
| Spitfires Over Darwin by Robert Taylor.
Mark Vc tropicalized Spitfires of No 1 wing RAAF returning from a Scramble over the city of Darwin in early 1943. The bombing of Darwin by Japanese aircraft shortly before 10:00 am on the morning of February 19, 1942, brought the northern region of Australia directly into the war in the South Pacific. The surprise attack caught the Royal Australian Air Force with only a handful of Wirraway trainers and a squadron of Hudson twin-engine bombers to defend the Northern Territories, and a Japanese invasion looked a possibility. Fortunately the USAAF 49th Group were transiting through Darwin at the time, en route to Java and, flying their P-40E fighters, they were able to hold the line until 77 Squadron Kittyhawks arrived to defend the Top End in the latter part of 1942. At the time Australias only Spitfire squadrons were operating successfully in Europe as part of RAFs 11 Group, but Churchill, recognizing the Japanese threat to Australia, dispatched three Spitfire squadrons to Darwin in th.........
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| | Item Code : DHM2683 | Spitfires Over Darwin by Robert Taylor. - Editions Available | |
| | DESCRIPTION | SIZE | SIGNATURES | OFFERS | PRICE | PURCHASING | PACKS | | Flight Commnders edition of 400 prints. | Paper size 25 inches x 19 inches (64cm x 48cm) | Henshaw, Alex | | Chief Test Pilot Alex Henshaw (deceased) |
| Alex Henshaw perhaps understands the Spitfire better than any other pilot - for he was Vickers Chief Test Pilot on Spitfires at the new Spitfire factory at Castle Bromwich during World War II. By the end of the war he had personally test flown a total of 2360 different Spitfires and Seafires - more than ten per cent of the entire production. It is often stated that those lucky enough to have seen Alex handle the Spitfire in flight, that it is an experience that can never be forgotten, he was a |
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 Foster, Bob | | Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC (deceased) |
| Wing Commander Bob Foster, who has died aged 94, flew Hurricane fighters during the Battle of Britain, when he was credited with destroying and damaging a number of enemy aircraft; later in the war he destroyed at least five Japanese aircraft while flying from airfields in northern Australia. For much of the Battle of Britain, Foster was serving with No 605 Squadron in Scotland; but in September, 605 moved to Croydon to join the main action over the south-east of England. It was soon heavily en |
|
 Hall, Ted | | Flight Lieutenant Ted Hall |
| Flight Commander, 452 Squadron. Ted Hall joined the RAAF in 1940 and went to England where he was posted to 129 Squadron at Tangmere flying Spitfires. As Flight Commander he claimed his first victory on 24th July 1942. In the next month he destroyed two more and one shared. He returned to Australia, joining 452 Squadron in Darwin again as Flight Commander. In March 1943 he claimed two Japanese aircraft damaged and on 30th Jun destroyed a Zeke. |
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MacLean, Don | | Flight Lieutenant Don MacLean DFC MID |
| Flight Commander, 457 Squadron. In mid 1940 Don Maclean joined the RAAF, arriving in the UK in April 1941. Commissioned two months later he joined 457 Squadron, which, based at Redhill, became part of the Kenley Wing. By the time the squadron departed for Australia in July 1942, when he was made a Flight Commander, he had claimed 3 Fw190s destroyed. His tour of operations in Darwin began on 16th January 1943 and during the next 12 months his total score had risen to 4 destroyed, 3 probables |
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+ Artist : Robert Taylor | | SOLD OUT | NOT AVAILABLE | | | Commanding Officers Edition of 150 prints. | Paper size 25 inches x 19 inches (64cm x 48cm) | Cundy, W R | | Flight Lieutenant W R Cundy DFC DFM MID |
| Ron Cundy commenced flying with 135 Sqn before being posted to the Middle East with 260 Sqn flying Hurricanes and later Kittyhawks. Returning back to Australia he flew Spitfires in defence of Darwin with 452 Sqn RAAF. In North Africa he survived an encounter with Marseille, and ended the war with 5 confirmed victories. |
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Bisley, John | | Flight Lieutenant John Bisley |
| Fl Lt John Bisley DFC Royal Australian Air Force, fighter pilot joined the RAAF in 1940 and was posted to England where he joined 122 Sqn RAF. On 29 March 1942 he flew a Spitfire off HMS Eagle and landed at Malta as part of operation Picket II. On 5 April 1942 Plt Off John Bisley was flying one of three Mk VB Spitfires of 126 Sqn RAF who intercepted 100 German aircraft attacking Malta. He was then attacked by 12 Me109s from JG-53 who took it in turns to attack two at a time to try and shoot h |
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James, Ken | | A native of Victoria, Squadron Leader Ken James first served in the UK before going back to Australia in August 1944. He became CO of No.85 Squadron RAAF from September 1944 to March 1945, then No.790 Squadron RAAF in May 1945. Squadron Leader Ken James made the first Spitfire flight in Australia just before midday on the 25th August. He demonstrated the aircraft to an audience of assembled VIPs and film-camera men. After assembly the six aircraft were ferried up to RAAF Richmond, near Sydney, |
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MacDonald, Ron | | Squadron Leader Ron MacDonald |
|
Henshaw, Alex | | Chief Test Pilot Alex Henshaw (deceased) |
| Alex Henshaw perhaps understands the Spitfire better than any other pilot - for he was Vickers Chief Test Pilot on Spitfires at the new Spitfire factory at Castle Bromwich during World War II. By the end of the war he had personally test flown a total of 2360 different Spitfires and Seafires - more than ten per cent of the entire production. It is often stated that those lucky enough to have seen Alex handle the Spitfire in flight, that it is an experience that can never be forgotten, he was a |
