Decisive Blow by Anthony Saunders. (AP) - Cranston Military Prints

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Decisive Blow by Anthony Saunders. (AP) - Cranston Military Prints

Decisive Blow by Anthony Saunders. (AP)

Decisive Blow by Anthony Saunders. (AP)

The Luftwaffe had done everything in its power to pummel London into submission but they failed. By the end of September 1940 their losses were mounting. For weeks since the early days of September, London had been the main target for the Luftwaffe and during that time Luftwaffe High Command had grown increasingly despondent as their losses steadily mounted. Far from being on the brink of collapse RAF Fighter Command, though vastly outnumbered, had shown an incredible resilience. The fighting had reached a dramatic climax on Sunday 15th September when, bloodied and bruised, the Luftwaffe had lost the upper hand on a day of intense combat that had culminated with a humiliating retreat. Almost every day that had passed since then had seen the Luftwaffe do everything in its power to pummel London and regain the initiative, but the daylight raids were becoming increasingly costly. On Friday 27th September, 80 days after the Battle of Britain had officially begun, the Luftwaffe came once more, this time concentrating on the fastest bombers they had - Ju88s and Bf110s. And they came in force, principally targeting London and Bristol. Anthony Saunders' superb painting depicts one of these raids, this time by bombers from KG77 as they head over the Medway Estuary, east of the City of London, in an attempt to attack the capital's warehouses and docks. Among the many units defending the capital that day was 92 Squadron from Biggin Hill and Anthony portrays the Spitfire of Pilot Officer Geoffrey Wellum in his dramatic piece. With a deft flick of the rudder Wellum banks his fighter away to port seconds after sharing in the destruction of a Ju88. It was just one of more than 50 German aircraft destroyed by the RAF during the day.

Item Code : DHM6518AP

Decisive Blow by Anthony Saunders. (AP) - Editions Available

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Limited edition of 25 artist proofs.

Image size 25.5 inches x 17 inches (65cm x 43cm) Paper size 32 inches x 24.5 inches (82cm x 63cm)

Wilkinson, Ken

Died : 2017
Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson (deceased)
Battle of Britain pilot flying Hurricanes, he flew Spitfires with 611 Sqn and then 616 Sqn at Kirton-in-Lindsey and 19 Sqn at Fowlmere during 1940 and after a spell instructing returned to operations on Spitfires, with 234 and 165 Squadrons. After spending time with 53, 24 and 10 Operational Training Units, he left the RAF in November 1945 and served in the RAFVR.
Ken said :
From 1st September 1939 I wrote myself off. I thought, 'you've got no chance' lasting through whatev
Signature Value : £45
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Wellum, Geoffrey

Died : 2018
Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC (deceased)
Joined the RAF with a Short Service Commission in August 1939. He joined 92 Squadron flying Spitfires in June 1940 at the time of Dunkirk. He flew throughout the Battle of Britain, later completing over 50 fighter sweeps and escorts over northern France and Belgium until August 1941. He then joined 65 Squadron as Flight Commander in March 1942 operating over northern France and flew off aircraft carrier HMS Furious on Operation Pedestal, to Malta. Geoff was a Flight Lieutenant during Operati
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Elkington, John

Died : 2019
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.
Signature Value : £40
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

McInnes, Archibald
Died : 2019
Flt Lt Archibald McInnes (deceased)
Commissioned as a Pilot in 1940 with 601 Sqn and later moved to 238 Sqn, completing his service with this Squadron. Archie flew Hurricanes with 601 Squadron at Exeter before moving to 238 Squadron at Chilbolton. He was later stationed in Malta, after travelling on board HMS Victorious during the hunt for the Bismarck. He lost his left arm after being shot down in North Africa, and after recovering he returned to active service with 691 Squadron at Roborough. Archibald McInnes passed away on We
Signature Value : £20
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Pickering, Tony

Died : 2016
Tony Pickering AFC (deceased)
With the RAFVR just before the war commenced, Tony Pickering joined 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill in July 1940, flying Hurricanes, and in August 1940 to 501 Squadron at Gravesend. In September he was shot down in Hurricane P5200, but unhurt in a duel with an Me109, destroying another 109 a few weeks later. In December he joined 601 Squadron at Northolt. After a spell instructing, he joined 131 as a Flight Commander in February 1943, and later served as a Squadron Commander in the Middle East. T
Signature Value : £45
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

