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Royal Air Force
Aviation Art Prints  Aviation Artists Philip West  British Aviation |
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Spitfires Over the Needles by Philip West. Battle of Britain, July 1940. Spitfires of 609 Squadron returning to their satellite station airfield at Warmwell to re-arm and re-fuel, following an intercept mission against enemy aircraft trying to disrupt shipping along the South Coast of England. Like many other RAF Squadrons, No 609 the (West Riding) Auxiliary Squadron distinguished itself in many great air battles with honour and courage. |
Corporate Prelude by Philip West. The Falklands conflict led to the Vulcan being used for the first time in anger in 25 years of RAF service; 44, 50 and 101 Sqdn. aircraft were involved in Operation Corporate with five crews selected, two from 50 Sqdn., one each from 44 Sqdn. and 101 Sqdn., plus others from the disbanded 9 Sqdn. This beautiful painting portrays the mighty XM607 at altitude during the work up period prior to active operations. During the Falklands War XM607, piloted by Martin Withers, flew there and back from Ascension Island non-stop, covering a staggering 7,500 miles; the flight lasted 15 hours 45 minutes - at the time, the longest combat flight in history. The Vulcan was refuelled by Victor tankers five times on the outward journey and once on the return journey. |
Mosquito Pathfinders by Philip West. Groundcrew busy themselves readying their de Havilland Mosquito as the aircrew head out towards the aeroplane for yet another mission to a high value target over occupied Europe during WW2. Their dangerous job as Pathfinders is to accurately mark and bomb the target for the main heavy bomber force. It required great skill in navigation, airmanship and courage. The Mosquito proved to be a real thoroughbred and ideal for many varied combat sorties so earning the nick-name The Wooden Wonder. |
Pathfinder Force by Philip West. Passing low over Norwich Cathedral on this wintry evening, Pathfinder Mosquitoes begin to transit east from their bases on yet another dangerous night-time mission over enemy territory. They will take the lead on this bombing mission and their role is to identify and mark pre-planned targets with flares, enabling the main force of Lancaster and Halifax aircraft to drop their bombs as accurately as possible. The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command. Like all aircrew, these brave men took the fight to the enemy night after night until victory was achieved. |
The Guardians by Philip West. Legendary Hurricane pilot Flight Commander Pete Brothers (32 Sqn) and his wingman, having just taken off from Biggin Hill, proceed to gain height over the White Cliffs of Dover in search of the fighters and bombers of the Luftwaffe. By the end of the war Pete Brothers had amassed 875 operational hours over a 44-month period. He was credited with having personally shot down 16 enemy aircraft and damaged many more. |
Mutual Support by Philip West. In the depths of winter, Halifax aircraft of 158 Squadron based at RAF Lissett, Yorkshire, make their final preparations before take off. A remarkable aircraft much loved by its crews. |
Southern Patrol by Philip West. During the battle of Britain, 609 Squadron (PR) and 152 Squadron (UM) were pitting themselves against the Luftwaffe. 609 based at Middle Wallop near Andover and 152 operating from Warmwell were tasked with protecting part of 10 Groups Southern Sector. |
Heading Home by Philip West. Having completed yet another sortie, the crew of 101 Sqn Special Operations Lancaster SR-W, piloted by Flt Lt Rusty Waughman, are about to commence the long and hazardous journey back to their base at Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire. |
Teamwork by Philip West. As night falls, Short Stirlings of XV Squadron based at Mildenhall, Cambridgeshire, await their crews for yet another nocturnal mission. One of the almost forgotten Bomber Command aircraft that made a very significant contribution to the war effort. |
Mission Accomplished by Philip West. 17th May 1943, Sqn Ldr Frank (Jerry) Fray in his Spitfire PRX1 of 542 Squadron operating out of RAF Benson, Oxfordshire, returned alone and unarmed to gather photographic evidence from 30,000 feet of the Möhne dam having been breached earlier the same day by 617 Squadron Lancaster bombers. |
Mosquito Attack by Philip West. On 31st October 1944 a courageous low level attack was undertaken by Mosquitoes of Nos. 21, 464 and 487 squadrons on the Aarthus University, Denmark, which housed the Gestapo HQ for the whole of Jutland. |
Phantom Thunder by Philip West. An F4 Phantom of 92 Squadron, based at Wildenraf, Germany, about to embark on yet another QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) mission to intercept potential hostile aircraft during the Cold War. |
