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Gauntlet by Anthony Saunders. - Cranston Military Prints

Gauntlet by Anthony Saunders.


Gauntlet by Anthony Saunders.

Portsmouth August 26th 1940, the lone spitfire of Squadron Leader Sandy Johnstone breaks the ranks and picks off one of the menacing Heinkels only to encounter an equally determined attack from a BF109.

We were brought to readiness in the middle of lunch and scrambled to intercept mixed bag of 100+ Heinkel IIIs and DO 17s approaching Portsmouth from the South. The controller did a first class job and positioned us one thousand feet above the target. with the sun behind us, allowing us to spot the raiders from a long way off. No escorting Messchersmitts were in sight at the time, although a sizable force was to turn up soon after. then something strange happened. I was about to give a ticking off to our chaps for misusing the R/T when I realised I was listening to German voices. It appeared we were both using the same frequency and, although having no knowledge of the language it sounded from the monotonous flow of the conversation that they were unaware of our presence. as soon as we dived towards the leading formation, however we were assailed immediately to loud shouts of Achtung Spitfuern Spitfuern! as our bullets began to take their toll. In spite of having taken jerry by surprise our bag was only six, with others claimed as damaged, before the remainder dived for cloud cover and turned for home. In the meantime the escorting fighters were amongst us when two of our fellows were badly shot up. Hector Maclean stopped a cannon shell on his cockpit, blowing his foot off above the ankle although, in spite of his grave injuries, he managed to fly his spitfire back to Tangmere to land with wheels retracted. Cyril Babbages aircraft was also badly damaged in the action. forcing him to abandon it and take to his parachute. He was ultimately picked up by a rescue launch and put ashore at Bognor, having suffered only minor injuries. I personally accounted for one Heinkel III in the action (Sandy Johnson) .

No. 602 City of Glasgow auxiliary squadron was a household name long before WWII began. It had been the first auxiliary squadron to get into the air in 1925, two of its members, Lord Clydeside and David McIntyre were the first to fly over Mount Everest in 1933: the squadron sweeped the board in gunnery and bombing in 1935, beating the regular squadrons at their own game. It was the first auxiliary Squadron to be equipped with Spitfire Fighters as far back as March 1939 and it was the first squadron to shoot down the first enemy aircraft on British soil. The squadron moved south from Drem airfield in East Lothian on August 14th 1940 to relieve the already battered no. 145 squadron at Westhampnett, Tangmeres satelitte station in Sussex. The squadron suffered 5 casualties during the battle. The squadron remained at Westhampnett until December 1940 to be replaced by no. 610 auxiliary airforce squadron. No 602 squadron itself remained active up until 1957 when it was put into mothballs.
Item Code : DHM0436YGauntlet by Anthony Saunders. - Editions Available
DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Signed limited edition of 950 prints.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item!
Image size 20 inches x 13 inches (51cm x 33cm)
Johnstone, Sandy

Died : 2000
Air Vice Marshal Sandy Johnstone CB DFC AE DL (deceased)
Early in 1938, Alexander Vallance Riddell Johnstone, known as Sandy, was a civilian navigation instructor at Scottish Aviation, moving later to the Civil Air Navigation School at Prestwick. In August 1939 he was called to full-time service with 602 Squadron. After some Spitfire engagements off the Scottish coast, he received command of 602 - he was still only 24 - and led it south to the tiny airfield at West Hampnett, in West Sussex, where it was stationed throughout the Battle of Britain. San
Signature Value : £60
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Mount, Micky

Died : 2002
Air Commodore Micky Mount CBE DSO DFC (deceased)
Flying Officer Christopher John (Micky) Mount joined NO.602 squadron on August 8th 1940 after a brief conversion course on Spitfires. On August 18th his Spitfire L1005 was severely damaged in combat with JU 87s and BF109s over Ford. Micky was unhurt. he again escaped injury when his Spitfire X4270 was damaged landing at Tangmere. he served in many of the theatres of WW2 and he flew Hurricanes in Malta and North Africa and Wellingtons in the Middle east. Micky retired and lived in Ascot in Berksh
Signature Value : £65
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
MacLean, Hector
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE

