May 17th 1943: the thunder of Merlin engines fills the air, shattering the quiet of a Dutch dawn and causing wildfowl to scatter in alarm. Flying at tree-top height the Lancaster of Bill Townsend heads at full throttle towards the coast and the relative safety of the North Sea.

This day the world will awaken to news of one the most daring and ingenious air raids of all time. RAF Lancasters of 617 Squadron, using the unique ‘bouncing bomb’ created by Barnes Wallis, had destroyed some of Germany’s major dams, causing serious flooding of the industrial Ruhr and inflicting great damage on the enemy’s war effort.

Tasked with attacking the Ennepe Dam, Bill Townsend had to contend with low mist in the valleys and intense flak from enemy defences alerted by earlier aircraft. For his pilot skills, determination and bravery Bill Townsend was subsequently awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.

All editions are signed and numbered by the artist.

Overall print size:31” x 21” /79 x 53cm

The Artist Proofs come with the Companion Print shown below which is signed by:

Squadron Leader George ‘Johnny’ Johnson DFM
One of the legendary 617 Squadron Dambusters, ‘Johnny’ Johnson was Bomb Aimer on AJ-T which attacked the Sorpe Dam for which Johnny was awarded the DFM. The aircraft was piloted by the American Joe McCarthy and the pair went on to fly 40 more missions together.

Companion print
Dambusters - The Dash for Home

Overall print size: 16.5" x 10.5" / 42 x 26 cm.

Taking the story on another stage, Bill Townsend’s Lancaster has evaded the German coastal gun batteries and is heading out over the North Sea; the crew anxiously scan the skies for enemy fighters. At 06.15 Bill Townsend lands at RAF Scampton – the last aircraft home; bringing Operation Chastise to a close and cementing a place in aviation history for ever.

Editions

95 - Signed and numbered - £95inc vat (£80.85+vat)

20- Artist proofs - 1 sig - £135inc vat (£114.90+vat)

Orders from outside the European Union are free of VAT

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