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Operation Mercury by Nicolas Trudgian. - Cranston Military Prints

Operation Mercury by Nicolas Trudgian.


Operation Mercury by Nicolas Trudgian.

Slow, frail, out-dated and hopelessly outnumbered, Gladiator biplanes of 112 Squadron RAF tenaciously throw themselves into the fray, attacking Luftwaffe fighter-bombers in the battle for Crete, in April 1941. This painting shows Me110Cs of II./ZG76, having attacked naval units off the coast of Crete in early May 1941, being bravely intercepted by two Gladiators of 112 Squadron. Heavily outnumbered, the best the RAF pilots can hope for is to disrupt the Luftwaffe formation. And this they continued to do until, literally, they had no more aircraft left!
Item Code : DHM2615YOperation Mercury by Nicolas Trudgian. - Editions Available
DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Signed limited edition of 285 prints. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm)
Fries, Otto

Leutnant Otto Fries
Otto Fries was posted to NJG I nightfighter unit in January 1942 as a Gefreiter. He served with them on the Western Front right through until the end of the war, flying continuously against RAF Bomber Command. He was commissioned Leutnant in August 1943. In July 1944 Otto was flying Me110s of II.Gruppe based in St. Trond, St. Dizier and then Arnheim. He later joined I.Gruppe before transferring to Münster-Hansdorf flying the Heinkel 219 Owl. He is one of the last surviving He219 pilots.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Spoden, Peter

Died : 2021
Hauptmann Peter Spoden (deceased)
Peter Spoden was born in Borken near Minster on 8th November 1921. Peter Spoden completed his education in 1940 and worked initially on the railways. Spoden learned to fly gliders with the Hitler Youth. He finally joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941. Spoden trained at the Luftkriegsschule 4 at Fürstenfeldbruck. After gaining his Pilot's Badge and A/B flying certificate, Spoden attended Flugzeugführerschule C 17 at Pütnitz where he trained to fly multi-engine types. On the 1st of Fe
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Nicolas Trudgian

Signature(s) value alone : £110		£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 : £150.00

Quantity:
In 1 Pair
and 2 Packs
View
Special Edition Artists Proof. Limited edition of 30 artist proofs. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm)
Johanssen, Karl-Ludwig

Died : 2009
Leutnant Karl-Ludwig Johanssen (deceased)
Karl-Ludwig Johanssen was born on 15th May 1921. Flying with III./NJG4 and I./NJG6, he was one of the Luftwaffe's most successful radio operators, flying with Martin Becker and participating in 59 air victories. He was awarded with the Knights Cross in March 1945. He died on 11th August 2009.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Fries, Otto

Leutnant Otto Fries
Otto Fries was posted to NJG I nightfighter unit in January 1942 as a Gefreiter. He served with them on the Western Front right through until the end of the war, flying continuously against RAF Bomber Command. He was commissioned Leutnant in August 1943. In July 1944 Otto was flying Me110s of II.Gruppe based in St. Trond, St. Dizier and then Arnheim. He later joined I.Gruppe before transferring to Münster-Hansdorf flying the Heinkel 219 Owl. He is one of the last surviving He219 pilots.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Spoden, Peter

Died : 2021
Hauptmann Peter Spoden (deceased)
Peter Spoden was born in Borken near Minster on 8th November 1921. Peter Spoden completed his education in 1940 and worked initially on the railways. Spoden learned to fly gliders with the Hitler Youth. He finally joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941. Spoden trained at the Luftkriegsschule 4 at Fürstenfeldbruck. After gaining his Pilot's Badge and A/B flying certificate, Spoden attended Flugzeugführerschule C 17 at Pütnitz where he trained to fly multi-engine types. On the 1st of Fe
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Nicolas Trudgian

Signature(s) value alone : £165		£50 Off!Now : £230.00

Quantity:
In 1 Pair
View
Special Edition. Signed limited edition of 425 prints. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm)
Johanssen, Karl-Ludwig

Died : 2009
Leutnant Karl-Ludwig Johanssen (deceased)
Karl-Ludwig Johanssen was born on 15th May 1921. Flying with III./NJG4 and I./NJG6, he was one of the Luftwaffe's most successful radio operators, flying with Martin Becker and participating in 59 air victories. He was awarded with the Knights Cross in March 1945. He died on 11th August 2009.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Fries, Otto

Leutnant Otto Fries
Otto Fries was posted to NJG I nightfighter unit in January 1942 as a Gefreiter. He served with them on the Western Front right through until the end of the war, flying continuously against RAF Bomber Command. He was commissioned Leutnant in August 1943. In July 1944 Otto was flying Me110s of II.Gruppe based in St. Trond, St. Dizier and then Arnheim. He later joined I.Gruppe before transferring to Münster-Hansdorf flying the Heinkel 219 Owl. He is one of the last surviving He219 pilots.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Spoden, Peter