Died : 2007
Wing Commander Hector MacLean (deceased)
Hector was flying with No 602 squadron before war broke out. A gallant young man, his fighter pilot days were drawn to an abrupt halt on August 26th 1940 when his leg was severely injured during battle, but the war was by no means over. After his recovery he was posted to Rosemount for duty as a fighter controller, in the rank of Squadron Leader. Hector retired and lived in Kilmacolm near Glasgow. He died on 19th July 2007.
Signature Value : £65
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Anthony Saunders


Signature(s) value alone : £190
£40 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!
Now : £160.00

Quantity:
In 2 Pairs
and 3 Packs
View
Bonus signature edition of 10 prints from the signed limited edition of 950 prints.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item!
Image size 20 inches x 13 inches (51cm x 33cm)

Extras....


Alex Thom signing this edition of the print.


Johnstone, Sandy

Died : 2000
Air Vice Marshal Sandy Johnstone CB DFC AE DL (deceased)
Early in 1938, Alexander Vallance Riddell Johnstone, known as Sandy, was a civilian navigation instructor at Scottish Aviation, moving later to the Civil Air Navigation School at Prestwick. In August 1939 he was called to full-time service with 602 Squadron. After some Spitfire engagements off the Scottish coast, he received command of 602 - he was still only 24 - and led it south to the tiny airfield at West Hampnett, in West Sussex, where it was stationed throughout the Battle of Britain. San
Signature Value : £60
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Mount, Micky

Died : 2002
Air Commodore Micky Mount CBE DSO DFC (deceased)
Flying Officer Christopher John (Micky) Mount joined NO.602 squadron on August 8th 1940 after a brief conversion course on Spitfires. On August 18th his Spitfire L1005 was severely damaged in combat with JU 87s and BF109s over Ford. Micky was unhurt. he again escaped injury when his Spitfire X4270 was damaged landing at Tangmere. he served in many of the theatres of WW2 and he flew Hurricanes in Malta and North Africa and Wellingtons in the Middle east. Micky retired and lived in Ascot in Berksh
Signature Value : £65
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
MacLean, Hector
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE

Died : 2007
Wing Commander Hector MacLean (deceased)
Hector was flying with No 602 squadron before war broke out. A gallant young man, his fighter pilot days were drawn to an abrupt halt on August 26th 1940 when his leg was severely injured during battle, but the war was by no means over. After his recovery he was posted to Rosemount for duty as a fighter controller, in the rank of Squadron Leader. Hector retired and lived in Kilmacolm near Glasgow. He died on 19th July 2007.
Signature Value : £65
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Thom, Alex

Died : 2016
Flight Lieutenant Alexander Henry Thom DFC (deceased)
Born in Perth, Scotland, Alex Thom joined the RAFVR on June 24th 1939 and flew at the weekends at 11 EARFTS Perth. At the outbreak of World War Two, Thom was called up for full time service with the Royal Air Force and was posted to 3 ITW at Hastings on October 2nd 1939, moving to 15 EFTS at Redhill on April 29th 1940 and on June 15th moved again to 15 FTS, initially at Brize Norton and later to Chipping Norton. Alex Thom went to 6 OTU on September 29th at Sutton Bridge where he converted to
Signature Value : £50
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Anthony Saunders


Signature(s) value alone : £240
£50 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!
Now : £180.00

Quantity:
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm)Artist : Anthony Saunders
(on separate certificate)
£100 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!
Now : £400.00

Quantity:
Original painting by Anthony Saunders. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm)Artist : Anthony Saunders£2000 Off!Now : £4800.00

Quantity:
Signed limited edition of 950 prints.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item!
Image size 20 inches x 13 inches (51cm x 33cm)
Johnstone, Sandy

Died : 2000
Air Vice Marshal Sandy Johnstone CB DFC AE DL (deceased)
Early in 1938, Alexander Vallance Riddell Johnstone, known as Sandy, was a civilian navigation instructor at Scottish Aviation, moving later to the Civil Air Navigation School at Prestwick. In August 1939 he was called to full-time service with 602 Squadron. After some Spitfire engagements off the Scottish coast, he received command of 602 - he was still only 24 - and led it south to the tiny airfield at West Hampnett, in West Sussex, where it was stationed throughout the Battle of Britain. San
Signature Value : £60
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Mount, Micky

