Cranston Military Prints .com Home Page
Customer Helpline (UK) : 01436 820269
Subscribe to our Newsletter!

You currently have no items in your basket

Payment Options Display
Buy with confidence and security!
Publishing historical art since 1985

Navigation Menus
Military
Art Index 		Aviation
Art Index 		Naval
Art Index 		Artists
Index
Product Search         
Aviation
History Archive 		Naval
History Archive
HALF PRICE AND FREE PRINT SPECIAL OFFERS
ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS :
20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS
BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS
FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson. (AP) - Cranston Military Prints

Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson. (AP)


Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson. (AP)

On August 15th 1942, under the leadership of Don Bennet, a new group was formed from Bomber Command to develop specialised target finding and target marking. Made up purely from experienced volunteers, this elite and highly trained group of men were known as the Pathfinders. Up until this point the means available to Bomber Command of accurately finding their targets were totally lacking and the task of the Pathfinders was to develop techniques to precisely define these targets ahead of the main force. Initially made up of four Squadrons Nos. 7 (Stirlings) 35 (Halifax) 83 (Lancaster) and 156 (Wellingtons) they were based at a clutch of airfields between Cambridge and Huntingdon. Originally part of No.3 Group Bomber Command the Pathfinder Force was directly answerable to C-in-C Air Marshal Arthur Harris until January 1943 when it became a separate group, No.8 (PFF) . Personally selected for the task by Arthur Harris, the Australian born Don Bennet, just 32 years of age proved to be and inspired choice to form the Pathfinders. A navigation expert without peers he was widely experienced in flying all types of aircraft including fighters, flying boats and bombers and already an experienced operational bomber captain. Along with many of his colleagues, such as Hamish Mahaddie and John Searby he was responsible for instilling in his men the Pathfinder Spirit - an intangible quality of dedication which bonded them together. Pathfinder crews used a combination of personal skill and technical equipment to locate their targets. Often flying against overwhelming odds and in appalling conditions they transformed the performance of a bomber force that in 1941 was dropping almost half its bombs on open countryside. The first Pathfinder unit to fly the Halifax was 35 Squadron based at Graveley. With some of the greatest Bomber Aircrew amongst their number the unit quickly gained a reputation for excellence that was second to none. This superb painting from one of the worlds most highly regarded Aviation Artists, Gerald Coulson, depicts a Halifax B.MkII series 1A of 35 (PFF) Squadron on an operation over occupied Europe. Flying at around 20,000 feet and completely alone and unprotected, the crew navigate their bomber well ahead of the main force, leading the way to their target.
Item Code : DHM2250APLeading the Way by Gerald Coulson. (AP) - Editions AvailableExtra....

A photograph of an edition of the print :

DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm)
Carden, Pat
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2008
Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased)
Joining the RAF in 1932, after qualifying as a pilot, he served as an instructor until 1942, when he joined 15 Squadron at Mildenhall, flying Lancasters. Volunteering for the Pathfinder Force he joined 35 Squadron at Gravely on Halifaxes, followed by 582 Squadron on Lancasters, taking part in many bombing sorties over Normandy, including two missions on D-Day. He finished the war having completed 66 operations. Pat Carden sadly died 28th June 2008, aged 96.
Signature Value : £45
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Rollins, John
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2005
Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC (deceased)
After joining the RAF in 1940 he was called up in early 1941 and entered OTU where he qualified as an observer and was then posted operationally to 466 Sqn at Leconfield on Wellingtons. At the end of 1942 he joined 35 Sqn as a Navigator at Gravely as part of the Pathfinder Force, initially on the Halifax and later converting to Lancasters. He remained with the Pathfinders until 1944 when he was posted to Stoney Cross to convert back to Wellington 1C's as a way of becoming reacquainted with
Signature Value : £45
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Kenwright, Ernest
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM
Joining the RAF in 1940 he was initially posted to Cardington as a driver and ended up on the Isle of Sheppey releasing explosive met balloons in order to hamper enemy aircraft. Volunteering for aircrew he attended a gunnery course at Stormy Down in 1942 and shortly after joined 51 squadron at Snaith in Yorkshire, as a Rear Gunner on Halifaxes. In 1943 after many operations with the main force he volunteered for the Pathfinders and joined 35 Squadron at Gravely on both the Halifax and Lancaste
Signature Value : £35
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Codd, David
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Flight Lieutenant David Codd DFC
Joining the Army in 1938 he initially served with Royal Engineers at Dunkirk before volunteering for aircrew and transferring to the RAF in 1941. He qualified as a navigator and in 1942 joined 10 squadron at Leeming on Halifaxes before moving to 35 squadron with the Pathfinders, again on Halifax bombers. In 1943 his aircraft was shot down near Cologne and he became a POW at Stalagluft 3, having completed 42 operations. He returned to England in May 1945 and left the RAF in 1947.
Signature Value : £10
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Hanham, Michael
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2009
Flying Officer Sir Michael Hanham DFC (deceased)
He joined the RAF straight from school in 1942 and initially qualified as a navigator but then retrained as a flight engineer in 1943. He volunteered for the Pathfinder Force and joined 35 squadron as a flight engineer on Halifaxes and Lancasters, completing 55 operations with this unit. In May 1945 he became a Flying Control Officer and was posted to India, leaving the RAF in 1946. Died 20th May 2009.
Signature Value : £35
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Carruthers, Don
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Flying Officer Don Carruthers
Joining the RAF in 1941 he trained as a wireless operator and completed his ops training at Lossiemouth on Wellingtons where he formed up with a crew that was to stay together for his entire operational career in Bomber Command. In 1943 he was posted to 466 squadron at Leconfield on Wellingtons before converting to the Halifax. He and his crew volunteered for the Pathfinder Force and joined 35 squadron on Halifax's and then Lancasters. In 1945 having completed a total of 63 operations he
Signature Value : £40
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

