|
The Royal Air Force Bristol
Beaufighters and Beau Nightfighters in aviation art prints by Geoff Lea,
Ivan Berryman and Frank Wootton. Aviation art print available from Cranston
Fine Arts, the aviation art print company.
BRISTOL BEAUFIGHTER
The
Bristol Beaufighter was a Torpedo Bomber and had a crew of two with
a maximum speed of 330mph and a ceiling of 29,000 feet. maximum normal
range of 1500 miles but could be extended to 1750 miles. The Bristol
Beaufighter carried four 20mm cannon in the belly of the aircraft and upto
six .303in browning machine guns in the wings. it could also carry eight 3
-inch rockets, 1605 lb torpedo or a bomb load of 1,000 lb. The
Bristol Beaufighter first flew in July 1939 and with some modifications
entered service with the Royal Air Force in July 1940. In the winter
of 1940 - 1941 the Beaufighter was used as a night fighter. and in
March 1941 the aircraft was used at Coastal Command as a long range strike
aircraft. and in 1941, the Beaufighter arrived in North Africa and
used as a forward ground attack aircraft. The Bristol Beaufighter
was used also in India, Burma and Australia. A total of 5,564
Beaufighters were built until production in Britain finished in 1945, but
a further 364 were built in Australia for the Australian Air Force |
| Strike and Strike Again by Robert Taylor. By the spring of 1945, Germanys once all-conquering submarine fleet, driven by allied forces from its bases in estern France, had fled to the relative safety of the Norwegian fjords - territory still remaining under German occupation since 1940. In one of Hitlers last stands, more than 100 U-Boats, merchant freighters, flakships, and other military vessels were hathered in the narrow fjords, laying up by day and sailing undercover of darkness. They were a menace that had to be dealt with. Tasked with the difficult job of eliminating this force were the Beaufighters and Mosquitos of RAF Coastal Commands Strike Wings based in Scotland. - Our job was to go after this shipping and sink it - recalled Wing Commader Colin Milson, C.O. of No. 455s Beaufighters. - The fjords were often just 200 - 300 yards across with cliffs rising vertically up 2000 feet, the deep water allowing the German shipping to get in beneath these high overhanging cliffs. This made for difficult and dangerous flying, exacerbated by the heavy flak and machine gun fire that always welcomed us. RAF Aircrew Edition: Signed Limited Edition of 450 prints. Image size 28 inches x 16 inches (72cm x 41cm). Price £200.00 Signed by Flying Officer Harold Corbin CGM, Warrant Officer Les Doughty DFM and Flight Lieutenant Herbert Bert Graham.
RAF Aircrew Edition: Artist Proof Edition of 25 prints. Image size 28 inches x 16 inches (72cm x 41cm)
. Price £325.00 Signed by Flying Officer Harold Corbin CGM, Warrant Officer Les Doughty DFM and Flight Lieutenant Herbert Bert Graham.
RAF Victory in Europe. Signed Limited Edition of 400 prints. Image size 28 inches x 16 inches (72cm x 41cm). Price £250.00 Signed by Flying Officer Harold Corbin CGM, Warrant Officer Les Doughty DFM, Flight Lieutenant Herbert Bert Graham, Flight Lieutenant Ray Harington, Flight Lieutenant Des Curtis DFC, Flying Officer Maurice Webb DFM and Warrant Officer Bill Parfitt.
RAF Victory in Europe. Remarque Edition of 25 prints. Includes 7 signatures. Image size 28 inches x 16 inches (72cm x 41cm). Price £ Signed by Flying Officer Harold Corbin CGM, Warrant Officer Les Doughty DFM, Flight Lieutenant Herbert Bert Graham, Flight Lieutenant Ray Harington, Flight Lieutenant Des Curtis DFC, Flying Officer Maurice Webb DFM and Warrant Officer Bill Parfitt.