Died : 2002
Air Commodore Micky Mount CBE DSO DFC (deceased)
Flying Officer Christopher John (Micky) Mount joined NO.602 squadron on August 8th 1940 after a brief conversion course on Spitfires. On August 18th his Spitfire L1005 was severely damaged in combat with JU 87s and BF109s over Ford. Micky was unhurt. he again escaped injury when his Spitfire X4270 was damaged landing at Tangmere. he served in many of the theatres of WW2 and he flew Hurricanes in Malta and North Africa and Wellingtons in the Middle east. Micky retired and lived in Ascot in Berksh
Signature Value : £65
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
MacLean, Hector
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE

Died : 2007
Wing Commander Hector MacLean (deceased)
Hector was flying with No 602 squadron before war broke out. A gallant young man, his fighter pilot days were drawn to an abrupt halt on August 26th 1940 when his leg was severely injured during battle, but the war was by no means over. After his recovery he was posted to Rosemount for duty as a fighter controller, in the rank of Squadron Leader. Hector retired and lived in Kilmacolm near Glasgow. He died on 19th July 2007.
Signature Value : £65
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Anthony Saunders


Signature(s) value alone : £190
£70 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!
Now : £130.00

Quantity:


Some other related items available from this site.

 Spitfire DW-U (W3455) of 610 Squadron escorting Blenheims to Le Trait on 21st August 1941.  This aircraft was shot down by enemy fighters on this mission.

Escorting Blenheims to Le Trait - Spitfire W3455 of No.610 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.
A pair of Royal Air Force Spitfires fly over the hay fields of southern England as the farmers toil.  A tranquil scene which will soon be spoilt with the German Luftwaffe aircraft as the Battle of Britain begins.

Freedom Fighters by Simon Smith
 Hawker Hurricane IIc of top Czech ace Flt. Lt. K.M. Kuttlewascher, No.1 Fighter Squadron on a night intruder sortie from RAF Tangmere. On this mission he destroyed three Heinkel IIIs over their own airfield, St. Andre, in occupied France.

Night Reaper, 4th May 1942 by David Pentland.
 As shells from the naval bombardment whistle overhead, and ground-fire crackles around them, a pair of Mk IXb Spitfires from 412 Canadian Squadron make a fast run over Juno Beach, in support of the Third Canadian Division storming ashore.  By the end of the day more than 21,000 men had landed on Juno, the second most heavily defended of all the D-Day beaches, with the Canadians advancing further inland than any other Allied troops.

Juno Beach by Anthony Saunders.
Signatures on these products
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature and is for the unmatted version where available. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
NameInfo




Air Vice Marshal Sandy Johnstone CB DFC AE DL (deceased)
Died : 2000
*Signature Value : £60

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 950 prints.
Bonus signature edition of 10 prints from the signed limited edition of 950 prints.
Signed limited edition of 950 prints.


Johnstone, Sandy
(Air Vice Marshal Sandy Johnstone CB DFC AE DL (deceased))

Early in 1938, Alexander Vallance Riddell Johnstone, known as Sandy, was a civilian navigation instructor at Scottish Aviation, moving later to the Civil Air Navigation School at Prestwick. In August 1939 he was called to full-time service with 602 Squadron. After some Spitfire engagements off the Scottish coast, he received command of 602 - he was still only 24 - and led it south to the tiny airfield at West Hampnett, in West Sussex, where it was stationed throughout the Battle of Britain. Sandy was in command of no. 602 squadron during the critical days of the Battle of Britain, flying with the squadron before the war though to 1941, when he was posted to the Middle east, he also served with 229 and 249 squadrons in Malta during the Islands most fateful days of the war. Sandy became a successful author and resided near Ipswich in Suffolk. Sandy Johnstone died 13th December 2000, aged 84.




Air Commodore Micky Mount CBE DSO DFC (deceased)
Died : 2002
*Signature Value : £65

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 950 prints.
Bonus signature edition of 10 prints from the signed limited edition of 950 prints.
Signed limited edition of 950 prints.


