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The Hard Way Home by Robert Taylor.
The Battle of Britain had been won by the young fighter pilots of Fighter Command, but now it fell to another band of young men to wage total warfare against the Nazi war machine - the aircrew of RAF Bomber Command. And like the fighter pilots of the Battle of Britain, the young men who flew with Bomber Command came not just from Britain, but from all over the Commonwealth, and from the countries of occupied mainland Europe. Every man was a volunteer, prepared to endure the deadly flak and prowling night fighters, to say nothing of the savage and bitter cold, in order to wage their relentless attack on the military and industrial targets of the Third Reich. The aircraft that carried these young men to war were numerous, but bearing the brunt of the RAFs incessant campaign were two heavy bombers, the stalwarts of Bomber Command - the Lancaster and the Halifax. Between them they accounted for over three quarters of all the bombs dropped by the RAF, and Halifaxes alone accounted for a.........
More Text... |
| | Item Code : DHM1987 | The Hard Way Home by Robert Taylor. - Editions Available | |
| | DESCRIPTION | SIZE | SIGNATURES | OFFERS | PRICE | PURCHASING | PACKS | | Signed limited edition of 400 prints. | Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) |
Irons, Harry | | Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC (deceased) |
| Joining the RAF at the age of 16 in 1940, he did 2 full tours as a Rear Gunner with 9 Squadron and took part in nearly all the famous raids of Bomber Command. He finished in 1945 at 158 Squadron flying Halifaxes. 'I had just turned 18 when we went on a gunnery school course. After that six-week training, we usually went for a further three months training to an Operational Training Unit. It so happened that 9 Squadron had just converted from Wellingtons to Lancasters and they were 14 air gu |
|
Godfrey, Laurie | | Warrant Officer Laurie Godfrey |
| As a WOP/Air Gunner he joining 408 Sqn, only the second RCAF squadron formed overseas, serving on first Halifaxes and Lancasters completing 32 operations. |
|
Carter, Eric | | Warrant Officer Eric Carter (deceased) |
| At the age of 19 Eric joined the RAF in 1939, Initially posted to 615 Squadron in 1940 flying Hurricanes and stationed at Valley in North Wales, with air duties of defending Liverpool and Manchester, and also escorting ships from Liverpool down to South Wales., during the late stages of the Battle of Britain and due to the shortage of Pilots Eric would fly Defiants with 456 Squadron which was a night-fighter squadron so sometimes he would Hurricanes with his squadron during the day and due to |
|
Nawarski, Stanislaw | | Lt Stanislaw Nawarski DFC KM (deceased) |
| Polish pilot Stanislaw Nawwarski flew with the French Air Force, but escaped to England after the fall of France in 1940 and joined the RAF. Just prior to the Battle of Britain he was injured after being shot down whilst ferrying an unarmed Hurricane. In 1941, back in action, he was posted to 302 Polish Squadron flying Spitfires. He flew Spitfires om D-Day and throughout the subsequent Allied advance through Normandy, scoring four victories, all Me109s. He died on 8th January 2017. |
|
+ Artist : Robert Taylor | £65 Off! | Now : £210.00 | | | Collectors edition of 25 artist proofs.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item! | Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) |
Irons, Harry | | Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC (deceased) |
| Joining the RAF at the age of 16 in 1940, he did 2 full tours as a Rear Gunner with 9 Squadron and took part in nearly all the famous raids of Bomber Command. He finished in 1945 at 158 Squadron flying Halifaxes. 'I had just turned 18 when we went on a gunnery school course. After that six-week training, we usually went for a further three months training to an Operational Training Unit. It so happened that 9 Squadron had just converted from Wellingtons to Lancasters and they were 14 air gu |
|
Godfrey, Laurie | | Warrant Officer Laurie Godfrey |
| As a WOP/Air Gunner he joining 408 Sqn, only the second RCAF squadron formed overseas, serving on first Halifaxes and Lancasters completing 32 operations. |
|
Carter, Eric | | Warrant Officer Eric Carter (deceased) |
| At the age of 19 Eric joined the RAF in 1939, Initially posted to 615 Squadron in 1940 flying Hurricanes and stationed at Valley in North Wales, with air duties of defending Liverpool and Manchester, and also escorting ships from Liverpool down to South Wales., during the late stages of the Battle of Britain and due to the shortage of Pilots Eric would fly Defiants with 456 Squadron which was a night-fighter squadron so sometimes he would Hurricanes with his squadron during the day and due to |
|
Nawarski, Stanislaw | | Lt Stanislaw Nawarski DFC KM (deceased) |
