The image shows Spitfires of 317 Polish Squadron being prepared for another day on standby. The featured aircraft is JH-C. This particular aircraft can still be seen flying at Duxford during the airshows throughout the year. The interesting vehicle is in fact a six cylinder Bedford glycol/water bowser. I found it an irresistible temptation to include this in the composition when the guys at East Kirby offered to wheel it out of the museum hanger for me.

The painting was a commission. Part of the brief was to include a fence running across the foreground but I do feel the image benefited from the well dilapidated old fence allowing the viewer to walk into the scene.