+ Artist : Gerald Coulson

Signature(s) value alone : £210		£55 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!		Now : £295.00

Quantity:


Some other related items available from this site.

Sunday 8th April 1945. Halifax B.II Series 1 (Special) JP254 of 148 Special Duties Squadron, RAF piloted by Pilot officer Bill Leckie is depicted approaching the drop zone near to the Alt Aussee salt mine in the Austrian Alps to drop four SOE agents and their equipment whose mission it was to secure and protect 6,755 items of the world's greatest works of art that had been looted and stored by the Germans as they swept across Europe. With the allied forces closing in, the Germans had planned to blow up the entire store to prevent the artworks from falling into the hands of the liberators. Once on the ground, the four agents linked up with local resistance fighters and the mine and its valuable contents were eventually secured, the explosives made safe and the entire cache taken into the safe keeping of the 80th US Infantry Division as the German occupation of Europe crumbled.

Operation Ebensburg by Ivan Berryman. 		Halifax Tugs Towing Hamilcar Gliders. Halifax glider tugs of 644 Squadron based at Tarrant Rushton head out across the English Channel with their Hamilcar gliders as part of Operation Overlord in June 1944. The mighty Hamilcar was capable of carrying an 8-ton payload, which was the equivalent of two Tetrarch light tanks, and was used both in the Normandy invasion and at Arnhem.

Operation Mallard by Ivan Berryman. 		Sunday 8th April 1945. Halifax B.II Series 1 (Special) JP254 of 148 Special Duties Squadron, RAF piloted by Pilot officer Bill Leckie is depicted approaching the drop zone near to the Alt Aussee salt mine in the Austrian Alps to drop four SOE agents and their equipment whose mission it was to secure and protect 6,755 items of the world's greatest works of art that had been looted and stored by the Germans as they swept across Europe. With the allied forces closing in, the Germans had planned to blow up the entire store to prevent the artworks from falling into the hands of the liberators. Once on the ground, the four agents linked up with local resistance fighters and the mine and its valuable contents were eventually secured, the explosives made safe and the entire cache taken into the safe keeping of the 80th US Infantry Division as the German occupation of Europe crumbled.

Operation Ebensburg by Ivan Berryman. 		With the departure of No 1 Group in May 1943, No 4 Group's 78 Sqn Halifaxes arrived at Breighton in Yorkshire from where they would continue to operate until the end of the war. Halifax III LW291 (EY-M) is depicted snowbound in the Winter of 1944, not long before it was lost over Grossmutz whilst taking part on a raid on Berlin on 20th January 1944. <br><br>Crew of EY-M : <br><br>Pilot : Flight Sergeant F Moffat RCAF (killed),<br>Navigator : Flying Officer W McGreggor RCAF (killed),<br>Bomb Aimer : Flying Officer R Selman RCAF (killed),<br>Wireless Operator : Flight Sergeant H H Bennett (taken prisoner),<br>Flight Engineer : Sergeant N Legg (killed),<br>Rear Gunner : Sergeant W Ruelhoff (killed,<br>Mid-Upper Gunner : Sergeant J Stewart (killed).