+ Artist : Anthony Saunders

Signature(s) value alone : £205

£250.00

Some other related items available from this site.
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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.
Name	Info
Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson (deceased) Died : 2017 Signature Value : £45 Editions signed : Limited edition of 25 artist proofs.*	Wilkinson, Ken (Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson (deceased)) Battle of Britain pilot flying Hurricanes, he flew Spitfires with 611 Sqn and then 616 Sqn at Kirton-in-Lindsey and 19 Sqn at Fowlmere during 1940 and after a spell instructing returned to operations on Spitfires, with 234 and 165 Squadrons. After spending time with 53, 24 and 10 Operational Training Units, he left the RAF in November 1945 and served in the RAFVR. Ken said : From 1st September 1939 I wrote myself off. I thought, 'you've got no chance' lasting through whatever is going to be. It was quite obvious, in the way the Germans were moving, they were going to make a hell of a war out of it, so I was ready for war. I can remember saying 'we've got to stop this fellow Hitler'. When you think of all the thousands of citizens that were being killed by this absurd bombing. They had to pay for it didn't they. Yes, we lost people. Friends that didn't come back. I don't think we were the sort of people to brood over it, ever. You have to get into an attitude to make sure that you're as cold as a fish. Once someone has failed to return, that's it. Fortune smiled on me and not on some of the others. I can only say that whoever it was who popped off at me, wasn't a very good marksman. It transpired that we were doing something far more important than we thought. As far as we were concerned, it was just that there were some untidy creatures from over the other side of the channel, trying to bomb England and the United Kingdom. And we didn't want them to bomb us. After all, we never asked the Germans to start this nonsense, did we? But they did, and we had to stop them, and we did. It's our country. You die for you country.
Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC (deceased) Died : 2018 Signature Value : £55 Editions signed : Limited edition of 25 artist proofs.*	Wellum, Geoffrey (Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC (deceased)) Joined the RAF with a Short Service Commission in August 1939. He joined 92 Squadron flying Spitfires in June 1940 at the time of Dunkirk. He flew throughout the Battle of Britain, later completing over 50 fighter sweeps and escorts over northern France and Belgium until August 1941. He then joined 65 Squadron as Flight Commander in March 1942 operating over northern France and flew off aircraft carrier HMS Furious on Operation Pedestal, to Malta. Geoff was a Flight Lieutenant during Operation Pedestal. He returned to the UK as a test pilot for Gloster Aircraft and finished the war as a Pilot Attack Instructor. Geoffrey was credited with three destroyed, four probables and several damaged and was awarded the DFC in July 1941. Geoffrey Wellum died on 18th July 2018.
Wing Commander John Elkington (deceased) Died : 2019 Signature Value : £40 Editions signed : Limited edition of 25 artist proofs.*	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.
Flt Lt Archibald McInnes (deceased) Died : 2019 Signature Value : £20 Editions signed : Limited edition of 25 artist proofs.*	McInnes, Archibald (Flt Lt Archibald McInnes (deceased)) Commissioned as a Pilot in 1940 with 601 Sqn and later moved to 238 Sqn, completing his service with this Squadron. Archie flew Hurricanes with 601 Squadron at Exeter before moving to 238 Squadron at Chilbolton. He was later stationed in Malta, after travelling on board HMS Victorious during the hunt for the Bismarck. He lost his left arm after being shot down in North Africa, and after recovering he returned to active service with 691 Squadron at Roborough. Archibald McInnes passed away on Wednesday 31 July 2019 after celebrating his 100th birthday.
Tony Pickering AFC (deceased) Died : 2016 Signature Value : £45 Editions signed : Limited edition of 25 artist proofs.*	Pickering, Tony (Tony Pickering AFC (deceased)) With the RAFVR just before the war commenced, Tony Pickering joined 32 Squadron at Biggin Hill in July 1940, flying Hurricanes, and in August 1940 to 501 Squadron at Gravesend. In September he was shot down in Hurricane P5200, but unhurt in a duel with an Me109, destroying another 109 a few weeks later. In December he joined 601 Squadron at Northolt. After a spell instructing, he joined 131 as a Flight Commander in February 1943, and later served as a Squadron Commander in the Middle East. Tony Pickering died on 24th March 2016.

Squadrons Related to This Print

KG77

No.92 Sqn

Aircraft Related to This Print

Ju88

Me110

Spitfire

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