Died : 2021
Hauptmann Peter Spoden (deceased)
Peter Spoden was born in Borken near Minster on 8th November 1921. Peter Spoden completed his education in 1940 and worked initially on the railways. Spoden learned to fly gliders with the Hitler Youth. He finally joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941. Spoden trained at the Luftkriegsschule 4 at Fürstenfeldbruck. After gaining his Pilot's Badge and A/B flying certificate, Spoden attended Flugzeugführerschule C 17 at Pütnitz where he trained to fly multi-engine types. On the 1st of Fe
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Nicolas Trudgian

Signature(s) value alone : £165		£30 Off!Now : £180.00

Quantity:
Promotional Flyer A4 Size Single Sheet 6 inches x 8 inches (15m x 21cm)noneAdd any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!£2.00

Quantity:
Signed limited edition of 285 prints. Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm)
Fries, Otto

Leutnant Otto Fries
Otto Fries was posted to NJG I nightfighter unit in January 1942 as a Gefreiter. He served with them on the Western Front right through until the end of the war, flying continuously against RAF Bomber Command. He was commissioned Leutnant in August 1943. In July 1944 Otto was flying Me110s of II.Gruppe based in St. Trond, St. Dizier and then Arnheim. He later joined I.Gruppe before transferring to Münster-Hansdorf flying the Heinkel 219 Owl. He is one of the last surviving He219 pilots.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Spoden, Peter

Died : 2021
Hauptmann Peter Spoden (deceased)
Peter Spoden was born in Borken near Minster on 8th November 1921. Peter Spoden completed his education in 1940 and worked initially on the railways. Spoden learned to fly gliders with the Hitler Youth. He finally joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941. Spoden trained at the Luftkriegsschule 4 at Fürstenfeldbruck. After gaining his Pilot's Badge and A/B flying certificate, Spoden attended Flugzeugführerschule C 17 at Pütnitz where he trained to fly multi-engine types. On the 1st of Fe
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Nicolas Trudgian

Signature(s) value alone : £110		£60 Off!Now : £140.00

Quantity:
**Special Edition. Signed limited edition of 425 prints. (One print reduced to clear)
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item!		 Image size 24 inches x 16 inches (61cm x 41cm)
Johanssen, Karl-Ludwig

Died : 2009
Leutnant Karl-Ludwig Johanssen (deceased)
Karl-Ludwig Johanssen was born on 15th May 1921. Flying with III./NJG4 and I./NJG6, he was one of the Luftwaffe's most successful radio operators, flying with Martin Becker and participating in 59 air victories. He was awarded with the Knights Cross in March 1945. He died on 11th August 2009.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Fries, Otto

Leutnant Otto Fries
Otto Fries was posted to NJG I nightfighter unit in January 1942 as a Gefreiter. He served with them on the Western Front right through until the end of the war, flying continuously against RAF Bomber Command. He was commissioned Leutnant in August 1943. In July 1944 Otto was flying Me110s of II.Gruppe based in St. Trond, St. Dizier and then Arnheim. He later joined I.Gruppe before transferring to Münster-Hansdorf flying the Heinkel 219 Owl. He is one of the last surviving He219 pilots.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Spoden, Peter

Died : 2021
Hauptmann Peter Spoden (deceased)
Peter Spoden was born in Borken near Minster on 8th November 1921. Peter Spoden completed his education in 1940 and worked initially on the railways. Spoden learned to fly gliders with the Hitler Youth. He finally joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941. Spoden trained at the Luftkriegsschule 4 at Fürstenfeldbruck. After gaining his Pilot's Badge and A/B flying certificate, Spoden attended Flugzeugführerschule C 17 at Pütnitz where he trained to fly multi-engine types. On the 1st of Fe
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Nicolas Trudgian

Signature(s) value alone : £165		£50 Off!Now : £160.00

Quantity:


Some other related items available from this site.

Outnumbered and outclassed, the aging Gloster Gladiators of 112 Sqn nonetheless put up a spirited defence in the skies above Crete as Germanys Operation Mercury gathered momentum in the Spring of 1941. Here, shark-mouthed Messerschmitt Bf.110s of ZG.76 menace a lone Gladiator during an evening encounter.

