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The Secret Weapon by David Pentland. - Cranston Military Prints

The Secret Weapon by David Pentland.


The Secret Weapon by David Pentland.

RAF Scampton, 16th May 1943. Ground crew deliver the top secret bouncing bombs to the Lancasters of 617 Squadron in preparation for Operation Chastise.
Item Code : DP0213PThe Secret Weapon by David Pentland. - Editions Available
DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Signed limited edition of 30 giclee art prints. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 21cm)
Lucas, Kenneth
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2011
Corporal Kenneth Lucas (deceased)
Ken Lucas joined the RAF in June 1940, and trained as ground crew for bomber Command. He was sent first to 49 Squadron at RAF Scampton, before transferring to 617 Squadron upon its formation, Involved in all the major servicing of the aircraft before the raid including fitting the motors that drove the belt that spun the bomb, and attaching the critical lamps to the underside of the aircraft. Sadly, Ken Lucas passed away in January 2011.
Signature Value : £30
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : David Pentland

Signature(s) value alone : £30		£15 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!		Now : £70.00

Quantity:
Limited edition of 20 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 21cm)
Lucas, Kenneth
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2011
Corporal Kenneth Lucas (deceased)
Ken Lucas joined the RAF in June 1940, and trained as ground crew for bomber Command. He was sent first to 49 Squadron at RAF Scampton, before transferring to 617 Squadron upon its formation, Involved in all the major servicing of the aircraft before the raid including fitting the motors that drove the belt that spun the bomb, and attaching the critical lamps to the underside of the aircraft. Sadly, Ken Lucas passed away in January 2011.
Signature Value : £30
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : David Pentland

Signature(s) value alone : £30		Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!£105.00

Quantity:
Original pencil drawing by David Pentland. Paper size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm)
Lucas, Kenneth
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2011
Corporal Kenneth Lucas (deceased)
Ken Lucas joined the RAF in June 1940, and trained as ground crew for bomber Command. He was sent first to 49 Squadron at RAF Scampton, before transferring to 617 Squadron upon its formation, Involved in all the major servicing of the aircraft before the raid including fitting the motors that drove the belt that spun the bomb, and attaching the critical lamps to the underside of the aircraft. Sadly, Ken Lucas passed away in January 2011.
Signature Value : £30
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Stevens, Maureen

Died : 2018
Corporal Maureen Stevens (deceased)
Was an R/T Operator in the control tower at Scampton during 1943 and was on duty on the night of the 16/17 May when she talked home the survivors of the Dambuster Raids. She died on 3rd December 2017.
Signature Value : £15
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Phillips, J D
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2014
Warrant Officer J D Phillips (deceased)
Having qualified as a Flight engineer, he was one of the first crews to join 617 Sqn following the Dams raids and completed operations against the mighty Tirpitz Battle Ship. He died in April 2014.
Signature Value : £30
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Johnson, George L

Died : 2022
Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM (deceased)
Joining the RAF in 1940, George Johnson served with 97 Squadron before joining 617 Squadron. Bomb aimer on American Joe McCarthys Lancaster AJ-T, they attacked the Sorpe Dam, for which he was awarded the DFM. Commissioned a few months later, George retired from the RAF in 1962. The last surviving Dambuster, he died aged 101 on 7th December 2022.
Signature Value : £45
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : David Pentland

Signature(s) value alone : £120		£60 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!		Now : £490.00

Quantity:


Some other related items available from this site.

The Dams raids on the night of 16/17 May 1943 were notable not least for the incredible ingenuity shown by the Lancaster crews in their efforts to avoid detection by the enemy en route to their targets. P/O W C Townsend elected to fly his aircraft, ED886(G) O for Orange below tree-top height through a forest firetrap on his way to the Ennepe Dam, a feat carried out by moonlight alone. AJ-O made it successfully to its target where the Upkeep bomb was observed to hit the dam, but with no effect. Townsend returned to base at this perilous altitude, the crew observing that flak shells were bouncing off the sea in the German gunners' efforts to prevent the Lancaster's escape across the North Sea. AJ-O was one of eleven aircraft to return safely out of a total of nineteen that took part in the heroic raids under the codename Operation Chastise.

A Wing and a Prayer by Ivan Berryman. 		The Lancaster B MkIII of Flt Lt J V Hopgood was the second aircraft to make an attempt at breaching the Möhne Dam on the night of 16/17th of May 1943. Already damaged by flak en route to their target, the embattled Lancaster ED925(G) (AJ-M) encountered intense flak and 20mm fire from the shore and from the towers of the dam itself. Flying Officer Gregory's front gun turret had taken the full force of the flak burst during the journey, killing him instantly, and Hopgood himself was almost certainly wounded in the same explosion. Nevertheless, they pressed home their attack but, just moments from the release of the Upkeep bomb, both of Hopgood's port engines took direct hits and burst into flames, and other rounds ripped through the starboard wing. Perhaps distracted by the sudden conflagration, Hopgood's aircraft released its bomb just seconds too late to be effective. The bomb bounced over the dam wall, landing on the power station below where it exploded with devastating results. With blazing fuel now engulfing the wing of his crippled aircraft, Hopgood climbed to about 500ft where the wing failed, sending ED925 into a dive from which it would never recover. By jumping clear, clutching their parachutes just moments before impact, two of her crew survived to become prisoners of war.

