| Aviation artist
Robert Taylor. Aviation art print 'No Turning Back'
by Robert Taylor depicting a Lancaster bomber on a night mission being
attacked by a Luftwaffe Fw190.
A Lancaster comes under attack from an Fw190 during a raid over
Europe.
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| No Turning Back by Robert Taylor
A Lancaster comes under attack from an Fw190 during a raid over
Europe.
Aircrew limited edition of 600 prints signed by Wilf Burnett, Ivor
Broom, Bill Reid and Tony Iveson. Paper size 32" x 24. Print serial
number RT304. Print price £195 ($295). Artists proof price £320 ($500).
Bomber Command Edition of 200 prints signed by Bradford, Burnside,
Curtis, Farquharson, Knights, Newham, Wolley and Wolstenholme. Paper size
32" x 24". Print price £295 ($450). |
©
Copyright
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| Text for the above print :
On the night of November the 3rd 1943, Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid took
his N0.61 Squadron Lancaster off to join a force detailed to attack
Dusseldorf, deep in the heart of Germany. Right after crossing the
coast of Holland they were attacked by an Me110 night fighter, its gunfire
shattering the Lancaster's windscreen and damaging the elevator, making
the aircraft difficult to handle. Though wounded in the head,
shoulders and hands, after ascertaining his crew were unscathed,
mentioning nothing of his injuries, Bill Reid continued towards the
target, still over an hour ahead of him. Closer to the target his
Lancaster was again attacked, this time by a Focke Wulf 190 which raked
the bomber from stem to stern. His navigator was killed, hi wireless
operator fatally injured, and Bill was again wounded in the attack.
Though communications within the aircraft were severed, heating had
failed, and only the rear turret remained operative, Bill Reid flew his
bucking Lancaster steadily towards Dusseldorf. Having memorised his
course he brought the bomber right over the target with such accuracy the
bomber knew nothing of his captain's injuries or casualties to his
comrades. Photographs confirmed the bombs were released right on
target. Growing weak from loss of blood and lapsing into periods of
unconsciousness, with the aid of the flight engineer and bomb-aimer, Bill
steered the Lancaster towards home navigating by the pole star and
moon. Despite the intense cold, they survived a barrage of AA
gunfire as they passed over the Dutch coast. As they approached
England the captain was revived, took control, and landed safely even
though the runway lights were partially obscured by mist, one leg of the
damaged undercarriage collapsing as the weight came on. For his
tenacity and devotion to duty Bill Reid was decorated with Britain's
highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross. |
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Print titles signed by pilot :
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Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid VC
Volunteering for RAF aircrew in 1940, Bill Reid learned to fly in
California, training on the Stearman, Vultee and Harvard. After
gaining his pilots wings back in England he flew Wellingtons before moving
on to Lancasters in 1943. On the night of Nov 3rd 1943, his
Lancaster suffered two severe attacks from Luftwaffe night fighters, badly
wounding Reid, killing his navigator and radio operator, and severely
damaging the aircraft. Bill flew on 200 miles to accurately bomb the
target and get his aircraft home. For this act of outstanding
courage and determination he was awarded the Victoria Cross. |
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Wing Commander Roderick Learoyd VC
On the day that war was declared Rod Learoyd was on patrol flying
Hampdens with 49 Sqn. Continually involved with low level bombing,
on the night of 12th August 1940, he and four other aircraft attempted to
breach the heavily defended Dortmund - Ems canal. For his supreme
courage that night he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He later
joined 44 Sqn with the first Lancasters, and then commanded 83 Sqn. |
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Flt Sergeant Stan Bradford DFM
was a mid-upper gunner on Lancaster ED308 'D-Donald' of 57 squadron RAF
Bomber Command, then based at Scampton. By the end of his tour in March
1944 Stan had become an air Ace, credited by 5 Group with the shooting
down of 6 enemy fighters, including a Bf109 over France on his very
first operation on the night of August 27th 1943. |
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Flt Lieutenant Bob
Knights DSO, DFC
Lancaster pilot Bob
Knights joined 619 Squadron RAF Woodhall Spa in September 1943,
successfully completing his first tour of 26 operations. In January 1944
he was asked to join 617 Squadron with Leonard Cheshire, and carried out
the precision bombing attacks for which 617 Sqn was famed. These
included three attacks on the Tirpitz, and attacks on factories, U-boat
pens, and V1 rocket sites. Bob Knights completed a further 44 operations
with 617 Squadron. |
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Air Commodore Wilf Burnett DSO OBE DFC AFC
Canadian Wilf Burnett joined the RAF before the war and at the outbreak
of hostilities was flying Hampdens. He completed his first tour of
30 operations in September 1940, flying with 49 Sqn at Scampton. His
crew had bombed invasion barges in the Channel ports, mined enemy waters,
operated against the Ruhr, and taken part in the first raids against
Berlin. In July 1941 he was posted to 408 (Goose) Sqn RCAF, at
Syerston, where one night in January 1942, returning from Hamburg, their
Hampden crashed in extreme weather. Wilf was the sole survivor, and
he was hospitalised. Recovering he was accepted to command 138
(Special Duties) Sqn at Tempsford who were engaged in dropping agents and
supplies to the Resistance in occupied countries flying Halifaxes, later
Stirlings. |
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Group Captain Dudley Burnside DSO OBE DFC*
Pilot Dudley Burnside flew Halifaxes with 427 (Lion) Sqn RCAF and later
served with 195 Squadron flying Lancasters. |
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Squadron Leader Lawrence Curtis DFC*
Wireless Operator Lawrence Curtis served with 149, 99, 158 Squadrons
before transferring to the Lancasters of 617 Squadron |
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Group Captain William Farquharson DFC*
William Farquharson was a pilot with 115 Squadron and flew Lancasters
with 195 Squadron. |
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Flight Lieutenant Douglas Newham LVO DFC
Douglas Newham was a navigator with 156 and 150 Squadrons before
transferring to the Lancasters of 10 Squadron. |
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Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Wolstenholme DFC*
Ken Wolstenholme was a pilot first with 107 Sqn flying Blenheims before
joining 8 Group Pathfinders flying Mosquitos. He completed 100
ops. After the war he became a famous sports broadcaster with the
BBC |
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Flight Lieutenant Dennis Woolley DFC DFM
Pilot Denis Woolley flew Lancasters, firstly with 106 Squadron and then
later with 83 Squadron. |
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