Operation Chastise - The Dambusters by Philip West. During the night of May 16/17, 1943, 19 Lancasters of the newly formed 617 Squadron carried out daring raids against four dams in the Ruhr. The Primary target was the Mohne dam. Here we see Flt Lt Maltby and crew in AJ-J flying clear of the Mohne before their Upkeep mine exploded against and breached the dam. Operation Chastise became a legend in the annals of the RAF and military history. |
Battle Line by Philip West. On the 6th June 1944 the invasion of Normandy commenced. The RAF was, of course, a major combatant and formed part of a dedicated Allied force tasked with freeing Europe. VE Day finally signalled the end of hostilities on the 8th May 1945. During those bitter months many great air battles were fought in the unforgiving skies and individual combats ensued. One such combat is depicted here, displaying the eerie feeling of the victor and vanquished between two of the greatest aircraft ever built. Never before in the history of war had such an impressive and awesome gathering of aircraft come together. The Allies quest was for freedom, with the Luftwaffe fighting for its very existence - the battle lines were drawn. |
Primary Target by Philip West. In 1943, the RAF's 617 Squadron set out to destroy three dams in Germany's Ruhr valley. They managed to breach two, giving a boost to Britain's war effort. On 16th May 1943, 19 aircraft set out to destroy the Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams in Germany's industrial heartland. They used specially-designed drum-shaped bouncing bombs which skimmed across the water, rolled down the dam wall and exploded at depth. Only 11 of the aircraft returned from the perilous low-level mission in which they flew at just 150ft all the way from England before descending for the bombing run to defeat the German radar. It resulted in the largest awarding of medals at any one time during the war. The bouncing bombs were the brainchild of legendary aviation engineer Sir Barnes Wallis, who was knighted in 1968. Primary Target depicts the final seconds on 17th May 1943 as the bouncing bomb of Flight Lt. Maltby's Lancaster Squadron breached the giant Mohne dam. |
Channel Dash Heroes by Philip West. The Straits of Dover, 12th February 1942. Sub Lieutenant Edgar Lee helps his badly wounded pilot, Sub Lieutenant Brian Rose from the cockpit of their downed Swordfish, before it sinks into the depths of the English Channel following their brave attack on the mighty German fleet. Six Royal Navy Swordfish aircraft manned by 18 aircrew attacked the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, with their accompanying flotilla of destroyers and motor torpedo boats and top cover provided by deadly fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe. But only five Swordfish crew survived. |
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. |
Spitfires - High Patrol by Philip West. A gathering section of 124 Squadron Spitfires led by Peter Ayerst climbs for height above the bomber stream and a lone Mosquito. This squadron plus many others was tasked with protecting the bombers over occupied Europe. For these long range missions the Spitfires carry 90 Gallon Slipper Tanks to extend the relatively short endurance of the aircraft. In combat with enemy fighters they would jettison the tanks. However, following a shortage, they were encouraged to bring them back if they possibly could. |
Operation Cerberus - The Channel Dash by Philip West. The Channel Dash (officially known as Operation Cerberus) was one of three operations during the Second World War for which the Swordfish was to become the most famous. Heavily outgunned in the Straits of Dover on this day in February 1942 by the German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen, with their accompanying flotilla of destroyers and motor torpedo boats, and with top cover provided by deadly fighter aircraft of the Luftwaffe, all six Fleet Air Arm Swordfish were shot down. Only five of the eighteen aircrew survived. Here we see the Swordfish flown by Sub. Lt. Kingsmill and Sub. Lt. Samples with PO Bunce in the rear, fighting for their lives with his machine gun. |
Spitfire Scramble by Philip West. Flt. Lt. Geoff Wellum leads this flight of Spitfires from 92 Squadron in a scramble to take on the might of the German Luftwaffe during the height of the Battle of Britain. No 92 Squadron was first formed on the 1st September 1917 at London Colney and was disbanded on 7th August 1919. Following the outbreak of the Second World War 92 Squadron reformed on 10th October 1939 at RAF Tangmere and first saw action over the Dunkirk evacuation beaches. The Squadron was the first into action on September 15, 1940, now known as Battle of Britain Day. Towards the end of the Battle of Britain 92 Squadron flew from Biggin Hill. By the end of 1940 the Squadron tally stood at 127 German aircraft destroyed. |
Supermarine Spitfire MkI by Philip West. High over the southern coast of England in 1940 a Spitfire (Mk 1) of 609 Squadron from Middle Wallop, flown by Flying Officer John Dundas, lies in wait for enemy aircraft (Junkers 87 divebombers) on their way to attack British naval installations at Portland. |
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