Impossible Odds by Ivan Berryman. 		With Italys entry into WW II on June 10, 1940, the epic two-and-one-half-year siege of Malta began. Symbolizing the defiant resistance of the people and defenders of that tiny island, the legend of Faith, Hope, and Charity grew from a handful of Gloster Sea Gladiators which initially comprised Maltas sole aerial defense. Until the arrival of the more modern Hawker Hurricanes, these obsolescent biplanes fought the Regia Aeronautica alone in the skies above Malta. Only six or seven Gladiators were assembled from the shipment of eighteen crated aircraft which had been delivered by the HMS Glorious. Others were utilized for spare parts, and three had been dispatched, still crated, to Egypt. Though hugely outnumbered, the defenders fought on, raising the morale of the citizens of Malta, and denying the Italians mastery of the sky. Suffering from a constant shortage of spare parts, tools and equipment, the devoted ground support crews were never able to keep more than three Gladiators operational at any point in time. Only one of these Gladiators was totally lost in aerial combat, and the sole surviving aircraft was presented to the people of Malta, and today stands in their National War Museum as a proud symbol of courage and endurance. In Stan Stokes painting, a Sea Gladiator, piloted by Flight Lt. James Pickering, tangles with a Fiat C.R. 42 over Malta in 1940 while an Italian Savoia S.79 tri-engined bomber passes by in the background. The Gloster Gladiator represented the zenith of development of the classic biplane fighter aircraft, a design formula which characterized an entire era from WW I until the advent of the monoplane fighter just before WW II. Glosters naval model of the Gladiator was equipped with a Bristol Mercury VIIIA engine providing a maximum speed of 253 MPH, a rate of climb of 2300 feet per minute, an operational ceiling of 32,200 feet, and a range of 415 miles. The Gladiator was armed with four .303 inch Browning machine guns, and incorporated several advanced features including an enclosed cockpit and wing flaps. One top RAF ace, Sqd. Ldr. Pattle, attained eleven victories flying the Gladiator. A total of 527 Gladiators were produced, and the aircraft served in twelve different countries. The Italians were overly persistent in their emphasis on biplane fighters, stemming from their successes with these highly maneuverable machines during the Spanish Civil War. Employing distinctive Warren-truss type interplane bracing the C.R. 42 was powered by a Fiat A74 R.C. 38 engine providing a maximum speed of 274 MPH and a range of 485 miles. The C.R. 42 was more lightly armed than the Gladiators it opposed, possessing only two 12.7mm Breda machine guns. The C.R 42 served on all of Italys fronts including North and East Africa, France, Britain, the Balkans, and Russia. Exported to Hungary, Sweden and Belgium, the C.R. 42 ironically served alongside the Gladiator in other theaters of operation during WW II.

Faith Hope and Charity by Stan Stokes. 		This volume is the first of its type to be devoted exclusively to the Zerstörer day fighter aces, spanning the war years from Poland to the defence of the Reich. Although Messerschmitts single-engined Bf 109 has received most of the plaudits for achieving virtual air superiority over Europe in 1939-40, the exploits of the manufacturers twin-engined Bf 110, the Ju 88 and the Me 410 Zerstörer in the first year of the war also make for very impressive reading. Indeed, on the eve of World War 2 a posting to a Bf 110 unit was considered to be the best career move available in the Luftwaffe.
Messerschmitt Bf110 Zerstorer Aces of World War Two.		 Lattely known as Air Marshal Sir Peter Guy Wykeham, KCB, DSO and Bar, OBE, DFC and Bar, AFC - he is shown here baling out of his stricken Gloster Gladiator of No.80 Sqn over North Africa on 4th August 1940. At the time he would have been known as Peter Wykeham-Barnes - a flying Ace who would go on to score 14 victories plus 3 shared in a wartime career which also saw him fly with No.274 Sqn and command No.73 Sqn, No.257 Sqn and No.23 Sqn. Remaining with the Royal Air Force after the war, he became a test pilot and served with the US Air Force in the Korean War before taking serveral roles in the RAF, culminating in Deputy Chief of Air Staff from 1967 until retirement in 1969. He died in 1995.

Tribute to Peter Wykeham-Barnes 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




Leutnant Otto Fries
*Signature Value : £55

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 285 prints.
Special Edition Artists Proof. Limited edition of 30 artist proofs.
Special Edition. Signed limited edition of 425 prints.
Signed limited edition of 285 prints.
**Special Edition. Signed limited edition of 425 prints. (One print reduced to clear)


Fries, Otto
(Leutnant Otto Fries)

