History of 56 Squadron

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History of 56 Squadron Royal Air Force.  56 Squadron. Hawker Hurricane of No.56 Squadron, shown in aviation art prints available from Cranston Fine Arts the aviation art company, part of the Royal Air Force squadron's history in aviation art.

Pilot of 56 Squadron. Wing Commander Gordon Sinclair OBE DFC  A short service commission officer, Sinclair joined 19 Squadron as early as 1937 and was still with the Squadron in 1940. Over Dunkirk he destroyed a Bf 109 and probably another, and then on June 1 he destroyed two Bf 110s and on a later patrol the same day he claimed a He 111 and a Do 17 destroyed. He was awarded the DFC. He knew Bader well during his stay with 19 Squadron when Bader often flew as his No 2. Sinclair remembers his forceful personality, but also that he was great fun. They often played golf and squash together. In June 1940 Sinclair was posted as Flight Commander to 3 10 Squadron at Drixford and was soon to fly with that Squadron as part of the Duxford Wing, led by Douglas Bader. His final score was 10 confirmed victories. He later commanded 56 Squadron on Typhoons before promotion to Wing Commander and a post on the staff of HO 84 Group. Sinclair retired from the RAF in 1957.

Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500, ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four 20mm cannon.

All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in 1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600 for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain went to hurricane pilots.  The Hawker Hurricane was used in all theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533 Hurricanes were built.  


2 Discount Two-Print Packs and
1 Discount Multi-Print Pack
Available on These Editions, Including :

Buy With :
Spitfire Mk.IXE by Ivan Berryman. (G)
for £300

Save £10 !

Buy With :
Hurricane Patrol by Graeme Lothian (AP)
for £280

Save £75 !

Glorious Summer by Robert Taylor

Image shows nearest, young Pilot Officer Geoffrey Page, later to become one of the RAFs most highly decorated fighter aces, powers his Mk I Hurricane over the country lane at the edge of the airfield, as he and his fellow No 56 Squadron pilots make their third scramble of the day.

Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £200.00

Signed by Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC* (deceased), Wing Commander Christopher Bunny Currant DSO DFC (deceased), Group Captain Dennis David CBE DFC AFC (deceased), Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC, Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM and Wing Commander Gordon Sinclair OBE DFC (deceased)



Limited edition of artist proofs. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £

Signed by Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC* (deceased), Wing Commander Christopher Bunny Currant DSO DFC (deceased), Group Captain Dennis David CBE DFC AFC (deceased), Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC, Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM and Wing Commander Gordon Sinclair OBE DFC (deceased)


Limited edition of 250 Millennium Proof Edition Prints. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £495.00

Signed by Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC*, Wing Commander Christopher Bunny Currant DSO DFC, Group Captain Dennis David CBE DFC AFC, Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC, Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM, Wing Commander Gordon Sinclair OBE DFC, Air Commodore Cyril Brown CBE AFC AE (deceased), Air Vice Marshal Edward Crew CB DSO DFC (deceased), Group Captain John Cunningham CBE DSO DFC AE DL FRAeS (deceased), Air Commodore John Ellacombe CB DFC*, Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC, Warrant Officer Peter Fox, Flight Lieutenant Peter Hairs MBE, Squadron Leader Percy Morfill DFM, Group Captian Alan Murray DFC, Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC, Wing Commander Peter Parrott DFC AFC (deceased), Group Captain John Peel DFC DSO (deceased), Squadron Leader Arthur Bill Pond AFC, Squadron Leader Christopher Riddle (deceased) and Captain Tommy Thompson DFC JP BOAC/BA.



ITEM CODE DHM2464

 
Glorious Summer by Robert Taylor  Image shows nearest, young Pilot Officer Geoffrey Page, later to become one of the RAFs most highly decorated fighter aces, powers his Mk I Hurricane over the country lane at the edge of the airfield, as he and his fellow No 56 Squadron pilots make their third scramble of the day.  Signatories: Air Commodore Pete Brothers, Wg Cdr Christopher 'Bunny' Currant, Gp Cpt Denis David, Gp Cpt Billy Drake, Wg Cdr Paul Farnes and Wg Cdr. Gordon Sinclair.