| Polish pilot Stanislaw Nawwarski flew with the French Air Force, but escaped to England after the fall of France in 1940 and joined the RAF. Just prior to the Battle of Britain he was injured after being shot down whilst ferrying an unarmed Hurricane. In 1941, back in action, he was posted to 302 Polish Squadron flying Spitfires. He flew Spitfires om D-Day and throughout the subsequent Allied advance through Normandy, scoring four victories, all Me109s. He died on 8th January 2017. |
|
Sayer, Tom | | Flying Officer Tom Sayer DFM |
| Tom was originally part of the RAFVR and was first posted to 10 Squadron as a pilot on Whitleys. He then transferred to fly Halifaxes with 102 Squadron at RAF Driffield and flew operationally from May to October 1943. He completed 35 operations in total. After a rest period he went to train new aircrew flying Stirlings who were involved in the towing of gliders for airborne operations during 1944 - 45. |
|
Williamson, Frank | | Sqd Ldr Frank Williamson AFC |
| Was at 10 Sqn and 102 Sqn at the same time as Tom Sawyer, he flew Whiltleys and Halifaxes and he completed 26 Operations. |
|
Mottershead, Bluey | | Flt Lt Bluey Mottershead DFC |
| Completed a full tour of Operations in 1943 flying Halifaxes for 158 Sqn at Lissett. |
|
Morrison, John | | Warrant Officer John Morrison (deceased) |
| With 35 Sqn he flew as a WOP/Air Gunner on Halifaxes taking part in 24 'Ops' but was shot down on the attack on the Tirpitz in April 1942. After being captured he spent the rest of the War as a PoW in several camps including Stalag Luft III. We have learned that John Morrison has now sadly passed away. |
|
Walker, Frank | | Flying Officer Frank Walker |
| Frank Walker joined the RAF in 1943, and did his original training in Glasgow. He was posted to 466 Squadron which was formed at RAF Driffield in Yorkshire on 10th October 1942, and changed over from Wellingtons to Halifaxes in September 1943. As a Rear Gunner on Halifaxes, Frank completed 36 operations before the end of the war. |
|
MacNamara, Len | | A Rear Gunner with 10 Squadron at Melbourne, before being transferred to 158 Squadron at Lissett. He completed 36 Operations, then after a spell at OTU, completed 10 more Operations with 75 New Zealand Squadron. |
|
Maltas, Fred | | Warrant Officer Fred Maltas |
| Fred joined the RAF as a Flight Engineer and was originally sent to 51 Squadron at RAF Snaith on Halifaxes. He then joined 35 Squadron as they undertook their Pathfinder duties. On his 2nd operation to Krefeld on 21st June 1943 his Halifax HR799 was shot down, and Fred ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft VI. |
|
Gough, Harry | | Warrant Officer Harry Gough |
| Harry joined the RAF in 1943 as a Rear Gunner in 10 Squadron affectionately known as Shiny 10 at RAF Melbourne, part of 4 Group. At the beginning of the war they were equipped with Whitleys, upgrading to the Halifax in December 1941. On 8th July 1940, they moved to RAF Leeming, Yorkshire and again on 19th August 1942 to RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire. Harry completed 33 operations. |
|
Evans, John | | Flying Officer John Evans |
| John joined the RAF in late 1942. He qualified as a pilot and was posted to 158 Squadron at RAF Lissett. His 12th operation on 12th May 1944 was to Hasselt, where his Halifax was shot down by a night fighter. He evaded capture with the help of the Resistance in the Freteval Forest, and got back to England in September 1944. |
|
Thompson, Sam | | Warrant Officer Sam Thompson |
| As a Mid Upper Gunner he was posted to 103 Sqn on Halifaxes before transferring to 9 Sqn where he completed 3 raids on the Tirpitz and also Berchtesgaden, completing 50 Ops in total. |
|
Holiday, Matt | | Matt joined the RAF in March 1939 and was originally posted to 10 Squadron and later to 77 Squadron. He completed 52 operations as a Mid Upper Gunner on Halifaxes. On a raid to Dusseldorf they were attacked by fighters and broke away from the bomber stream, but after evasive action they followed on later and bombed Dusseldorf on their own, resulting in the whole crew receiving instant awards. |
|
Bell, William | | Warrant Officer William Bell |
| Bill joined the RAF in 1941 and was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds as a Navigator on Halifaxes. He was later transferred to 166 Squadron, and was on his 20th operation, flying to Berlin in November 1943 when he was shot down and ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft IVb. He escaped on three separate occasions but was recaptured every time - the war finished just before his fourth attempt! |
|
Taussig, Kurt | | Flying Officer Kurt Taussig (deceased) |
| Czech Kurt was sent, age 15, by his parents on the Kindertrnsport to England from Czechoslovakia in June 1939 to escape the Nazi persecution of the Jews. Determined to fight the Germans he joined the RAF at eighteen in late 1942, and after training was posted to the Middle East to join 225 Squadron flying Spitfires on photo-reconnaissance duties in Tunisia, the Sicily landings, and in Italy. He died on 19th September 2019. |
|
Elkington, John | | Wing Commander John Elkington (deceased) |
