www.oliversart.com
ALONE AT DAWN
Aircraft: Lancaster
Gerald Coulson V.P. G.Av.A
The Second Edition in Gerald Coulson’s Lancaster Trilogy
Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, Commander – in – Chief of RAF Bomber command during WWII believed that the Lancaster was the greatest single factor in winning the war.
Introduced into service in mid 1942 the average life expectancy of a newly operational Lancaster was just a few months. For the crews themselves the outlook was bleak and losses for Bomber Command were staggering but their exploits of courage and persistence are legendary. With volunteers from many nations including Britain, Canada, Australia and South Africa this legendary aircraft took part in some of the most successful operations of the war. Indeed the unrelenting determination and courage of these men paved the way for the ultimate liberation of Europe.
Under the staunch leadership of their Commander – in – Chief, Arthur Harris the crews continuously battled against enemy fighters, heavy flak and severe cold, succeeding against overwhelming odds in appalling flying conditions. There are countless reports of great bravery, many unrewarded and it was often only the close bond that these men shared and a selfless devotion to duty that kept them fighting on.
This painting by Gerald Coulson depicts a crippled Lancaster limping back from a night bombing raid over occupied Europe. As was often the case the mighty Bomber has been heavily damaged by flak and with an engine out has fallen far behind the main force. Dawn is now breaking and the crew, still over a hostile North Sea, desperately struggle to reach the safety of the British mainland.
Produced in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund this superb new edition is dedicated to all those who flew with Bomber Command and each print is personally countersigned by prominent aircrew. This is the second edition in a trilogy of three prints to be released this year and all are available individually or as a matching numbered set.
Gerald Coulson, one of the Worlds most highly regarded Aviation Artists has produced a truly outstanding painting, perfectly capturing the mood and feeling of the scene as a new dawn breaks over a hostile sea. Combined with outstanding original signatures this release is certain to be highly collectable and makes a perfect companion to the other editions in the series, ‘A Lincolnshire Sunset – 1944’ and ‘Winter ‘Ops’’
Overall Print Size: 29¾" wide x 24¼ " high
A percentage of all proceeds from the sale of this edition are donated
to the RAF Benevolent Fund.
Signed and numbered by the artist Gerald Coulson and
Group Captain Drane Lowe CBE DFC AFC
Joining the RAF in August 1935 he completed pilot training and was posted
to 49 Sqn flying Hawker Hinds as a light bomber. At the outbreak of war
he took part in the early bombing raids over France, flying Hampdens and
then Wellingtons on missions over occupied Europe. Fully operational until
mid 1941 he was then posted to OTU at Cottesmore and Finingly as an instructor.
After a long and distinguished career, including a spell flying Canberras,
he retired from the RAF in 1965.
Flight Lieutenant Bill North
Posted to 61 Sqn he flew Wellingtons, Stirlings & Lancasters from
Skellingthorpe on bombing raids over France & Germany. In 1944 he
was shot down over Harquency in Northern France. His Lancaster badly hit,
he gave the order to bale out. As some members of the crew had damaged
parachutes, he took the decision to stay with the aircraft and crash land.
Despite being badly wounded he managed to land his Lancaster on a hillside
at night. Every member of the crew walked away, two of them evaded capture
and returned to England. He spent the rest of the war as a POW.
Air Commodore DM Strong CB AFC
Undergoing pilot training in 1936 he joined Bomber Squadron in 1937. When
war broke out he was flying Whitley’s with 166 Sqn then went to
104 Sqn flying Wellingtons. In 1941 whilst returning from a bombing raid
over Italy his aircraft was struck by lightning and he pulled out at 200
feet over the North Sea. Unable to continue he was forced to ditch and
all the crew survived but were captured and sent to Stalag Luft III. After
the war he remained in the RAF and after a distinguished career including
Senior ASO, RAF Germany and Officer Commanding RAF Halton he retired in
1966.
Squadron Leader BA ‘Jimmy’ James MC
Joining the RAF in 1939 he was commissioned and posted to 9 Sqn flying
Wellingtons from Honington in Suffolk. In June 1940 his aircraft was badly
hit by flak over Holland while on a bombing raid to Germany and he was
forced to bail out. He was captured and taken prisoner but then embarked
on what was to become a prolific period of escaping including the Great
Escape from Stalag Luft III. He retired from the RAF in 1958 and held
a number of posts in the Diplomatic Service.
MRAF Sir Michael Beetham GCB CBE DFC AFC
After undergoing pilot training with the RAFVR in 1941 he joined 50 Sqn
flying Lancasters from Skellingthorpe. Heavily involved at the height
of the bomber offensive he made many trips to Berlin often being hit and
on one occasion returning with three engines. After a posting to 57 Sqn
at East Kirby he was involved with flying out POW’s from Germany.
After the war he commanded 214 Sqn and flew the Vulcan and the Victor,
eventually becoming Chief of Air Staff and was deeply involved in the
Falklands Campaign.
*Flight Sergeant Stan Bradford DFM
Flying as a mid upper gunner on Lancasters he was with 57 Sqn based at
Scampton. On his very first operation he shot down a German fighter over
France in 1943 and by the end of his tour in 1944 had become an ‘ace’,
being credited with six enemy aircraft shot down.
