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Cranston Fine Arts Aviation Art and Artists World War Two Veteran Signatures UK and Commonwealth H Harcourt, Douglas

Sqn Ldr Douglas Harcourt

Joined the navy at H.MS. Ganges in January 1933. He was drafted to H.MS. York in January 1934 before setting sail for the USA and West Indies. Based in Bermuda the ship covered both North and South America coasts as well as north to Canada. H.M S. York returned to England in August 1936. In 1937 Douglas was drafted to H.MS. Sussex; the time of the Spanish Civil War. After this he was sent for pilot training at Rochester. This was followed by Observer training in Sharks at Ford and Sktia drogue towing at Hatston. He was then sent to Lee on Solent on general service before going to Alexandria as Coxswain to carry out inshore mine patrols on a former pleasure cruiser. Douglas then requested to join the RAF and was accepted on to the Air Sea Rescue flight, which became 294 Squadron. He flew Wellingtons, Walrus and Fairchild Amphibian, and was responsible for several rescues. He was commissioned Pilot Officer F/Lt and then taken off operations to Air Headquarters Eastern Med. Then promoted to Sqn. Ldr. as Marine and Air Sea Rescue Officer. Douglas was sent home in March 1945 and posted to RAF Henlow Station. He was demobbed in October 1945.

Sqn Ldr Douglas Harcourt - Signed Aviation Art

Supreme Courage by Philip West. 2 of 3 editions available. All 3 editions feature up to 7 additional signatures. £120.00 - £145.00

Text for the above items :

Supreme Courage by Philip West. Skuas flew from HMS Ark Royal through much of the 1940 campaign off Norway, and one is seen getting airborne in typically grey North Sea weather. The Blackburn Skua had many remarkable firsts to its credit; the first all-metal monoplane built for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA); the first dive bomber in British air services; the first enemy aircraft shot down in WW2 fell to a Skua; the first fighter ace in the FAA (Lt. Bill Lucy DSO) flew Skuas and the first warship (Konigsberg) destroyed by dive bombing was sunk by Skuas.

Walrus

Walrus No profile available

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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

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Sqn Ldr Douglas Harcourt Squadron details

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