Bravest of the Brave by Ivan Berryman. 		The Avro Lancaster B MkIII ED932(G), AJ-G, of Wing Commander Guy Gibson was the first aircraft to make an attempt at breaching the Möhne Dam on the night of 16/17th of May 1943 as Operation Chastise got underway. Having already made one 'sighting' run over the target, Gibson turned and began his second run, the flak and 20mm fire from the shore and from the towers of the dam now throwing up a hail of fire. Undeterred, the Upkeep mine was released, skipping across the water as planned, but striking the dam wall off centre with no visible effect. Gibson made several passes over the Möhne, each time escorting the attacking aircraft in an attempt to draw the enemy fire. With the Möhne finally breached, he led the remaining aircraft on to the Eder dam with similar success before returning safely to Manston.

First Strike by Ivan Berryman. 		Aircraft History: ND845 was one of 600 Mk III Lancasters delivered to the RAF from December 1943 to May 1944 by A V Roe (Chadderton) Delivered to No.7 Squadron, it was lost on the night of 19th/20th May 1944, whilst acting as Master Bomber on a raid against the railway marshalling yards at Le Mans. It is believed it was in collision with another No.7 Squadron Lancaster JB653 (MG - R) piloted by Squadron Leader J M Dennis - the Deputy Master Bomber. There were no survivors from either crew. <br><br>Wing Commander James Fraser Barron, DSO, DFC, DFM: Born on 9th January 1921 in Dunedin, New Zealand, James Fraser Barron commenced training in the RNZAF on 2nd July 1940. Following his qualification as a Sergeant pilot, he arrived in the UK and was selected for bomber training and after leaving No.20 Operational Training Unit at RAF Lossiemouth - where Barron and his crew survived a ditching in a Wellington- they were posted to Short Stirling equipped No.15 Squadron at RAF Wyton, completing his first tour. Posted to No.1651 Conversion Unit, Waterbeach as an instructor he was commissioned as Pilot Officer in March 1942 and in May 1942 was awarded the DFM for his service with No.15 squadron. During this period he managed to take part in further sorties including the One Thousand Bomber Raids against Cologne, Essen and Bremen. In September 1942, Barron joined No.7 squadron, flying 16 sorties on this tour - during which he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant, followed in December 1942 by the award of his Path Finder Force badge. At the end of his tour in February 1943, he was awarded the DFC and a fortnight later his first DSO. He was then posted to No.11 OTU, Wescott. Tiring of the training environment, Fraser Barron eventually persuaded Hamish Mahaddie (at one time his flight commander) to approve his return to operations - an approval regretted by Hamish. Fraser rejoined the now Lancaster equipped No.7 Squadron in December 1943, which was for Bomber Command a period of heavy losses. Fraser took part in several sorties including on the night of 19th/20th February 1944, the Leipzig raid - during which the RAF lost 78 bombers. He was promoted to Wing Commander in February 1944 and on 28th April was appointed C.O. of No.7 Squadron. Fraser and his crew were now often used as Master Bomber to control bomber attacks and for one such attack on Nantes on 7th May 1944 he was awarded the bar to his DSO. On the night of 19th/20th May 1944, whilst on his third tour - his 79th sortie in all, Fraser Barron and his crew were lost during a raid against the railway marshalling yards at Le Mans. He was twenty three years old.

Avro Lancaster Mk III ND845 MG-C. by M A Kinnear.
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


Corporal Kenneth Lucas (deceased)
Died : 2011
*Signature Value : £30

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 30 giclee art prints.
Limited edition of 20 artist proofs.
Original pencil drawing by David Pentland.


Lucas, Kenneth
(Corporal Kenneth Lucas (deceased))

Ken Lucas joined the RAF in June 1940, and trained as ground crew for bomber Command. He was sent first to 49 Squadron at RAF Scampton, before transferring to 617 Squadron upon its formation, Involved in all the major servicing of the aircraft before the raid including fitting the motors that drove the belt that spun the bomb, and attaching the critical lamps to the underside of the aircraft. Sadly, Ken Lucas passed away in January 2011.




Corporal Maureen Stevens (deceased)
Died : 2018
*Signature Value : £15

Editions signed :

Original pencil drawing by David Pentland.


Stevens, Maureen
(Corporal Maureen Stevens (deceased))

Was an R/T Operator in the control tower at Scampton during 1943 and was on duty on the night of the 16/17 May when she talked home the survivors of the Dambuster Raids. She died on 3rd December 2017.


Warrant Officer J D Phillips (deceased)
Died : 2014
*Signature Value : £30

Editions signed :

Original pencil drawing by David Pentland.


Phillips, J D
(Warrant Officer J D Phillips (deceased))

Having qualified as a Flight engineer, he was one of the first crews to join 617 Sqn following the Dams raids and completed operations against the mighty Tirpitz Battle Ship. He died in April 2014.




Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM (deceased)
Died : 2022
*Signature Value : £45

Editions signed :

Original pencil drawing by David Pentland.


Johnson, George L
(Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM (deceased))

Joining the RAF in 1940, George Johnson served with 97 Squadron before joining 617 Squadron. Bomb aimer on American Joe McCarthys Lancaster AJ-T, they attacked the Sorpe Dam, for which he was awarded the DFM. Commissioned a few months later, George retired from the RAF in 1962. The last surviving Dambuster, he died aged 101 on 7th December 2022.
Squadrons Related to This Print
No.617 Sqn
Aircraft Related to This Print
Lancaster

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