The Third Edition in Gerald Coulson’s Lancaster Trilogy
Up to 1942 Bomber Command operations were beset by many problems. The means they had to accurately pinpoint the target and assault it were totally lacking, in fact their Commander in Chief, Air Marshall Arthur Harris later wrote ‘It was glaringly obvious that the average crew in average weather could not find their way to the target’.
Between February and August 1942 an effort was made to rectify this through the development of a specialised target finding and target marking force, which became known as the Pathfinders. Activated on August 15 this new group was formed under the leadership of their AOC Air Commodore Don Bennett, himself a very experienced pre war pilot with exceptional navigational skills. The aircrews of No. 8 (PFF) Group were tasked with marking out the designated targets but the formation of this group was initially opposed by Harris. He felt that the ranks of his ‘Main Force’ could be weakened if a high number of experienced and highly skilled crews were taken by this specialist unit, leading to a lessening of skills within the other bomber groups. He agreed however for an alternative scheme whereby complete units were assigned to the ‘Pathfinder Force’ and the stage was then set for what was to become the ‘Main Offensive’ of Bomber Command.

The first four Squadrons – Nos. 7 (Stirlings), 35 (Halifax), 83 (Lancaster) and 156 (Wellingtons) – were based at a clutch of airfields between Cambridge and Huntingdon. In the absence of any specialist ‘Target Markers’ the crews were initially forced to operate using standard flares and the early raids produced variable results, with cloud cover often proving the main obstacle in accurate marking. However during the winter of 1942 the introduction of the ground guided marking system, OBOE, marked a quantum leap in accurate target marking and by mid 1943 Pathfinder techniques had been developed for all forms of weather conditions, including nights when complete overcast existed.Pathfinder crews used a combination of personal skill and technical equipment such as H2S to locate their targets. Often flying against overwhelming odds and in appalling conditions they transformed the performance of a bomber force that in 1941 was dropping almost half its bombs on open countryside.This third and final painting in Gerald Coulson’s Tribute to Bomber Command depicts Lancaster Bombers of No.8 (PFF) Group returning late after a gruelling operation over Berlin. It is Christmas 1943 and the winter landscape reflects the early morning sunrise as the weary crews approach the safety of their Cambridgeshire base.

Produced in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund this outstanding new edition is dedicated to all those who flew with the Pathfinder Force and each print is personally countersigned by prominent aircrew. This is the third and final edition in a trilogy of three prints and all are available individually or as a matching numbered set.

Gerald Coulson is one of the worlds most highly regarded Aviation Artists and has truly excelled himself with this exceptional painting, once again proving that he is a master in his field. His ability to combine the mood and feeling of the cold winter landscape with the technical accuracy and movement of the mighty bomber is second to none. Add to this original signatures of genuine Pathfinders, and this truly historic print will be in great demand as a highly sought after and collectable edition – a perfect companion the previous two releases – ‘A Lincolnshire sunset 1944’ and ‘Alone At Dawn’.

Overall Print size: 29¾ wide x 24¼"high

The Signatures

Wing Commander Ernest Rodley DSO DFC AFC AE
Flight Lieutenant Dennis Woolley DFC DFM
Wing Commander Jim Wright DFC
Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM
Squadron Leader Norman Scrivenor DSO DFC AE
*W.O. Bill Wilcox DFM
*Group Captain Gerry South DSO DFC
*Flight Lieutenant Derek Balcombe DFC
*Warrant Officer M. ‘Ben’ Brennan DFC AFM
**Air Commodore Ted Sismore DSO DFC AFC AE
**Squadron Leader R.G. ‘Bob’ Wadsworth DSO DFC
**Squadron Leader Ron Curtis DSO DFC
**Group Captain Geoffrey Womersley DSO DFC
**Flight Lieutenant ‘Bertie’ Boulter DFC

*Artists Proofs and Publishers Proofs only
**Publishers Proofs companion print

Edition size:
500 Signed and numbered prints (5 signatures) - £180inc vat (£153.19+vat)
50 Artist Proofs (9 signatures) - £295inc vat (£251.06+vat)
40 Publishers Proofs with companion print ( 14 signatures ) - £595inc vat (£506.38 +vat)

Publishers Proof companion print : ‘Mosquito’

Overall size including mount 20.5in by 17in

Superb print of a pencil drawing by Gerald Coulson. Each is conservation mounted displaying an Aircrew Europe Medal and personally signed by :
Sqn Leader Bob Wadsworth DSO DFC
Sqn Leader Ron Curtis DSO DFC
Gp Capt Geoffrey Womersley DSO DFC
Flt Lt ‘Bertie’ Boulter DFC

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