*Squadron Leader Larry Curtis DFC
Joining the RAF in 1939 he completed training and was posted as a wireless
operator firstly to 149 sqn and then 99 sqn on Wellingtons. He then joined
OTU also on Whitleys before joining 158 sqn on Halifaxes. He was then
posted to 617 sqn on Lancasters and was the signals leader for 18 months,
joining Transport Command in 1944. He left the RAF in 1946.
*Flying Officer Basil Fish
Leaving university early he joined the RAF in November 1941 to train overseas
and qualified as a navigator in the summer of 1942, remaining with OTU
for a period. Due to his expertise in high altitude bombing he was called
up to 617 Sqn in July 1944 on Lancasters and took part in many of the
Squadrons precision bombing raids, including the attack on the Tirpitz.
He remained with 617 Sqn until he left the RAF in 1946 to return to university.
*Air Chief Marshal Sir Lewis Hodges KCB CBE DSO DFC
Joining 49 Sqn in 1940 he flew Hampdens during the early raids of WWII.
Shot down in September 1940 over occupied France he was captured but managed
to escape and made his way back to England. Rejoining 49 Sqn on his return
he was involved in the attacks against the Channel Dash operation by the
Germans in 1942. He was then posted to 161 Sqn (Special Duties) dropping
agents into German occupied territory from Hudsons, Lysanders and Halifaxes.
**Group Captain W.Farquharson DFC (companion print)
Joining the RAF in 1940 he trained as a pilot at Cranwell and was commissioned
in 1942. He then joined OTU before joining 115 sqn flying Wellington III’s.
In 1944 he and his flight broke away from the squadron to form 195 sqn
flying Lancasters, he stayed with this unit until the end of the war.
Remaining in the RAF after the war he had a long and distinguished career
retiring in 1976.
**Flight Lieutenant Douglas Newham CVO DFC (companion print)
Training as a navigator he was posted to 156 sqn on Wellingtons and then
150 sqn. He later transferred to 10 sqn on Lancasters.
**Air Marshal Sir John Curtiss KCB KBE (companion print)
Joining RAF Bomber Command as a navigator he was posted to 578 Sqn in
1944 for operations on Halifax Bombers. He was later posted to 158 Sqn
again as a Halifax navigator, flying from RAF Lisset. After the war he
had a long and distinguished career in the RAF including being Air Commander
for the Falklands Operations in 1982.
**Air Commodore Wilf Burnett DSO OBE DFC AFC (companion print)
A Canadian, he had joined the RAF before war broke out and was flying
Hampdens with 49 Sqn from Scampton during the early bombing raids. By
late 1940 he had already completed 300 varied operations including mining
enemy waters and the first bombing raids on Berlin, then with 408 Sqn
RCAF his Hampden crashed after a raid on Hamburg and he was the sole survivor.
He then commanded 138 Sqn (Special Duties) on Halifaxes and Stirlings,
dropping agents and supplies to the Resistance in occupied countries
**Flight Lieutenant Harry Hughes DFC DFM AE (companion print)
Joining the RAF in 1941 he trained as a navigator and joined 102 Sqn flying
Halifaxes from Pocklington in Yorkshire. He was then posted to 692 Sqn
on Mosquito light bombers as part of the Light Night Striking Force. This
unit were part of No.8 Group Bomber Command and nightly undertook fast
striking raids on Berlin using the 4000lb ‘cookie’ bomb.
**Chief Test Pilot Alex Henshaw
As a pre-war pilot he had built up a huge amount of success in precision
aerobatics and racing, winning the last Kings Cup before the war at the
fastest speed ever recorded. He set a record from London to Cape Town
and back that still stands today. Appointed as Chief Test Pilot at Castle
Bromwich in early 1940, he and his team were responsible for testing every
aircraft before it could leave the factory. Well known for test piloting
Spitfires he was also responsible for testing every Lancaster produced
by the factory and became famous for being able to roll the heavy bomber
during his routine. He personally flew thousands of different aircraft,
is acknowledged as one of the most accomplished Test Pilots ever and recognised
throughout the world as an aviation legend.
* Artists Proofs & Publishers Proofs
** Publishers Proofs only
Edition size:
500 signed and numbered prints (5 Signatures) - £180 inc vat (£153.19+vat)
50 Artists Proofs (9 Signatures) - £295 inc vat (£251.06+vat)
40 Publishers Proofs (15 Signatures) - £595 inc vat (£506.38+vat)
Publishers Proof
Issued with companion pencil drawing print ‘Wellington’. Conservation
mounted ‘Wellington’ displays an Aircrew Europe Medal and
is personally signed by :
Flt Lt Harry Hughes DFC DFM AE, Flt Lt Douglas Newham CVO DFC,
Am SIR John Curtiss KCB KBE, A/Cdr Wilf Burnett DSO OBE DFC AFC, GP Capt
W Farquharson DFC
Wellington
Overall size including mount 20.5in by 17in
If you have arrived at this page through a ‘backdoor’ you will have nowhere to go.
Please click here to go to our HOME page
www.oliversart.com