Throughout the long hot summer of 1940 the destiny of the British Isles, indeed the future of Europe, lay in the hands of a small band of young RAF fighter pilots. Against them stood the vast aerial fleets of an all-powerful Luftwaffe, gloating and confident from its victories in Poland, France and the Low Countries. Lying in wait across the Channel, anticipating an easy victory by its air force, were the armies of the most powerful tyrant the world had ever known. With Europe already succumbed to Nazi rule, Britain was alone, the last bastion among the free nations to stand against an evil empire bent upon world domination. The battle, the first ever to be fought entirely in the air, would change the course of history, whatever the outcome.

Outnumbered more than five to one at the outset, the odds were so heavily stacked against the RAF, the task looked hopeless. But as the ferocious aerial battles continued through the long summer months, the tactical skills, devotion and raw courage of the RAF's young flyers, gradually turned the tide. By September end, the battle was won and the defeated Luftwaffe retired to its plundered territories to lick its wounds.

London Guard by Adrian Rigby  Like many others, the Hurricanes of No.56 Squadron were frequently scrambled to attack German formations heading for London.  Signatories: Flt Lt Ronald H Smyth DFC AE RAF.

 

 

SHOWCASE PRODUCT

EDITIONS

Special Offer Pack of All Four Prints Price : £420

Summer Harvest by Gerald Coulson Price : £145

Winter Ops by Gerald Coulson Price : £180

Outbound Lancaster by Gerald Coulson Price : £135

Lancaster Lift-Off by Gerald Coulson Price : £115

ARTIST
Featured Artist - Gerald Coulson



Gerald Coulson has been painting professionally for over 30 years and has a reputation that is second to none. Entirely self taught, he developed his technique to such a high standard that his work was published as fine art prints, enabling him to begin a full time painting career in 1969. Since that time his work, covering many different subjects, has been published and marketed worldwide as both open and limited edition prints. Gerald has had many one-man shows both in the UK and the USA and his work has been extensively exhibited throughout the world. A recent one man show of his in the UK attracted more than 3000 people in two days. The Fine Art Trade Guild have placed him in the top ten best selling artists no less than fifteen times - three times at number one. Coulson's passion for aircraft stems from childhood. This passion led to an apprenticeship as an aircraft engineer after which he served in the RAF as a technician and with British Airways as an engineer at Heathrow. His knowledge of aircraft engineering, combined with his drawing ability, led to him becoming a Technical Illustrator of service manuals for Civil and Military aircraft. These experiences and technical background have allowed him an insight and intimate knowledge of the aircraft he paints. Along with a unique ability to capture these aircraft on canvas this naturally led to a painting career which he has developed to successfully cover a wide variety of subjects. Following a trip to the 1991 British Grand Prix his interest in Motor racing was fuelled. His ability to capture the technical detail and a talent for painting subjects at speed meant that this was a perfect natural progression alongside his aviation work and he is now also firmly established as one of the worlds leading motor racing artists. A Vice President and founder member of the Guild of Aviation Artists he is a four times winner of the Flight International Trophy for outstanding aviation painting. He qualified for his pilots licence in 1960 and is still actively flying today - mostly vintage aircraft, and can often be seen buzzing over the Fens of Cambridgeshire in a Tiger Moth. Whatever the subject he paints, whether aviation, landscape or portrait, his unique ability to capture the realism and 'mood'of the scene is unsurpassed, making him one of the most widely collected and highly regarded artists in the world today.

Gerald Coulson Dambuster Prints



Save £155 on this specially selected pack of Gerald Coulson Lancaster prints. All four prints for £420, giving collectors these prints at trade discounted prices!

This pack of aviation art prints includes 4 separate prints, at a highly discounted price when purchased in this special pack. The prints included in the pack are :

Summer Harvest by Gerald Coulson,
Winter Ops by Gerald Coulson,
Outbound Lancaster by Gerald Coulson
and
Lancaster Lift-Off by Gerald Coulson.

In all, the prints have 12 different signatures (14 in total) of pilots and aircrew of Lancaster bombers.

Click the 'Special Offer Pack' Edition to order.

DETAIL IMAGES





EXTRAS

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