'N6453' flown by Sqn Commander Edwin Dunning DSC, the first man to land on a moving ship. Dunning was born in South Africa, the second child of Sir Edwin Dunning of Bradfield in Essex. He made his first attempt to land on HMS Furious on 2nd August 1917 and was successful. He tried the same feat 5 days later but this time his aircraft skidded off the deck into the sea, Dunning was drowned. Although Dunning did not know it at the time, his exploits paved the way for the development of the Naval Carrier, which was to arguably become the Navy's most powerful weapon. Each year the Royal Navy award 'The Dunning Cup' to the pilot who has contributed the most to forward aviation for the year in question, a small but worthy gesture to a brave pilot. N6453 comes in a very striking doped linen colour scheme along with a Royal Marine Sentry and dog to complete the vignette.

Info: Sopwith Pup Dunning (N6453)