A Group of Polish Pilots by Patrick Procktor, oil on canvas

In 1964 Patrick Procktor was one of the 'New Generation' of exciting young artists, celebrated in the Whitechapel Art Gallery’s exhibition of that title. The exhibition also championed the work of his friend David Hockney, and Bridget Riley and Patrick Caulfield, among others. Although he was respected in the 1960s art scene, he did not follow dominant artworld trends, choosing conventional genres including portraiture and travel landscapes. Prockor, who was gay, mostly painted men.

His painting of Polish pilots around a Spitfire was made after a 1942 photograph of No. 306 Squadron at RAF Northolt. He inscribed on the back of the painting's frame: 'A very cheery group of Polish pilots surround a UZ-7 BS459 ... This was a newly delivered aircraft but went missing in January 1943'. On its return from a Circus offensive, the aircraft, piloted by Warrant Officer W. Jasinski, had in fact collided with another spitfire (BS241, UZ-J), piloted by Wing Commander S. Janus DFC, over the English Channel, killing Jasinski. Allegedly, Procktor painted the subject with an RAF Museum commission in mind. He was later commissioned in 1983 by the Imperial War Museum's Artistic Records Committee to depict life with the British Forces in Belize following the country's declaration of independence. Purchased from the David Paul Gallery in 1981. Copyright: The Estate of Patrick Procktor and The Redfern Gallery, London / RAF Museum.