Squadron that

aircraft has been almost erased from history. Subsequent failings of the Defiants in the Battle of Britain did not help its cause, but over Dunkirk, its achievement was awesome.

“The Defiant was a very British, idiosyncratic design. No other airforce had a fighter with a turret. It was considered state of the art,” he says.

“Even Churchill championed it. He said the turret fighter would be paramount in the coming battles.”

While the Germans had 2,000 aircraft at their disposal at Dunkirk, and would have hundreds waiting in the skies, striking the Royal Navy ships, and the men awaiting rescue, the RAF had four squadrons in the air at most – up to 50 aircraft.

They were also hampered as they needed enough fuel to fly across the Channel, and return home, which meant just 20 minutes in combat.

The Defiants would fly with Hurricanes or Spitfires to down enemy bombers, while more Hurricanes would go above to take on fighter jets.

“They would have been able to see the men lining the beaches,” says Robert.

“If you wanted to know why you were in your small squadron against an overwhelming number of German fighters, you only had to look down and that would motivate you.”

He says the Defiant was “blooded” during Operation Dynamo, but partly because of its surprise element, the aircraft, which could provide concentrated fire to the rear and side – but not the front – was very effective. It may have been slower than its counterparts, but was deadly. He explains: “The Defiants would work in partnership, catch the slower-flying bombers, and fly alongside them and shoot from the sides, or from underneath. “And as the bomber tried to get away there would be another Defiant waiting for it. “The Germans were used to getting on the tail of a Spitfire or Hurricane, but if you go on the tail of a Defiant that’s where they want you.” The Defiants had already had success in the early days of Operation Dynamo, but May 29 was a crowning glory.

From RAF Manston in Kent the pilots needed no navigation tool to find their way. Black smoke spiralling ominously from the burning oil refinery in bombed-out Dunkirk was crystal clear. They could just follow it.

Two sorties set out that day, flanked by Spitfires and Hurricanes. The first was around noon.

It was a clear day, and they were an obvious target for the Luftwaffe.

Robert says: “With powerful binoculars you could see them leaving the White Cliffs of Dover. There was no element of surprise.”

That day, the Luftwaffe was relentless, mounting five attacks on ships in Dunkirk. But the Defiants were defiant.

Alongside Cooke and Lippett were another winning duo, Pilot Sgt Ed Thorn and gunner Leading Aircraftman Fred Barker, the highest