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Cranston Fine Arts  Aviation Art and Artists World War Two Veteran Signatures UK and Commonwealth P  Perks, Geoffrey |
[UP] - Page, Frederick - Page, Geoffrey - Palliser, Charles - Parfitt, Bill - Parker, Charles - Parkin, Eric - Parkin, Harold - Parkinson, Colin - Parrott, Peter - Parry, D - Parry, Gwyn - Parry, Hugh - Parsons, Beck - Parsons, Lou - Partridge, Richard - Patterson, Charles - Patterson, Ernie - Pattison, H - Paulk, John - Payne, Aan - Payne, Tom - Pearl, John - Pearson, R - Peel, John - Pegler, Roy - Pemberton, John - Penny, Michael - Perks, Geoffrey - Petrie-Andrews, John - Phillips, D F W - Phillips, J - Phillips, Pip - Pickering, James - Pickering, Tony - Pinfold, Herbert - Pinner, Al - Pinning, Jim - Pitt-Brown, Willam - Plumridge, Ken - Poore, Arthur - Pottinger, Ron - Pears, Harry - Prichard, George - Pugh, Dei - Pujji, Mahinder |
Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Perks DFC
Joining the RAF in July 1941 he trained as a pilot in the USA and was posted to 420 Sqn as part of no 6 Group (RCAF) initially flying Wellingtons. The unit then converted to Halifaxes and he moved firstly to 427 Squadron and then 434 Sqn still flying this aircraft. In November 1944 he joined OTU as an instructor on Halifaxes, converting to Mosquitoes in January 1945. He then joined 571 Sqn as part of the Light Night Strike Force, flying the B Mk XVI and dropping 4000lb cookie bombs over Germany. He left the RAF in 1946 but rejoined, finally leaving in 1958
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| Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Perks DFC - Signed Aviation Art |
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| Text for the above items : |
Mission by Moonlight by Gerald Coulson. To commemorate this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version, on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was by far the fastest piston-engine bomber of World War II, and also the only light bomber capable of delivering the devastating 4,000lb block-buster bomb. |
Time To Go by Philip West. Late 1944 and as the sun sets, Mark XIX Mosquito night fighters from 85 and 157 Squadrons based at RAF Swannington crew up for their next operation over hostile territory. These Mosquitoes scored many victories in the defence of Bomber Command aircraft and their crews during their relentless and dangerous missions over Germany. |
Mosquito Coast by Stephen Brown. Seagulls take flight as the distant drone of Merlin engines starts to rise above the sound of wind and surf on their deserted beach. Overhead Mosquito B Mk IVs of 139 Squadron return low across the North Sea after a successful mission. In moments they will be gone, with only a few miles to navigate before they land at their base at Horsham St Faith in Norfolk. |
Dawn of a Legend by Stephen Brown. In what became a familiar sight over East Anglia during World War II, RAF de Havilland Mosquitoes head out at low level towards the North Sea. These aircraft are Mosquito B. Mk IVs of No 2 Group, 105 Squadron operating from Horsham St. Faith in the summer of 1942. Also known as The Wooden Wonder or Timber Terror, the Mosquito was a twin-engine aircraft with the pilot and navigator sitting side by side. Its plywood structure gave the Mosquito exceptional speed, ability and durability. |
Vital Support by Robert Taylor. Crucial to every squadron in the RAF were the unsung heroes of World War II - the ground crew. Without the vital support of these dedicated men who refuelled the aircraft, rearmed them, maintained them and kept them flying, the pilots and aircrew would, quite simply, never have got into the air. Robert Taylors drawing Vital Support shows ground crew bombing up a Mosquito of RAF Bomber Command. |
Home Run by Gerald Coulson. It is June 1944 and, as dawn begins to break over East Anglia, Mosquito B Mk XVI bombers of the Light Night Striking Force return from a raid over Berlin. The sun is just beginning to rise and the peaceful tranquility is shattered as these majestic aircraft power in from the North Sea, flying at low level over the Norfolk marshes. |
| Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Perks DFC Aircraft details |
 Halifax Manufacturer : Handley Page Built : 6177 | Halifax Royal Air Force heavy Bomber with a crew of six to eight. Maximum speed of 280mph (with MK.VI top speed of 312mph) service ceiling of 22,800feet maximum range of 3,000 miles. The Halifax carried four .303 browning machine guns in the tail turret, two .303 browning machines in the nose turret in the MK III there were four .303 brownings in the dorsal turret. The Handley Page Halifax, first joined the Royal Air Force in March 1941 with 35 squadron. The Halifax saw service in Europe and the Middle east with a variety of variants for use with Coastal Command, in anti Submarine warfare, special duties, glider-tugs, and troop transportation roles. A total of 6177 Halifax's were built and stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1952 |
 Mosquito Manufacturer : De Havilland Built : 7781 | Mosquito Used as a night fighter, fighter bomber, bomber and Photo-reconnaissance, with a crew of two, Maximum speed was 425 mph, at 30,300 feet, 380mph at 17,000ft. and a ceiling of 36,000feet, maximum range 3,500 miles. the Mosquito was armed with four 20mm Hospano cannon in belly and four .303 inch browning machine guns in nose. Coastal strike aircraft had eight 3-inch Rockets under the wings, and one 57mm shell gun in belly. The Mossie at it was known made its first flight on 25th November 1940, and the mosquito made its first operational flight for the Royal Air Force as a reconnaissance unit based at Benson. In early 1942, a modified version (mark II) operated as a night fighter with 157 and 23 squadron's. In April 1943 the first De Haviland Mosquito saw service in the Far east and in 1944 The Mosquito was used at Coastal Command in its strike wings. Bomber Commands offensive against Germany saw many Mosquitos, used as photo Reconnaissance aircraft, Fighter Escorts, and Path Finders. The Mosquito stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1955. and a total of 7781 mosquito's were built. |
 Wellington Manufacturer : Vickers | Wellington The Vickers Wellington was a Bomber aircraft and also used for maritime reconnaissance. and had a normal crew of six except in the MKV and VI where a crew of three was used. Maximum speed was 235 mph (MK1c) 255 mph (MK III, X) and 299 mph (MK IIII), normal operating range of 1805 miles (except MK III which was 1470miles) The Wellington or Wimpy as it was known, was the major bomber of the Royal Air Force between 1939 and 1943. The Royal Air Force received its first Wellingtons in October 1938 to 99 squadron. and by the outbreak of World war two there were 6 squadrons equipped with the Vickers Wellington. Due to heavy losses on daylight raids, the Wellington became a night bomber and from 1940 was also used as a long range bomber in North Africa. and in 1942 also became a long range bomber for the royal Air Force in India. It was well used by Coastal Command as a U-Boat Hunter. The Wellington remained in service with the Royal Air Force until 1953. Probably due to its versatile use, The aircraft was also used for experimental work including the fitting of a pressure cabin for High altitude tests. The Vickers Wellington could sustain major damage and still fly, probably due to its construction of its geodesic structure and practical application of geodesic lines. Designed by Sir Barnes Wallis |
| Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Perks DFC Squadron details |
No.420 Sqn RCAF Country : Canada Disbanded 5th September 1945 Known Codes : , PT, | No.420 Sqn RCAF Snowy Owl Pugnamus finitum - We fight to the finish |
No.427 Sqn RCAF Country : Canada Disbanded 31st May 1946 Known Codes : , ZL, | No.427 Sqn RCAF Lion Ferte manus certa - Strike sure |
No.434 Sqn RCAF Country : Canada Disbanded 5th September 1945 Known Codes : , IP, WL, | No.434 Sqn RCAF Bluenose In exelcis vincimus - We conquer the heights |
No.571 Sqn RAF Country : UK Disbanded 20th September 1945 Known Codes : , 8K, | No.571 Sqn RAF |
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