Mount, Micky
(Air Commodore Micky Mount CBE DSO DFC (deceased))

Flying Officer Christopher John (Micky) Mount joined NO.602 squadron on August 8th 1940 after a brief conversion course on Spitfires. On August 18th his Spitfire L1005 was severely damaged in combat with JU 87s and BF109s over Ford. Micky was unhurt. he again escaped injury when his Spitfire X4270 was damaged landing at Tangmere. he served in many of the theatres of WW2 and he flew Hurricanes in Malta and North Africa and Wellingtons in the Middle east. Micky retired and lived in Ascot in Berkshire. He died 23rd July 2002.


Wing Commander Hector MacLean (deceased)
Died : 2007
*Signature Value : £65

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 950 prints.
Bonus signature edition of 10 prints from the signed limited edition of 950 prints.
Signed limited edition of 950 prints.


MacLean, Hector
(Wing Commander Hector MacLean (deceased))

Hector was flying with No 602 squadron before war broke out. A gallant young man, his fighter pilot days were drawn to an abrupt halt on August 26th 1940 when his leg was severely injured during battle, but the war was by no means over. After his recovery he was posted to Rosemount for duty as a fighter controller, in the rank of Squadron Leader. Hector retired and lived in Kilmacolm near Glasgow. He died on 19th July 2007.




Flight Lieutenant Alexander Henry Thom DFC (deceased)
Died : 2016
*Signature Value : £50

Editions signed :

Bonus signature edition of 10 prints from the signed limited edition of 950 prints.


Thom, Alex
(Flight Lieutenant Alexander Henry Thom DFC (deceased))

Born in Perth, Scotland, Alex Thom joined the RAFVR on June 24th 1939 and flew at the weekends at 11 EARFTS Perth. At the outbreak of World War Two, Thom was called up for full time service with the Royal Air Force and was posted to 3 ITW at Hastings on October 2nd 1939, moving to 15 EFTS at Redhill on April 29th 1940 and on June 15th moved again to 15 FTS, initially at Brize Norton and later to Chipping Norton. Alex Thom went to 6 OTU on September 29th at Sutton Bridge where he converted to Hawker Hurricanes and joined 79 squadron stationed at Pembury only for a short period when he was transferred to 87 Squadron on October 6th 1940, moving with the squadron on the 31st of October to their new base at Exeter. He achieved the rank of Pilot Officer on the 3rd of December 1941. During his time at Exeter he was also based on the Scilly Isles and on one occasion after shooting down an enemy bomber the crew bailed out over the sea. Alex Thom circled the downed German crew who were in a life raft until a motor launch came and picked them up. Thom would later meet the crew and was given a flying helmet by the German pilot, an item he still has today. Alex Thom was appointed B Flight commander on 10th July 1942 and was awarded the DFC on the 14th August 1942. At this time he was credited with two enemy aircraft destroyed and a probable He111. On the 19th of August 1942 while supporting the ground forces at Dieppe, his Hurricane (LK - M) was hit by ground fire and lost oil pressure. He managed to limp back to England where he made a forced landing at East Den. Thom managed to get back to his airfield as a passenger in a Master flown by Flt Sgt Lowe and immediately took off again in Hurricane (LK - A) back to Dieppe where he proceeded to strafe enemy positions. On the 1st of October 1942 he became F/O. In November 1942, 87 Squadron was transferred to North Africa. They were transported by ship to Gibraltar where the squadron flew sorties, and then onto North Africa. Thom was posted away from the squadron to be a flying control officer at Bone. He returned to 87 Squadron which was then based at Tongley and took command on June 27th 1943. He was again posted away from the squadron on September 27th returning to the UK with the Rank of Flight Lt. Thom became an instructor with 55 OTU at Annan on November 17th moving to Kirton in Linsay on March 12th 1944 to join 53 OTU. He was appointed Flight Commander Fighter Affiliation Flight at 84 (Bomber) OTU at Husbands Bosworth on May 19th 1944 and remained there until October 10th when he went to RAF Peterhead as Adjutant. His final posting was to HQ13 Group, Inverness on May 8th 1945 as a Staff Officer and retired from the RAF on December 4th 1945 as a Flight Lt. He died on 10th January 2016.
Squadrons Related to This Print
No.602 Sqn
Aircraft Related to This Print
He111
Spitfire

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