RIP: Wing Commander Jack Rose (Served from first day to the last in WW2)
Wing Commander Jack Rose, who has died aged 92, flew Hurricane fighters during the brief but hectic days of the Battle of France and returned to be shot down during the Battle of Britain. After the war he had a distinguished career with the Colonial Office.
On May 14 1940 the German Blitzkrieg broke through the Allied lines at Sedan despite the efforts, and sacrifices, of the RAF light bomber forces. The six fighter squadrons of the RAF component of the British Expeditionary Force were hard pressed to keep the German bombers and their fighter escorts from attacking British and French ground forces. Fighter reinforcements were requested and Rose flew one of the Hurricanes sent to Merville to reinforce No 3 Squadron.