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COUNTRY LIFE ’43

Aircraft - Mosquito

The de Havilland Mosquito was one of the most versatile aircraft of WWII, taking part in almost every role that the RAF employed. As a Night Fighter it became famous for its excellent record and was also used for precision bombing and photo-reconnaissance, where its speed and height put it beyond the reach of the opposition. Later it became prolific with the Strike Wings in an Anti Shipping role and with the Pathfinder squadrons – piloted by such notable figures as Guy Gibson and Leonard Cheshire. Having a maximum speed of over 400mph the Mosquito had superb manoeuvrability and could out perform most other aircraft of the time.
With a unique airframe constructed of wood the Mosquito was light but exceptionally strong and had a reputation with its crews of being able to get them home even when heavily damaged. Few other aircraft were so highly regarded by the crew that flew them and enthusiasts alike, making the Mosquito one of the greatest aircraft of WWII.
During 1943 Mosquito Squadrons were involved in many precision bombing raids over specific targets in Germany, its design making it ideal for this role – Berlin and back took only four hours and at around 28000 feet German fighters were unable to touch it.
The first two RAF units to be equipped with the B. Mk IV were Nos. 105 and 139 Sqn. Both were used in strikes against specialist targets such as rail marshalling yards and key industrial plants, with the attacks being mounted along the length and breadth of Western Europe. Flying at low level and using maximum, cloud cover, the crews were largely able to strike their targets and return with minimal losses. One famous raid was to Berlin on 30th January 1943 – the tenth anniversary of Hitler’s ascension to power – when the Mosquito’s presence over the Reich Capital totally disrupted a speech due to be given by Hermann Goering.
It is a cold, misty winters day early in 1943 and a pair of Mosquitoes B. Mk IV return from a low level precision bombing raid over Occupied Europe. As the sun rises over the East Anglian countryside the unmistakable sound of Merlin Engines shatter the silence as these magnificent aircraft emerge from the mist skimming across the landscape, heading back to their Norfolk base.

Gerald Coulson has captured the scene perfectly, once again proving that he is a true Master in his field, combining the technical accuracy of this powerful aircraft with his ability to capture the mood and feeling of a cold winter landscape. Each print is personally countersigned by some of the most prolific WWII aircrew, each involved in a different role with the Mosquito, making this an exciting edition which will be in great demand.

Overall Print Size: 32 x 24

The signatures

Air Marshal Sir Ivor Broom KCB CBE DSO DFC AFC

Entering the RAF in 1940 he joined No. 114 Squadron as a sergeant pilot flying Blenheims. After 12 operations he and his crew were allocated to No. 105 Squadron and then No. 107 Squadron, the last remaining Blenheim Squadron at Malta. The Squadron remained in Malta without relief for five months carrying out low level attacks on the shipping. Very few of the original crews survived the detachment in fact he was commissioned during this period, when 107 Squadron had lost all their officers and for a short time was the only officer, other than the CO, in the Squadron. At the end of this tour he was awarded the DFC. In early 1943 he became one of the first Mosquito instructors in the Pathfinder force and later moved to No. 571 Squadron with the Light Night Striking Force. He then formed No. 163 Squadron as acting Wing Commander. He was awarded a bar to his DFC for a low level moonlight mining attack on the Dormund –Ems Canal from 50ft and then a second bar for getting a 4000lb bomb into the mouth of a railway tunnel during the final German Ardennes offensive. During his time on Mosquitoes his navigator was Tommy Broom, together they formed an inseparable combination.
Remaining with the RAF after WWII and in accordance with peacetime rules for a much smaller Air Force he was reduced in rank first to Squadron Leader and then to Flight Lieutenant in 1948. Promoted to Air Marshal in 1974 he became the Head of the UK National Air Traffic Services and was the first serving officer to be appointed to the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority. Retiring from the RAF in 1979 he has been actively engaged in civil aviation since then.

Squadron Leader T.J. ‘Tommy’ Broom DFC

As an observer with 105 Squadron he spent the early months of the WWII on Fairey Battles in France and then on Blenheims back in England. After spending a period as an instructor at 13 OTU he rejoined 105 Squadron on Mosquitoes, they were in fact the first squadron in the RAF to receive them. Through early 1942 he was navigator on many of the daylight raids carried out by 105 Squadron. In 1943 he became navigator to Ivor Broom (no relation) in 163 Squadron and together they formed an inseparable and very successful combination. Known as ‘the Flying Brooms’ they were together throughout their time on Mosquitoes including the low level attack on the Dortmund – Ems Canal and 22 attacks on Berlin.

Group Captain Richard Haine OBE DFC

Joining the RAF as an NCO in 1935 he undertook his first defensive patrol in September 1939 in Blenheims with 25 Squadron. Commissioned in 1940 and posted to 600 Squadron he took part in an attack on Rotterdam airfield in which all six Blenheims were shot down, he evaded capture and returned to the UK. Awarded the DFC in July he then joined 68 Squadron in 1941 as a flight commander until the end of the year when he became commanding officer of 96 Squadron claiming victories on Beaufighters. After a stint in North Africa with HQ, Fighter Command he was given command of 488 Squadron in January 1944 claiming victories whilst flying Mosquito XIII’s. Volunteering for test flying he remained at Odiham until May 1945. His post war appointments included station commander Kai Tak, Hong Kong, OC Flying at Habbaniyah, Iraq (on Venoms) and a spell at the Ministry of Aviation. Retiring from the RAF ion 1970 he went into insurance and later became harbourmaster on the River Orwell.

Edition size –450 signed and numbered prints - £165 inc vat (£140.43+vat)

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