| John (Tim) Elkington was born in 1920 and joined the RAF in September 1939. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in July 1940 he was immediately posted to join 1 Squadron flying Hurricanes atTangmere. On 15 August he shot down an Me109 over the Channel, but the following day he was himself shot down over Thorney Island. He baled out injured and was admitted to hospital, his Hurricane crashing at Chidham. He died on 1st February 2019. |
|
Neil, Tom | | Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC (deceased) |
| Tom Neil was born on 14th July 1920 in Bootle, Lancashire. Tom Neil (also to become known in the RAF as 'Ginger') joined the RAFVR in October 1938 and began his flying training at 17 E and RFTS, Barton, Manchester. Tom Neil was called up on the 2nd os September 1939 being sent to 4 ITW, Bexhill in early November. On 1st December 1939, he was posted to 8 FTS and on completion of the course he was commissioned and posted to 249 Squadron in May 1940 flying Hurricanes just before the star |
|
Ryll, Stefan | | Pilot Officer Stefan Ryll |
| Stefan Ryll went into operations with 306 Squadron flying both Hurricanes and Spitfires, and took part in the last raid of the war flying a P-51 Mustang on escort for the bombers flying to Berchtesgaden. |
|
Cleaver, Reg | | Warrant Officer Reg Cleaver (deceased) |
| Served with 419 (Moose) Squadron RCAF. Reg Cleaver was a Flight Engineer and Co-pilot on Halifaxes until On his 17th operation on 24 June 1943, on a raid to Wuppertal, his aircraft was shot down by German Fw190 nightfighters. After initially evading capture he was eventually captured in Holland where he was beaten by the Gestapo and taken as a PoW to Stalag Luft 6 until the end of the war. He died aged 89 when his car hit a tree in Brandon, he was given a funeral with full military honours a |
|
+ Artist : Robert Taylor | £65 Off! | Now : £395.00 | | | | RCAF edition of 25 artist proofs. | Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) |
Edwards, J F Stocky | | Wing Commander J F Stocky Edwards DFC* DFM (deceased) |
| Stocky Edwards became a P40 Ace with 260 Sqn. 94 Sqn RAF, Flight Commander 260 Sqn RAF, 417 Sqn RCAF, Flight Commander 92 Sqn RAF, Squadron Commander 274 Sqn RAF, Wing Leader 127 Wing RCAF. His victory total was 15 with 3 shared. He died on 14th May 2022. |
|
Warren, Douglas | | Lt Col Douglas Duke Warren DFC CD (deceased) |
| Douglas Duke Warren was Born in Nanton, Alta., in 1922, along with his twin brother Bruce joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) at the age of 18. After advanced training, the Warren twins flew two tours of operations with Royal Air Force Spitfire squadrons. After joining 403 Squadron, Duke Warren flew as part of 165 Squadron in the air battles over Dieppe. He fought over Falaise, and also served with 66 Sqn and 11 Group at Biggin Hill. In 1945, they were both awarded Distinguished Flyi |
|
Bowles, Edward | | Flying Officer Edward Bowles |
| Joining 429 Squadron RCAF based at East Moor in Yorkshire in late 1942, Edward Bowles was a Bombardier on Halifaxes. He flew 33 combat missions, his aircraft shooting down two Me109s on one mission. |
|
Cleaver, Reg | | Warrant Officer Reg Cleaver (deceased) |
| Served with 419 (Moose) Squadron RCAF. Reg Cleaver was a Flight Engineer and Co-pilot on Halifaxes until On his 17th operation on 24 June 1943, on a raid to Wuppertal, his aircraft was shot down by German Fw190 nightfighters. After initially evading capture he was eventually captured in Holland where he was beaten by the Gestapo and taken as a PoW to Stalag Luft 6 until the end of the war. He died aged 89 when his car hit a tree in Brandon, he was given a funeral with full military honours a |
|
Curnock, Richard | | Warrant Officer Richard Curnock |
| Richard Curnock was posted to 425 Squadron RCAF where he served as a Rear Gunner. He was only on his second operation on 25th February 1944 to Augsburg when his aircraft was shot down and he ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft VI until the end of the war. |
|
Hewitt, Ian | | Squadron Leader Ian Hewitt DFC* |
| Ian was originally a Navigator on Whitleys with 58 Squadron, before joining 35 Squadron. Shot down attacking the Tirpitz in Halifax S for Sugar, he managed to crash land and escape into Sweden. Through a successful PoW exchange Ian was flown back to England in a Mosquito and went back to operations with 405 Squadron RCAF. |
|
Oakeby, Henry | | Posted to 432 Sqn RCAF, Henry Oakeby served as a Navigator. |
|
+ Artist : Robert Taylor | | SOLD
OUT | NOT
AVAILABLE | | Collectors limited edition of 250 prints.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item! | Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) |
Irons, Harry | | Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC (deceased) |
| Joining the RAF at the age of 16 in 1940, he did 2 full tours as a Rear Gunner with 9 Squadron and took part in nearly all the famous raids of Bomber Command. He finished in 1945 at 158 Squadron flying Halifaxes. 'I had just turned 18 when we went on a gunnery school course. After that six-week training, we usually went for a further three months training to an Operational Training Unit. It so happened that 9 Squadron had just converted from Wellingtons to Lancasters and they were 14 air gu |
