Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Allard DFC, DFM by Cuthbert Orde, charcoal and chalk on paper

This portrait is one of many that the Air Ministry commissioned from Cuthbert Orde, independently of the War Artists' Advisory Committee (WAAC), to promote the contributions of Fighter Command pilots during the Battle of Britain. It was illustrated in Orde's 1942 book 'Pilots of Fighter Command: Sixty-four Portraits'.

Orde drew the pilots deemed most successful from every squadron, taking around two hours to complete each portrait. Geoffrey Allard sat for this portrait the day he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal. During the Battle of Britain, Allard scored many ‘kills’ as a Fighter ace, and received the Distinguished Flying Cross for destroying seven enemy aircraft over three days. This portrait was one of a few by Orde selectively purchased and exhibited by the WAAC. From the Air Ministry allocation of works from the War Artists' Advisory Committee, 1947. Original accession number: LD419. On loan from the RAF Air Historical Branch (MOD). Copyright: Crown (expired) / RAF Museum.