Description

Winter in Northern Europe brings short days, long nights and, for the most part, appalling weather making navigation difficult and flying hazardous, even by today's electronically sophisticated standards. Throughout RAF Bomber Command's arduous six year World War II campaign, as if atrocious weather were not enough to contend with, day and night bomber crews faced interceptions by enemy fighters, constant flak over occupied territory, and the real and ever-present danger of mid-air collision. Add snowstorms, gale force winds, freezing temperatures and the comparatively rudimentary navigational aids available at the time, it seems a miracle they were able to continue at all. But continue they did, and whenever there was the slimmest chance of hitting an enemy target, unhesitatingly, the aircrews of Bomber Command took up the challenge. 460 Squadron, RAAF was typical of the bomber squadrons under overall command of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris; squadrons manned by volunteer aircrews from Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Rhodesia, South Africa, and many other nations opposed to Hitler's Nazi Germany. To a man they knew the frightening odds against completing a tour of duty, yet many faked their ages just to join this elite band of wartime flyers. Robert Taylor has chosen 460 Squadron for this evocative tribute to the men of RAF Bomber Command who flew the torturous day and night raids throughout World War II. Under the command of the dashing young Group Captain Hughie Edwards, VC, between 1943-45 the Squadron took part in many of the most important raids of the war, becoming the most highly decorated squadron in Bomber Command by the end of hostilities. True to their squadron motto "Strike and Return", Robert shows Avro Lancasters of 460 Squadron RAAF, returning to RAF Binbrook in Lincolnshire following a daylight raid over Germany in the late winter of 1944. With the sun almost set, chill evening shadows lengthen on a magnificent winter landscape dusted with snow, Avro Lancaster J-Squared leads the mighty bombers as they descend in the fading light. A majestic Robert Taylor print for discerning collectors of the very best in aviation art. "I stood on the end of the runway at RAF Binbrook during the filming of the Memphis Belle and gazed over the ageless, beautiful Lincolnshire landscape. It was easy to visualize the Lancasters of 460 Squadron returning home, battle-worn and tired as they would have done some 50 years earlier, and to imagine the emotions of the crews as they brought their mighty Lancasters back to this famous wartime base". Robert Taylor... Individually hand signed by : The Aircrew Edition : Squadron Leader PAT CARDON DFC AE , Flight Lieutenant BOB KNIGHTS DSO DFC , Squadron Leader TONY IVESON DFC AE and Flying Officer BILL NORTH... The RAAF Edition : Flight Lieutenant W E ‘JERRY’ BATEMAN DFC - Pilot , Flying Officer HILARY M BAYLISS DFC - Pilot , Flight Lieutenant PHILLIP J COFFEY DFC DFM - Navigator , Flight Lieutenant JOHN R GARDNER DFC - Pilot , Flight Lieutenant R GORDON GOODWIN DSO DFM - Navigator and Flying Officer LAWRENCE W WOODS DFC - Bomb Aimer... The Collectors Edition : Just 250 copies of this edition are issued with all the components of the Aircrew Edition but, in addition, the main print is signed by extra signatures. It is issued with a matching numbered print from Robert Taylor’s drawing ‘Night Attack’, signed by Bill Reid VC. A total of NINE signatures , Group Captain DUDLEY BURNSIDE DSO OBE DFC* , Squadron Leader LAWRENCE CURTIS DFC AE , Flight Lieutenant BILL REID VC (Companion Drawing) , Wing Commander ERNEST RODLEY DSO DFC* AFC AE and Flight Lieutenant FRED WATTS DFC*... The Victoria Cross Edition : A highly exclusive edition of just 50 copies issued with extra signatures, and with the matching-numbered pencil proof ‘Last Lancaster Home’, beautifully matted to include the signatures of four recipients of the Victoria Cross Britain’s highest award for valour , Warrant Officer M ‘BEN’ BRENNAN DFM AFM , Group Captain LEONARD CHESHIRE VC OM DSO** DFC* (Companion Drawing - matted) , Flight Lieutenant JAMES CASTGNOLA DSO DFC , Wing Commander ROD LEAROYD VC (Companion Drawing - matted) , Warrant Officer NORMAN JACKSON VC (Companion Drawing - matted) , Group Captain J B TAIT DSO*** DFC* ADC , Group Captain LEONARD TRENT VC DFC ADC and Warrant Officer BILL WILCOX DFM...priced @ £995.00 for these 3 prints...To complement the purchase of your fine art print, we are now able to offer a professional Picture Framing service. For further details please contact us by phone or email.