|
Godfrey, Laurie | | Warrant Officer Laurie Godfrey |
| As a WOP/Air Gunner he joining 408 Sqn, only the second RCAF squadron formed overseas, serving on first Halifaxes and Lancasters completing 32 operations. |
|
Carter, Eric | | Warrant Officer Eric Carter (deceased) |
| At the age of 19 Eric joined the RAF in 1939, Initially posted to 615 Squadron in 1940 flying Hurricanes and stationed at Valley in North Wales, with air duties of defending Liverpool and Manchester, and also escorting ships from Liverpool down to South Wales., during the late stages of the Battle of Britain and due to the shortage of Pilots Eric would fly Defiants with 456 Squadron which was a night-fighter squadron so sometimes he would Hurricanes with his squadron during the day and due to |
|
Nawarski, Stanislaw | | Lt Stanislaw Nawarski DFC KM (deceased) |
| Polish pilot Stanislaw Nawwarski flew with the French Air Force, but escaped to England after the fall of France in 1940 and joined the RAF. Just prior to the Battle of Britain he was injured after being shot down whilst ferrying an unarmed Hurricane. In 1941, back in action, he was posted to 302 Polish Squadron flying Spitfires. He flew Spitfires om D-Day and throughout the subsequent Allied advance through Normandy, scoring four victories, all Me109s. He died on 8th January 2017. |
|
Sayer, Tom | | Flying Officer Tom Sayer DFM |
| Tom was originally part of the RAFVR and was first posted to 10 Squadron as a pilot on Whitleys. He then transferred to fly Halifaxes with 102 Squadron at RAF Driffield and flew operationally from May to October 1943. He completed 35 operations in total. After a rest period he went to train new aircrew flying Stirlings who were involved in the towing of gliders for airborne operations during 1944 - 45. |
|
Williamson, Frank | | Sqd Ldr Frank Williamson AFC |
| Was at 10 Sqn and 102 Sqn at the same time as Tom Sawyer, he flew Whiltleys and Halifaxes and he completed 26 Operations. |
|
Mottershead, Bluey | | Flt Lt Bluey Mottershead DFC |
| Completed a full tour of Operations in 1943 flying Halifaxes for 158 Sqn at Lissett. |
|
Morrison, John | | Warrant Officer John Morrison (deceased) |
| With 35 Sqn he flew as a WOP/Air Gunner on Halifaxes taking part in 24 'Ops' but was shot down on the attack on the Tirpitz in April 1942. After being captured he spent the rest of the War as a PoW in several camps including Stalag Luft III. We have learned that John Morrison has now sadly passed away. |
|
Walker, Frank | | Flying Officer Frank Walker |
| Frank Walker joined the RAF in 1943, and did his original training in Glasgow. He was posted to 466 Squadron which was formed at RAF Driffield in Yorkshire on 10th October 1942, and changed over from Wellingtons to Halifaxes in September 1943. As a Rear Gunner on Halifaxes, Frank completed 36 operations before the end of the war. |
|
MacNamara, Len | | A Rear Gunner with 10 Squadron at Melbourne, before being transferred to 158 Squadron at Lissett. He completed 36 Operations, then after a spell at OTU, completed 10 more Operations with 75 New Zealand Squadron. |
|
Maltas, Fred | | Warrant Officer Fred Maltas |
| Fred joined the RAF as a Flight Engineer and was originally sent to 51 Squadron at RAF Snaith on Halifaxes. He then joined 35 Squadron as they undertook their Pathfinder duties. On his 2nd operation to Krefeld on 21st June 1943 his Halifax HR799 was shot down, and Fred ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft VI. |
|
Gough, Harry | | Warrant Officer Harry Gough |
| Harry joined the RAF in 1943 as a Rear Gunner in 10 Squadron affectionately known as Shiny 10 at RAF Melbourne, part of 4 Group. At the beginning of the war they were equipped with Whitleys, upgrading to the Halifax in December 1941. On 8th July 1940, they moved to RAF Leeming, Yorkshire and again on 19th August 1942 to RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire. Harry completed 33 operations. |
|
Evans, John | | Flying Officer John Evans |
| John joined the RAF in late 1942. He qualified as a pilot and was posted to 158 Squadron at RAF Lissett. His 12th operation on 12th May 1944 was to Hasselt, where his Halifax was shot down by a night fighter. He evaded capture with the help of the Resistance in the Freteval Forest, and got back to England in September 1944. |
|
Thompson, Sam | | Warrant Officer Sam Thompson |
| As a Mid Upper Gunner he was posted to 103 Sqn on Halifaxes before transferring to 9 Sqn where he completed 3 raids on the Tirpitz and also Berchtesgaden, completing 50 Ops in total. |
|
Holiday, Matt | | Matt joined the RAF in March 1939 and was originally posted to 10 Squadron and later to 77 Squadron. He completed 52 operations as a Mid Upper Gunner on Halifaxes. On a raid to Dusseldorf they were attacked by fighters and broke away from the bomber stream, but after evasive action they followed on later and bombed Dusseldorf on their own, resulting in the whole crew receiving instant awards. |