Otto Fries was posted to NJG I nightfighter unit in January 1942 as a Gefreiter. He served with them on the Western Front right through until the end of the war, flying continuously against RAF Bomber Command. He was commissioned Leutnant in August 1943. In July 1944 Otto was flying Me110s of II.Gruppe based in St. Trond, St. Dizier and then Arnheim. He later joined I.Gruppe before transferring to Münster-Hansdorf flying the Heinkel 219 Owl. He is one of the last surviving He219 pilots. Shot down four times, on the second of which he escaped by catapult ejection seat out of the He219 during night operations for home defence - it is thought had been shot down by night fighter Mosquito R of 85 Sqd flown by F/Lt Vaughan and F/Sgt R D McKinnon. The right hand engine of his He219 suddenly exploded into flames. With the loss of most of the control of the aircraft he jettisoned the aircrafts canopy, his wireless operator Feldwebel Alfred Staffa baled out and was severley wounded on landing with his parachute. Lt Otto Fries could not regain sufficient control of the He219 which was now burning so he ejected. He landed unhurt by means of his parachute. The He219 crashed about 3 kilometres south of Hertogenbosch and was destroyed. This was only the third such ejection in combat in the world. Otto scored 18 air victories by the end of the war.




Hauptmann Peter Spoden (deceased)
Died : 2021
*Signature Value : £55

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 285 prints.
Special Edition Artists Proof. Limited edition of 30 artist proofs.
Special Edition. Signed limited edition of 425 prints.
Signed limited edition of 285 prints.
**Special Edition. Signed limited edition of 425 prints. (One print reduced to clear)


Spoden, Peter
(Hauptmann Peter Spoden (deceased))

Peter Spoden was born in Borken near Minster on 8th November 1921. Peter Spoden completed his education in 1940 and worked initially on the railways. Spoden learned to fly gliders with the Hitler Youth. He finally joined the Luftwaffe in October 1941. Spoden trained at the Luftkriegsschule 4 at Fürstenfeldbruck. After gaining his Pilot's Badge and A/B flying certificate, Spoden attended Flugzeugführerschule C 17 at Pütnitz where he trained to fly multi-engine types. On the 1st of February 1942 Spoden was promoted to the rank of Leutnant and on 1st September, Spoden attended the Blindflugschule at Copenhagen for instrument flight training before going to the Nachtjagdschule at Kitzingen for operational training. On 1 June 1943, Leutnant Spoden was assigned to 6./NJG 5 based at Parchim. He scored his first victory on the Peenemunde raid when he intercepted a RAF formation of Lancaster bomber between Hanshagen and Greifswald.whihc were attacking the German the research facilities. On the night of 22/23 August, while attacking RAF bomber formations over Berlin, Spoden shot down a Halifax, before engaging an RAF Stirling four-engine bomber. He shot down the Stirling, but the bombers rear-gunner was able to score hits on Spoden's Bf 110 night-fighter, wounding him in the left leg, and setting his aircraft on fire. Spoden baled out of his Me110 but contacted the tail unit pinning him to the elevator. Fortunately, he was thrown clear. Spoden spent three months recuperating before returning to 5./NJG 5 in November and in August 1944, Spoden was transferred to the Stabsstaffel of II./NJG 6 based at Swäbisch Hall. On the night of 26/27 December, he was seeking Allied gliders supplying men and equipment to encircled troops at Bastogne when his Me110 was hit by German flak. The port engine caught fire and Spoden was forced to belly-land his aircraft near Stradtkyll. Spoden was knocked unconscious and was pulled from the blazing wreckage by his crewmen. On 21 February 1945, Spoden recorded his 20th victory when he shot down Lancaster near Worms. In late February, he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold for 22 victories. Returning to night fighting he eventually became Gruppenkommandeur of I./NJG6 on 19th March 1945, his final tally was 26 victories. On 29 April 1945 the remnants of NJG 6 surrendered to American troops at Schleissheim. Spoden was released from captivity in autumn 1945. In 1954, he was accepted for a Lufthansa training programme to become an airline pilot. He completed the course on 20 July 1955, retiring in 1981. He died on 9th December 2021.




Leutnant Karl-Ludwig Johanssen (deceased)
Died : 2009
*Signature Value : £55

Editions signed :

Special Edition Artists Proof. Limited edition of 30 artist proofs.
Special Edition. Signed limited edition of 425 prints.
**Special Edition. Signed limited edition of 425 prints. (One print reduced to clear)


Johanssen, Karl-Ludwig
(Leutnant Karl-Ludwig Johanssen (deceased))

Karl-Ludwig Johanssen was born on 15th May 1921. Flying with III./NJG4 and I./NJG6, he was one of the Luftwaffe's most successful radio operators, flying with Martin Becker and participating in 59 air victories. He was awarded with the Knights Cross in March 1945. He died on 11th August 2009.
Squadrons Related to This Print
No.112 Sqn
ZG76
Aircraft Related to This Print
Gladiator
Me110

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