|
High Cost by Robert Taylor.
The crews of Bomber Command faced one of the most daunting tasks, calling for
courage sustained night after night, in conditions of desperate danger and
discomfort. They did not fail us and 55,573 paid the supreme sacrifice. In his
new tribute to The Many, Robert Taylors evocative painting recreates a typical
scene encountered by many Royal Air Force bomber squadrons on raids over enemy
occupied territory: Having already survived 30 successful operational sorties,
on 9 February 1945 Lancaster PG-G of 619 Squadron has been intercepted by
Luftwaffe night-fighters during a raid over Stettin Bay. |
|
|
High Cost by Robert Taylor.
The crews of Bomber Command faced one of the most daunting tasks, calling for courage sustained night after night, in conditions of desperate danger and discomfort. They did not fail us and 55,573 paid the supreme sacrifice. In his new tribute to The Many, Robert Taylors evocative painting recreates a typical scene encountered by many Royal Air Force bomber squadrons on raids over enemy occupied territory: Having already survived 30 successful operational sorties, on 9 February 1945 Lancaster PG-G of 619 Squadron has been intercepted by Luftwaffe night-fighters during a raid over Stettin Bay.
RAAF limited edition of 100 prints, with 3 signatures. Print paper size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm).. Price £120.00 Signatories: Flying Officer Norman A Gampe, Flight Lieutenant John M Grant, and Flying Officer Bernard T Hucks DFC.
RAF limited edition of 25 artist proofs, with 5 signatures. Print paper size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £160.00 Signatories: Flt Lt George Britton, Flt Lt John Cox DFC, Warrant Officer Richard Hearne, Flt Lt Tom Austin DFC AE, and Wg Com Mac England DFC.
RAF limited edition of 500 prints, with 5 signatures. Print paper size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £120.00 Signatories: Flt Lt George Britton, Flt Lt John Cox DFC, Warrant Officer Richard Hearne, Flt Lt Tom Austin DFC AE, and Wg Com Mac England DFC.
ITEM CODE DHM2606
|
|
High Cost by Robert Taylor
- The Signatures
|
Flying Officer Norman A. Gampe RAAF
Norman Gampe joined the RAAF in September 1942. After training as a pilot in Australia, he sailed to the UK, and in the later half of 1944 attended 19 OUT, then converted to Lancaster’s. In January 1945, Norman was posted to 619 Squadron equipped with Lancaster’s, based at Strubby. On ANZAC Day-25th April 1945, Flying Officer Gampe completed his 13th and final Operational Sortie of the war with 619 Sqn when he bombed Hitler’s Eagles Nest at Berchesgarden.
More... |
Flight Lieutenant John M. Grant RAAF
John Grant joined the RAAF in October 1942. He trained as a pilot in Australia, and then attended OUT and HCU in the UK. In October 1944 John was posted to 619 Squadron equipped with Lancaster’s, and based at Strubby. Grant went on to complete his tour of 30 sorties with the squadron. After this, flight Lieutenant Grant was assigned to Tiger Force, where he was to lead 619 Squadron in the planned RAF component of MacArthur’s proposed invasion of Japan.
More... |
Flying Officer Bernard T. Hucks DFC RAAF
Bernie Hucks joined the RAAF in October 1941. He trained as a Wireless Operator in Australia, and then attended 14 OUT in the UK. In June 1943, Hucks was posted to 619 Squadron equipped with Lancaster’s, and based at Woodhall Spa. After completing his tour of 27 sorties, Warrant Officer Hucks was awarded the DFC for skill and fortitude against the enemy. After instructing Bernie flew one last sortie with 463 Squadron RAAF on ANZAC Day – 25th April 1945.
More... |
Flight Lieutenant George Britton
Joining the RAF in 1941, George trained on Wellington and Stirlings as a Wireless Operator and Air Gunner. Converting to Lancasters he was posted to 90 Squadron for his first operational tour, and then to 186 Squadron, still on Lancasters. George then found himself designated to be an Intelligence Officer at Lossiemouth, interrogating Italian POWs Finally, before leaving the service in 1946, he served in Sunderland flying boats, flying to West Africa, Europe and Scandinavia.
More... |
Flight Lieutenant John Cox DFC
Born in 1923, after reaching eighteen, John Cox joined the RAF in March 1942. He soon found himself on the Queen Mary en-route to Canada for pilot training, returning to become operational on Lancaster’s with 622 Squadron based at Mildenhall, whom he joined in July 1944. His tour of 30 operations included the successful raid on Walcheren Island in Holland, whose objective was to breach the sea wall in order to flood the island, forcing a full scale German retreat. After hostilities he flew for BOAC, followed by 27 years service with BA, becoming senior captain on 747s.
More... |
Warrant Officer Richard ‘Basher’ Hearne
‘Basher’ Hearne joined the RAF in 1942 and trained as a Flight Engineer. His first operational posting was to 622 Squadron at Mildenhall in Suffolk, equipped with Stirlings, and then, in November 1943, he transferred to 15 Squadron, also flying from the same base. The squadron re-equipped with Lancaster’s the following month.
More... |
Flight Lieutenant Tom Austin DFC AE
After joining the RAF in 1941 Tom Austin qualified as a pilot on Harvard’s, then converted into Halifax’s. During the war years other aircraft he flew included Wellingtons, Stirling’s and Lancaster’s. While flying Wellingtons as part of 199 Squadron during a raid over Dortmund, his aircraft was badly damaged but Tom managed to limp home, crash landing at Mildenhall.
|
Tom Austin signing prints of - Returning from Caen - by Graeme Lothian. |
More... |
Wing Commander ‘Mac’ England DFC
‘Mac’ England joined the RAF in 1938 and after qualifying, posted as a pilot into Lancaster’s. In 1941 he was transferred from Bomber command to fighter Command-flying Spitfires on coastal sweeps. After a short period of time on Spitfires he was transferred back again to bomber Command, and in 1943 completed 30 Operations on Lancaster’s. When he retired in 1974 he had flown a total of 36 different aircraft including Hunters and Canberras.
More... |
|