|
Bell, William | | Warrant Officer William Bell |
| Bill joined the RAF in 1941 and was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds as a Navigator on Halifaxes. He was later transferred to 166 Squadron, and was on his 20th operation, flying to Berlin in November 1943 when he was shot down and ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft IVb. He escaped on three separate occasions but was recaptured every time - the war finished just before his fourth attempt! |
|
Taussig, Kurt | | Flying Officer Kurt Taussig (deceased) |
| Czech Kurt was sent, age 15, by his parents on the Kindertrnsport to England from Czechoslovakia in June 1939 to escape the Nazi persecution of the Jews. Determined to fight the Germans he joined the RAF at eighteen in late 1942, and after training was posted to the Middle East to join 225 Squadron flying Spitfires on photo-reconnaissance duties in Tunisia, the Sicily landings, and in Italy. He died on 19th September 2019. |
|
Elkington, John | | Wing Commander John Elkington (deceased) |
| John (Tim) Elkington was born in 1920 and joined the RAF in September 1939. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in July 1940 he was immediately posted to join 1 Squadron flying Hurricanes atTangmere. On 15 August he shot down an Me109 over the Channel, but the following day he was himself shot down over Thorney Island. He baled out injured and was admitted to hospital, his Hurricane crashing at Chidham. He died on 1st February 2019. |
|
Neil, Tom | | Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC (deceased) |
| Tom Neil was born on 14th July 1920 in Bootle, Lancashire. Tom Neil (also to become known in the RAF as 'Ginger') joined the RAFVR in October 1938 and began his flying training at 17 E and RFTS, Barton, Manchester. Tom Neil was called up on the 2nd os September 1939 being sent to 4 ITW, Bexhill in early November. On 1st December 1939, he was posted to 8 FTS and on completion of the course he was commissioned and posted to 249 Squadron in May 1940 flying Hurricanes just before the star |
|
Ryll, Stefan | | Pilot Officer Stefan Ryll |
| Stefan Ryll went into operations with 306 Squadron flying both Hurricanes and Spitfires, and took part in the last raid of the war flying a P-51 Mustang on escort for the bombers flying to Berchtesgaden. |
|
Cleaver, Reg | | Warrant Officer Reg Cleaver (deceased) |
| Served with 419 (Moose) Squadron RCAF. Reg Cleaver was a Flight Engineer and Co-pilot on Halifaxes until On his 17th operation on 24 June 1943, on a raid to Wuppertal, his aircraft was shot down by German Fw190 nightfighters. After initially evading capture he was eventually captured in Holland where he was beaten by the Gestapo and taken as a PoW to Stalag Luft 6 until the end of the war. He died aged 89 when his car hit a tree in Brandon, he was given a funeral with full military honours a |
|
+ Artist : Robert Taylor | £65 Off! | Now : £325.00 | | | | RCAF limited edition of 250 prints. | Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) |
Edwards, J F Stocky | | Wing Commander J F Stocky Edwards DFC* DFM (deceased) |
| Stocky Edwards became a P40 Ace with 260 Sqn. 94 Sqn RAF, Flight Commander 260 Sqn RAF, 417 Sqn RCAF, Flight Commander 92 Sqn RAF, Squadron Commander 274 Sqn RAF, Wing Leader 127 Wing RCAF. His victory total was 15 with 3 shared. He died on 14th May 2022. |
|
Warren, Douglas | | Lt Col Douglas Duke Warren DFC CD (deceased) |
| Douglas Duke Warren was Born in Nanton, Alta., in 1922, along with his twin brother Bruce joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) at the age of 18. After advanced training, the Warren twins flew two tours of operations with Royal Air Force Spitfire squadrons. After joining 403 Squadron, Duke Warren flew as part of 165 Squadron in the air battles over Dieppe. He fought over Falaise, and also served with 66 Sqn and 11 Group at Biggin Hill. In 1945, they were both awarded Distinguished Flyi |
|
Bowles, Edward | | Flying Officer Edward Bowles |
| Joining 429 Squadron RCAF based at East Moor in Yorkshire in late 1942, Edward Bowles was a Bombardier on Halifaxes. He flew 33 combat missions, his aircraft shooting down two Me109s on one mission. |
|
Cleaver, Reg | | Warrant Officer Reg Cleaver (deceased) |
| Served with 419 (Moose) Squadron RCAF. Reg Cleaver was a Flight Engineer and Co-pilot on Halifaxes until On his 17th operation on 24 June 1943, on a raid to Wuppertal, his aircraft was shot down by German Fw190 nightfighters. After initially evading capture he was eventually captured in Holland where he was beaten by the Gestapo and taken as a PoW to Stalag Luft 6 until the end of the war. He died aged 89 when his car hit a tree in Brandon, he was given a funeral with full military honours a |
|
Curnock, Richard | | Warrant Officer Richard Curnock |
| Richard Curnock was posted to 425 Squadron RCAF where he served as a Rear Gunner. He was only on his second operation on 25th February 1944 to Augsburg when his aircraft was shot down and he ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft VI until the end of the war. |