White-out at Breighton - Tribute to No.78 Squadron by Ivan Berryman.
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


Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased)
Died : 2008
*Signature Value : £45

Editions signed :

Limited edition of 50 artist proofs.


Carden, Pat
(Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased))

Joining the RAF in 1932, after qualifying as a pilot, he served as an instructor until 1942, when he joined 15 Squadron at Mildenhall, flying Lancasters. Volunteering for the Pathfinder Force he joined 35 Squadron at Gravely on Halifaxes, followed by 582 Squadron on Lancasters, taking part in many bombing sorties over Normandy, including two missions on D-Day. He finished the war having completed 66 operations. Pat Carden sadly died 28th June 2008, aged 96.
Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC (deceased)
Died : 2005
*Signature Value : £45

Editions signed :

Limited edition of 50 artist proofs.


Rollins, John
(Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC (deceased))

After joining the RAF in 1940 he was called up in early 1941 and entered OTU where he qualified as an observer and was then posted operationally to 466 Sqn at Leconfield on Wellingtons. At the end of 1942 he joined 35 Sqn as a Navigator at Gravely as part of the Pathfinder Force, initially on the Halifax and later converting to Lancasters. He remained with the Pathfinders until 1944 when he was posted to Stoney Cross to convert back to Wellington 1C's as a way of becoming reacquainted with two engined aircraft. he spent the remainder of the war flying Dakotas in the Far East and left the RAF in mid 1946. Died 26th March 2005.
Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM
*Signature Value : £35

Editions signed :

Limited edition of 50 artist proofs.


Kenwright, Ernest
(Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM)

Joining the RAF in 1940 he was initially posted to Cardington as a driver and ended up on the Isle of Sheppey releasing explosive met balloons in order to hamper enemy aircraft. Volunteering for aircrew he attended a gunnery course at Stormy Down in 1942 and shortly after joined 51 squadron at Snaith in Yorkshire, as a Rear Gunner on Halifaxes. In 1943 after many operations with the main force he volunteered for the Pathfinders and joined 35 Squadron at Gravely on both the Halifax and Lancaster. He remained with this unit until the end of the war completing 82 operations and left the RAF in 1946
Flight Lieutenant David Codd DFC
*Signature Value : £10

Editions signed :

Limited edition of 50 artist proofs.


Codd, David
(Flight Lieutenant David Codd DFC)

Joining the Army in 1938 he initially served with Royal Engineers at Dunkirk before volunteering for aircrew and transferring to the RAF in 1941. He qualified as a navigator and in 1942 joined 10 squadron at Leeming on Halifaxes before moving to 35 squadron with the Pathfinders, again on Halifax bombers. In 1943 his aircraft was shot down near Cologne and he became a POW at Stalagluft 3, having completed 42 operations. He returned to England in May 1945 and left the RAF in 1947.
Flying Officer Sir Michael Hanham DFC (deceased)
Died : 2009
*Signature Value : £35

Editions signed :

Limited edition of 50 artist proofs.


Hanham, Michael
(Flying Officer Sir Michael Hanham DFC (deceased))

He joined the RAF straight from school in 1942 and initially qualified as a navigator but then retrained as a flight engineer in 1943. He volunteered for the Pathfinder Force and joined 35 squadron as a flight engineer on Halifaxes and Lancasters, completing 55 operations with this unit. In May 1945 he became a Flying Control Officer and was posted to India, leaving the RAF in 1946. Died 20th May 2009.
Flying Officer Don Carruthers
*Signature Value : £40

Editions signed :

Limited edition of 50 artist proofs.


Carruthers, Don
(Flying Officer Don Carruthers)

Joining the RAF in 1941 he trained as a wireless operator and completed his ops training at Lossiemouth on Wellingtons where he formed up with a crew that was to stay together for his entire operational career in Bomber Command. In 1943 he was posted to 466 squadron at Leconfield on Wellingtons before converting to the Halifax. He and his crew volunteered for the Pathfinder Force and joined 35 squadron on Halifax's and then Lancasters. In 1945 having completed a total of 63 operations he moved to Transport Command flying Dakotas in India with 238 squadron and then Calcutta with 52 squadron. He left the RAF in 1946.
Aircraft Related to This Print
Halifax

Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

Sign Up To Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with all our latest offers, deals and events as well as new releases and exclusive subscriber content!

This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts.  Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE

Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269.  Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com

Return to Home Page