|
 Foster, Bob | | Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC (deceased) |
| Wing Commander Bob Foster, who has died aged 94, flew Hurricane fighters during the Battle of Britain, when he was credited with destroying and damaging a number of enemy aircraft; later in the war he destroyed at least five Japanese aircraft while flying from airfields in northern Australia. For much of the Battle of Britain, Foster was serving with No 605 Squadron in Scotland; but in September, 605 moved to Croydon to join the main action over the south-east of England. It was soon heavily en |
|
 Hall, Ted | | Flight Lieutenant Ted Hall |
| Flight Commander, 452 Squadron. Ted Hall joined the RAAF in 1940 and went to England where he was posted to 129 Squadron at Tangmere flying Spitfires. As Flight Commander he claimed his first victory on 24th July 1942. In the next month he destroyed two more and one shared. He returned to Australia, joining 452 Squadron in Darwin again as Flight Commander. In March 1943 he claimed two Japanese aircraft damaged and on 30th Jun destroyed a Zeke. |
|
MacLean, Don | | Flight Lieutenant Don MacLean DFC MID |
| Flight Commander, 457 Squadron. In mid 1940 Don Maclean joined the RAAF, arriving in the UK in April 1941. Commissioned two months later he joined 457 Squadron, which, based at Redhill, became part of the Kenley Wing. By the time the squadron departed for Australia in July 1942, when he was made a Flight Commander, he had claimed 3 Fw190s destroyed. His tour of operations in Darwin began on 16th January 1943 and during the next 12 months his total score had risen to 4 destroyed, 3 probables |
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+ Artist : Robert Taylor | | SOLD OUT | NOT AVAILABLE | | | Guardian Top End Edition of 75 prints. | Paper size 25 inches x 19 inches (64cm x 48cm) | Cundy, W R | | Flight Lieutenant W R Cundy DFC DFM MID |
| Ron Cundy commenced flying with 135 Sqn before being posted to the Middle East with 260 Sqn flying Hurricanes and later Kittyhawks. Returning back to Australia he flew Spitfires in defence of Darwin with 452 Sqn RAAF. In North Africa he survived an encounter with Marseille, and ended the war with 5 confirmed victories. |
|
Bisley, John | | Flight Lieutenant John Bisley |
| Fl Lt John Bisley DFC Royal Australian Air Force, fighter pilot joined the RAAF in 1940 and was posted to England where he joined 122 Sqn RAF. On 29 March 1942 he flew a Spitfire off HMS Eagle and landed at Malta as part of operation Picket II. On 5 April 1942 Plt Off John Bisley was flying one of three Mk VB Spitfires of 126 Sqn RAF who intercepted 100 German aircraft attacking Malta. He was then attacked by 12 Me109s from JG-53 who took it in turns to attack two at a time to try and shoot h |
|
James, Ken | | A native of Victoria, Squadron Leader Ken James first served in the UK before going back to Australia in August 1944. He became CO of No.85 Squadron RAAF from September 1944 to March 1945, then No.790 Squadron RAAF in May 1945. Squadron Leader Ken James made the first Spitfire flight in Australia just before midday on the 25th August. He demonstrated the aircraft to an audience of assembled VIPs and film-camera men. After assembly the six aircraft were ferried up to RAAF Richmond, near Sydney, |
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MacDonald, Ron | | Squadron Leader Ron MacDonald |
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Gorton, John (companion print) | | Rt Hon Sir John Gorton (deceased) |
| Sir John Grey Gorton (9 September 1911 – 19 May 2002) was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia. He was elected Liberal Party leader after Harold Holt disappeared. |
|
 Henshaw, Alex | | Chief Test Pilot Alex Henshaw (deceased) |
| Alex Henshaw perhaps understands the Spitfire better than any other pilot - for he was Vickers Chief Test Pilot on Spitfires at the new Spitfire factory at Castle Bromwich during World War II. By the end of the war he had personally test flown a total of 2360 different Spitfires and Seafires - more than ten per cent of the entire production. It is often stated that those lucky enough to have seen Alex handle the Spitfire in flight, that it is an experience that can never be forgotten, he was a |
|
 Foster, Bob | | Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC (deceased) |
| Wing Commander Bob Foster, who has died aged 94, flew Hurricane fighters during the Battle of Britain, when he was credited with destroying and damaging a number of enemy aircraft; later in the war he destroyed at least five Japanese aircraft while flying from airfields in northern Australia. For much of the Battle of Britain, Foster was serving with No 605 Squadron in Scotland; but in September, 605 moved to Croydon to join the main action over the south-east of England. It was soon heavily en |
|
 Hall, Ted | | Flight Lieutenant Ted Hall |
| Flight Commander, 452 Squadron. Ted Hall joined the RAAF in 1940 and went to England where he was posted to 129 Squadron at Tangmere flying Spitfires. As Flight Commander he claimed his first victory on 24th July 1942. In the next month he destroyed two more and one shared. He returned to Australia, joining 452 Squadron in Darwin again as Flight Commander. In March 1943 he claimed two Japanese aircraft damaged and on 30th Jun destroyed a Zeke. |
|
MacLean, Don | | Flight Lieutenant Don MacLean DFC MID |
| Flight Commander, 457 Squadron. In mid 1940 Don Maclean joined the RAAF, arriving in the UK in April 1941. Commissioned two months later he joined 457 Squadron, which, based at Redhill, became part of the Kenley Wing. By the time the squadron departed for Australia in July 1942, when he was made a Flight Commander, he had claimed 3 Fw190s destroyed. His tour of operations in Darwin began on 16th January 1943 and during the next 12 months his total score had risen to 4 destroyed, 3 probables |
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+ Artist : Robert Taylor | | SOLD OUT | NOT AVAILABLE | |
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