|
Hewitt, Ian | | Squadron Leader Ian Hewitt DFC* |
| Ian was originally a Navigator on Whitleys with 58 Squadron, before joining 35 Squadron. Shot down attacking the Tirpitz in Halifax S for Sugar, he managed to crash land and escape into Sweden. Through a successful PoW exchange Ian was flown back to England in a Mosquito and went back to operations with 405 Squadron RCAF. |
|
Oakeby, Henry | | Posted to 432 Sqn RCAF, Henry Oakeby served as a Navigator. |
|
+ Artist : Robert Taylor | | SOLD
OUT | NOT
AVAILABLE | | | Original pencil tribute edition of 10 proofs. | Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) |
Irons, Harry | | Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC (deceased) |
| Joining the RAF at the age of 16 in 1940, he did 2 full tours as a Rear Gunner with 9 Squadron and took part in nearly all the famous raids of Bomber Command. He finished in 1945 at 158 Squadron flying Halifaxes. 'I had just turned 18 when we went on a gunnery school course. After that six-week training, we usually went for a further three months training to an Operational Training Unit. It so happened that 9 Squadron had just converted from Wellingtons to Lancasters and they were 14 air gu |
|
Godfrey, Laurie | | Warrant Officer Laurie Godfrey |
| As a WOP/Air Gunner he joining 408 Sqn, only the second RCAF squadron formed overseas, serving on first Halifaxes and Lancasters completing 32 operations. |
|
Carter, Eric | | Warrant Officer Eric Carter (deceased) |
| At the age of 19 Eric joined the RAF in 1939, Initially posted to 615 Squadron in 1940 flying Hurricanes and stationed at Valley in North Wales, with air duties of defending Liverpool and Manchester, and also escorting ships from Liverpool down to South Wales., during the late stages of the Battle of Britain and due to the shortage of Pilots Eric would fly Defiants with 456 Squadron which was a night-fighter squadron so sometimes he would Hurricanes with his squadron during the day and due to |
|
Nawarski, Stanislaw | | Lt Stanislaw Nawarski DFC KM (deceased) |
| Polish pilot Stanislaw Nawwarski flew with the French Air Force, but escaped to England after the fall of France in 1940 and joined the RAF. Just prior to the Battle of Britain he was injured after being shot down whilst ferrying an unarmed Hurricane. In 1941, back in action, he was posted to 302 Polish Squadron flying Spitfires. He flew Spitfires om D-Day and throughout the subsequent Allied advance through Normandy, scoring four victories, all Me109s. He died on 8th January 2017. |
|
Sayer, Tom | | Flying Officer Tom Sayer DFM |
| Tom was originally part of the RAFVR and was first posted to 10 Squadron as a pilot on Whitleys. He then transferred to fly Halifaxes with 102 Squadron at RAF Driffield and flew operationally from May to October 1943. He completed 35 operations in total. After a rest period he went to train new aircrew flying Stirlings who were involved in the towing of gliders for airborne operations during 1944 - 45. |
|
Williamson, Frank | | Sqd Ldr Frank Williamson AFC |
| Was at 10 Sqn and 102 Sqn at the same time as Tom Sawyer, he flew Whiltleys and Halifaxes and he completed 26 Operations. |
|
Mottershead, Bluey | | Flt Lt Bluey Mottershead DFC |
| Completed a full tour of Operations in 1943 flying Halifaxes for 158 Sqn at Lissett. |
|
Morrison, John | | Warrant Officer John Morrison (deceased) |
| With 35 Sqn he flew as a WOP/Air Gunner on Halifaxes taking part in 24 'Ops' but was shot down on the attack on the Tirpitz in April 1942. After being captured he spent the rest of the War as a PoW in several camps including Stalag Luft III. We have learned that John Morrison has now sadly passed away. |
|
Walker, Frank | | Flying Officer Frank Walker |
| Frank Walker joined the RAF in 1943, and did his original training in Glasgow. He was posted to 466 Squadron which was formed at RAF Driffield in Yorkshire on 10th October 1942, and changed over from Wellingtons to Halifaxes in September 1943. As a Rear Gunner on Halifaxes, Frank completed 36 operations before the end of the war. |
|
MacNamara, Len | | A Rear Gunner with 10 Squadron at Melbourne, before being transferred to 158 Squadron at Lissett. He completed 36 Operations, then after a spell at OTU, completed 10 more Operations with 75 New Zealand Squadron. |
|
Maltas, Fred | | Warrant Officer Fred Maltas |
| Fred joined the RAF as a Flight Engineer and was originally sent to 51 Squadron at RAF Snaith on Halifaxes. He then joined 35 Squadron as they undertook their Pathfinder duties. On his 2nd operation to Krefeld on 21st June 1943 his Halifax HR799 was shot down, and Fred ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft VI. |
|
Gough, Harry | | Warrant Officer Harry Gough |
| Harry joined the RAF in 1943 as a Rear Gunner in 10 Squadron affectionately known as Shiny 10 at RAF Melbourne, part of 4 Group. At the beginning of the war they were equipped with Whitleys, upgrading to the Halifax in December 1941. On 8th July 1940, they moved to RAF Leeming, Yorkshire and again on 19th August 1942 to RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire. Harry completed 33 operations. |
