Luftwaffe were conspicuous by their absence 'A' Flight lost two Typhoons (Sergeant Pilot Stuart-Turner killed) on June 1st when they were shot down by Spitfires south of Dover, having been misidentified as Focke Wulf 190s. At this stage of the War Typhoons were relatively unknown and further misidentifications and losses occurred. To minimize this risk Typhoons subsequently carried identification stripes. I have seen it said that one of the reasons the Pathe film footage was shot was to familiarize pilots with identification of the type. The photographs above were taken by Charles Brown on 21st April 1943 at Matlaske (Norfolk) 56 Squadron's base.