STRIKE AND RETURN

Description

Winter in Northern Europe brings short days, long nights and, for the most part, appalling weather making navigation difficult and flying hazardous. Add snowstorms, gale force winds, freezing temperatures and rudimentary navigation aids, it seems a miracle the brave young men of RAF Bomber Command were able to continue at all. But continue they did.

Robert’s superb piece depicts Lancasters of 460 Squadron RAAF returning to their Lincolnshire base at RAF Binbrook following a daylight raid over Germany in the late winter of 1944. With the sun almost set, evening shadows lengthen on a magnificent winter landscape dusted with snow, as Lancaster J-Squared leads the mighty bombers as they descend in the fading light and the squadron motto rings true in the ears of the arriving crew – “Strike and Return“.

THE AIRCREW EDITION

Each print in this edition has been signed by the artist along with four famous veterans who served with Bomber Command during WWII:

Flying Officer BILL NORTH
Flight Lieutenant BOB KNIGHTS DSO DFC
Squadron Leader TONY IVESON DFC AE
Squadron Leader PAT CARDEN DFC AE

THE COLLECTORS EDITION

Each print in this exclusive NINE SIGNATURE edition is additionally personally autographed by by a further four highly-respected WWII Bomber Command aircrew. Every print is also issued with a matching-numbered companion print NIGHT ATTACK which is personally signed by recipient of the Victoria Cross; Bill Reid.

Flight Lieutenant FRED WATTS DFC
Wing Commander ERNEST RODLEY DSO DFC AFC AE
Squadron Leader LAWRENCE CURTIS DFC* AE
Group Captain DUDLEY BURNSIDE DSO OBE DFC*
Flight Lieutenant BILL REID VC (companion print)

THE VICTORIA CROSS EDITION

Just Fifty of these exclusive three-print sets were issued worldwide. With all the signatures of the Collectors Edition, the main print is also signed by a further four prominent Lancaster Aircrew, and is issued with the matching-numbered companion print ‘Night Attack‘. Also included is the matching-numbered pencil print, ‘Last Lancaster Home‘, which is beautifully matted to include the original signatures of four recipients of the Victoria Cross – Britain’s highest award for valor:

Group Captain JAMES “WILLIE” TAIT DSO*** DFC* ADC
Flight Lieutenant JAMES CASTAGNOLA DSO DFC
Warrant Officer MARTIN “BEN” BRENNAN DFM AFM
Warrant Officer BILL WILCOX DFM
Group Captain LEONARD TRENT VC DFC ADC (Matted)
Wing Commander RODERICK LEAROYD VC (Matted)
Warrant Officer NORMAN JACKSON VC (Matted)
Group Captain LEONARD CHESHIRE VC OM DSO** DFC* (Matted)

THE RAAF AIRCREW EDITION

Every print in this exclusive edition is signed by SIX Royal Australian Air Force pilots and aircrew who flew with RAF Bomber Command during their tours in England with 460 Squadron RAAF, 1941-1945.

Flight Lieutenant W. “JERRY” BATEMAN
Flying Officer HILARY BAYLISS DFC
Flight Lieutenant PHILLIP COFFEY DFC DFM
Flight Lieutenant JOHN GARDNER DFC
Flight Lieutenant GORDON GOODWIN DSO DFM
Flying Officer LAWRENCE WOODS DFC

THE RAAF COMMANDER’S EDITION

In addition to the six signatures of the RAAF Aircrew Edition, the main print is signed by a further Five distinguished Pilots of 460 Sqn RAAF.

Wing Commander KENNETH BAIRD DFC
Squadron Leader CLARENCE GARDNER DFC & BAR
Wing Commander PETER ISAACSON AM DFC AFC DFM
Squadron Leader FRANK LAWRENCE DFC DFM
Air Commodore KEITH PARSONS CBE DSO DFC AFC

This edition is also issued with a matching numbered print of Robert Taylor’s drawing RETURN OF GEORGE, signed by a further Ten RAAF Aircrew, making a total of 21 signatures.

Flight Lieutenant EDWARD ANDERSON
Flying Officer LEO ARMSTRONG
Flight Lieutenant HARRY BRITTON DFC
Flying Officer HAROLD “CHERRY” CARTER DFC
Flight Lieutenant JOHN CRITCHLEY DFC
Flight Lieutenant DAVID “DON” CRUDEN DFC
Flight Lieutenant JOHN GRAHAME
Flying Officer WILLIAM MITCHELL DFC DFM
Flight Lieutenant CLAREMONT TAYLOR DFC
Flight Lieutenant MERVYN “BILL” TURLAND DFC

This rare edition was released exclusively to Collectors in Australia and is very seldom seen these days, making it a perfect acquisition for collector’s of WWII Bomber Command subjects