|
Evans, John | | Flying Officer John Evans |
| John joined the RAF in late 1942. He qualified as a pilot and was posted to 158 Squadron at RAF Lissett. His 12th operation on 12th May 1944 was to Hasselt, where his Halifax was shot down by a night fighter. He evaded capture with the help of the Resistance in the Freteval Forest, and got back to England in September 1944. |
|
Thompson, Sam | | Warrant Officer Sam Thompson |
| As a Mid Upper Gunner he was posted to 103 Sqn on Halifaxes before transferring to 9 Sqn where he completed 3 raids on the Tirpitz and also Berchtesgaden, completing 50 Ops in total. |
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Holiday, Matt | | Matt joined the RAF in March 1939 and was originally posted to 10 Squadron and later to 77 Squadron. He completed 52 operations as a Mid Upper Gunner on Halifaxes. On a raid to Dusseldorf they were attacked by fighters and broke away from the bomber stream, but after evasive action they followed on later and bombed Dusseldorf on their own, resulting in the whole crew receiving instant awards. |
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Bell, William | | Warrant Officer William Bell |
| Bill joined the RAF in 1941 and was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds as a Navigator on Halifaxes. He was later transferred to 166 Squadron, and was on his 20th operation, flying to Berlin in November 1943 when he was shot down and ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft IVb. He escaped on three separate occasions but was recaptured every time - the war finished just before his fourth attempt! |
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Taussig, Kurt | | Flying Officer Kurt Taussig (deceased) |
| Czech Kurt was sent, age 15, by his parents on the Kindertrnsport to England from Czechoslovakia in June 1939 to escape the Nazi persecution of the Jews. Determined to fight the Germans he joined the RAF at eighteen in late 1942, and after training was posted to the Middle East to join 225 Squadron flying Spitfires on photo-reconnaissance duties in Tunisia, the Sicily landings, and in Italy. He died on 19th September 2019. |
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Elkington, John | | Wing Commander John Elkington (deceased) |
| John (Tim) Elkington was born in 1920 and joined the RAF in September 1939. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in July 1940 he was immediately posted to join 1 Squadron flying Hurricanes atTangmere. On 15 August he shot down an Me109 over the Channel, but the following day he was himself shot down over Thorney Island. He baled out injured and was admitted to hospital, his Hurricane crashing at Chidham. He died on 1st February 2019. |
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Neil, Tom | | Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC (deceased) |
| Tom Neil was born on 14th July 1920 in Bootle, Lancashire. Tom Neil (also to become known in the RAF as 'Ginger') joined the RAFVR in October 1938 and began his flying training at 17 E and RFTS, Barton, Manchester. Tom Neil was called up on the 2nd os September 1939 being sent to 4 ITW, Bexhill in early November. On 1st December 1939, he was posted to 8 FTS and on completion of the course he was commissioned and posted to 249 Squadron in May 1940 flying Hurricanes just before the star |
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Ryll, Stefan | | Pilot Officer Stefan Ryll |
| Stefan Ryll went into operations with 306 Squadron flying both Hurricanes and Spitfires, and took part in the last raid of the war flying a P-51 Mustang on escort for the bombers flying to Berchtesgaden. |
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Cleaver, Reg | | Warrant Officer Reg Cleaver (deceased) |
| Served with 419 (Moose) Squadron RCAF. Reg Cleaver was a Flight Engineer and Co-pilot on Halifaxes until On his 17th operation on 24 June 1943, on a raid to Wuppertal, his aircraft was shot down by German Fw190 nightfighters. After initially evading capture he was eventually captured in Holland where he was beaten by the Gestapo and taken as a PoW to Stalag Luft 6 until the end of the war. He died aged 89 when his car hit a tree in Brandon, he was given a funeral with full military honours a |
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Bressloff, Boris | | Flight Lieutenant Boris Bressloff DFC |
| Having completed his training as a Bomb Aimer he joined 635 Sqn serving with W.O. Ernie Patterson and W.O. Harry Parker on over 50 Ops in Lancasters with Pilot Alex Throne DSO DFC. |
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Briggs, Graham | | Warrant Officer Graham Briggs DFM |
| Weapons Operator, 58 and 103 Squadrons. |
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Clarke, Eric | | Weapons Operator, 49 Squadron. |
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Cox, George | | Flight Engineer, 214 Squadron. |
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Glendinning, Harry | | Sqn Ldr Harry Glendinning |
