HOSTILE COMPANY
(Signatures)	Artist : Ron Fulstow and Alan Peart 81 Sqn , F/L WJ Robinson who joined 81 Sqn in early 1943 and also served with 485 Sqn in the UK , F/L Russel Clarke another 485 Sqn flyer and F/L Laugeson , a ferry pilot who delivered Spitfires across Africa to the Middle East squadrons , this particular print has also been signed by : Bob Doe 234 , 238 , 66 , 130 , 118 , 613 and 10 ( IAF ) Sqn Byron Duckenfeild 615 Sqn , D.A. Parry XI & 611 Sqn and Terence Kelly 3 , 258 & 605 Sqn.
(Dimensions)	33" x 23" approx  Unframed Multi signed Print
Price	£175.00

Description

Spitfire MK VIII of 81 Squadron RAF flown by New Zealander Alan Peart, DFC successfully fends off determined attacks by 16 Japanese fighters over the Burmese jungle on March 16th, 1944...Alan provides a brief outline of the action : "During the Japanese assault on Imphal, in Burma, [81 Squadron] provided air cover over the second Chindit expedition approximately 200 miles behind the Japanese lines. It did this from a strip code-named 'Broadway'. It was from this strip that an air battle took place between two of our Spitfires and more than 20 Japanese fighters. The sole surviving Spitfire is shown in combat in the print." The date was March 16, 1944 and the other Spitfire was flown by S/L William 'Babe' Whitamore DFC who was a remarkably experienced fighter pilot having flown in the UK and North Africa with 66, 92, 112 and 601 Squadrons before joining 81 in India. During the action on March 17 - in which he and Alan were jumped by more than 20 Oscars as they took off from 'Broadway' - he added an Oscar to his score of 8.5 victories before being killed by fire from the three Japanese aircraft on his tail. Alan meanwhile flew for his life for the next 40 minutes until the Oscars had to turn for home low on fuel but not before losing one of their number to a head-on pass against our hero. Only one opportunity to hit back occurred when one of the Oscars tried a head-on attack and we both fired at each other. I saw cannon strikes on his fuselage before he shot past and the army later confirmed to me that he had crashed. Alan's aircraft did not escape entirely unscathed though with the Mk VIII being hit behind the cockpit by a cannon shell which exploded under the seat. Fortunately the armour plate protected Alan from injury. However he threw the Spitfire around the sky (and the Oscars) to such an extent that upon later inspection it was found "the tail rivets were sprung, the wings had extra dihedral, and the engine mounting was damaged."...Signed by the artist : Ron Fulstow and Alan Peart 81 Sqn , F/L WJ Robinson who joined 81 Sqn in early 1943 and also served with 485 Sqn in the UK , F/L Russel Clarke another 485 Sqn flyer and F/L Laugeson , a ferry pilot who delivered Spitfires across Africa to the Middle East squadrons , this particular print has also been signed by : Bob Doe 234 , 238 , 66 , 130 , 118 , 613 and 10 ( IAF ) Sqn Byron Duckenfeild 615 Sqn , D.A. Parry XI & 611 Sqn and Terence Kelly 3 , 258 & 605 Sqn...priced @ £175.00...