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Joss, Douglas | | A Rear Gunner posted to 626 Squadron at Wickenby on Lancasters where he completed a full tour during 1944. After the War in an attempt to keep Bomber Command veterans in touch with each other he was the founder member of the Wickenby Register. |
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Lasham, Bob | | Pilot, 9 and 97 Squadrons. |
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Leksinski, Rudolf | | Weapons Operator, 30 Squadron. |
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Levy, Harry | | Warrant Officer Harry Levy |
| Weapons Operator, 9 Squadron. |
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Manning, Reg | | Flight Engineer, 10, 51 and 76 Squadrons. |
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Petrie-Andrews, John | | Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM |
| John Petrie-Andrews joined the RAF in 1940. After training as a pilot, in January 1943 he was posted to join 102 (Ceylon) Squadron at Pocklington for his first tour, flying Halifaxes. In February 1943 he transferred to 158 Squadron, still on Halifaxes. John the joined 35 Squadron, one of the original squadrons forming the Pathfinder Force. Here he flew first Halifaxes before converting to Lancasters. John Petrie-Andrews completed a total of 70 operations on heavy bombers, including 60 with |
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Smith, Ron | | Air Gunner, 617 Squadron. |
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Thomas, Ken | | Originally joined the RAF as a mechanic, but went on to complete his pilots course. Ken completed 30 Operations flying Stirlings and Lancasters for 622 Sqn at Mildenhall. |
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Bennett, Donald (matted on companion print) | | Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett (deceased) |
| Born in Australia, Bennet had joined the RAF before the war. He became widely experienced in flying all types of aircraft including fighters, flying boats and heavy bombers commanding 77 squadron, flying Halifaxes. In 1942, whilst commanding 10 Squadron, he was shot down on one of the attacks on the Tirpitz, but evaded capture and returned to England. Widley regarded as a navigation expert beyond comparison, he was personally selected by Arthur Harris to form the Pathfinder Force and his unco |
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Cheshire, Leonard (matted on companion print) | | Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC OM DSO** DFC* (deceased) |
| One of the most courageous and determined bomber leaders of World War II, Leonard Cheshire flew four operational tours, starting in June 1940 with 102 Squadron on Whitley bombers at RAF Driffield. In November 1940, he was awarded the DSO for getting his badly damaged aircraft back to base. He completed his first tour in January 1941, but immediately volunteered for a second tour, this time flying Halifaxes with 35 Squadron. He became Squadron Leader in 1942, and was appointed commanding offic |
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Jackson, Norman (matted on companion print) | | Warrant Officer Norman Jackson VC (deceased) |
| Norman Jackson joined 106 Squadron as a flight engineer, and his 30th operational raid earned him the Victoria Cross. While climbing out of the target area over Schweinfurt, his Lancaster was hit by an enemy night-fighter and the inner starboard engine set on fire. Although injured by shrapnel he jettisoned the pilots escape hatch and climbed out on to the wing clutching a fire extinguisher, his parachute spilling out as he went. He succeeded in putting out the fire just as the night-fighter |
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Learoyd, Roderick (matted on companion print) | | Wing Commander Roderick Learoyd VC (deceased) |
| On the day that war was declared Rod Learoyd was on patrol flying Hampdens with 49 Sqn. Continually involved with low level bombing, on the night of 12th August 1940, he and four other aircraft attempted to breach the heavily defended Dortmund - Ems canal. Of the four other aircraft on the mission, two were destroyed and the other two were badly hit. Learoyd took his plane into the heavily defended target at only 150 feet, in full view of the searchlights, and with flak barrage all around. H |
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Reid, Bill (matted on companion print) | | Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid VC (deceased) |
| Volunteering for RAF aircrew in 1940, Bill Reid learned to fly in California, training on the Stearman, Vultee and Harvard. After gaining his pilots wings back in England he flew Wellingtons before moving on to Lancasters in 1943. On the night of Nov 3rd 1943, his Lancaster suffered two severe attacks from Luftwaffe night fighters, badly wounding Reid, killing his navigator and radio operator, and severely damaging the aircraft. Bill flew on 200 miles to accurately bomb the target and get his |
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