RAAF Edition: Signed Limited Edition of 150 prints. Includes 9 signatures. Image size 28 inches x 16 inches (72cm x 41cm). Price £275.00
ITEM CODE DHM2581 |
| Calling Starlight by Philip West. Royal Air Force Beaufighter used as a nightfighter, shoots down a German Heinkel III over the coast of England. Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £
ITEM CODE LE0228 |
| Double Trouble by Stan Stokes. The Bristol Beaufighter was one of the most successful twin-engine fighters utilized by the RAF during WW II. The forerunner of the Beaufighter was the Bristol Beaufort, which was the first modern torpedo bomber to enter service. The Beaufort, known officially as the Type-152 was derived from the earlier Type-150, which in turn had been influenced by the Bristol Blenheim. About the time the first Beauforts were being flight tested, the aircrafts chief designer, Leslie Frise, commenced a study to see if the Beauforts airframe could be adapted to create a twin engine fighter design. The modified design (Type-156) incorporated a narrower fuselage, a shorter nose section utilizing a single-seat cockpit, and a dorsal observers position. The prototype Beaufighter made its first flight in July of 1939. A year of flight testing and refinement followed. Only Hercules III engines were available for the first production models. This gave the first marks performance roughly comparable to a Hawker Hurricane. Most Beaus were armed with four nose-mounted canon and an additional six machine guns in the wings. This gave the Beaufighter an impressive amount of firepower. As the Battle of Britain raged priority was given to modifying existing aircraft to the night fighter role. German bombers were relatively free from RAF fighters when attacking at night. The Beaufighter represented an ideal platform for this night fighter role. It was fast enough at 360-MPH to catch German bombers, it was heavily armed, and the observers position was an ideal spot to incorporate a radar operators controls. These night fighter versions were painted a matte black. On October 25, 1940 a Beaufighter recorded its first night victory. The Beaus utilized a transmitting antenna mounted on the nose, and receiving antennas mounted on the leading section of both wings. As the War progressed the Beaufighter would also become an important ground attack and fighter/bomber for the RAF. As depicted in Stan Stokes dramatic painting entitled Double Trouble, an RAF Beaufighter piloted by Group Captain John Cunningham downs a Ju-88 bomber. Cunningham was the RAFs top night fighter ace. He, and his radar operator Jimmy Rawnsley, were credited with nineteen night victories. Cunningham also downed one enemy aircraft during daylight. He served with No. 604 Squadron, which had both a day and night fighter capability. The squadrons night fighting proficiency rose dramatically from late 1940 until mid-1941. By 1943, the Beaufighters were replaced with faster Mosquitoes. Cunningham was demobilized following the War. He joined DeHavilland Aircraft as its Chief Test Pilot following the War, and retired from British Aerospace in 1980. Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00  Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Signed limited edition of 225 prints, signed by John Cunningham (deceased), and the artist. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £94.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE STK0114 |
| Strike Wing Attack - Beaufighter by Frank Wootton. Coastal Command Strike Wings by Neil Wheeler
It was not until ten years ago that the first detailed account appeared recording the achievements and sacrifices of the Beaufighter anti-shipping Strike Wings. Surprisingly, these important and, as a whole, very successful activites semmed to have been forgotten in the years immediately after the war. Until 1942 the attack of enemy shipping, particularly that to and from Dutch ports and North German and Scandinavian ports, ahd been carried out in the main by individual attacks by bomber aircraft, at times with considerable losses. The concept of using a Wing of Beaufighters, with two squadrons to suppress enemy anti-aircraft fire and one with torpedoes to sink the ships in the convoy, gradually developed in 1942. Unfortunately, the first strike on 20th November 1942 was disastrous, largely through failure to rendezvous with the fighter escort, the casualties were heavy and the results poor. The Wing was not to operate again until 18th April 1943, and only after a thorough revision of tactics and much training. That strike, which I led, was an unqualified success ans Strike Wings were, so to speak, born. They continued with great success until the end of the war. Initially, the casualties that were suffered were extremely high, particularly in 1943 before the Allies achieved overwhelming air supremacy. But they continued to be high because most were due to the concentrated anti-aircraft fire from the ships in the convoys. I understand that the casualties were about the same as Bomber Command. However, the Strike Wings, as a considerably smaller force in comparison, inflicted far greater losses on the enemy relative to their own.
Account of the operation on 21st July 1944 - Philip Brett
This was my second operational flight. On my first I had had a three foot hole blown in my tailplane, teaching me that shipping strikes were indeed dangerous. This time I was carrying my first live torpedo and I realised I now had to do in anger what I had done a hundred times in enjoyable practice runs. I was expected to fly at a height of 150 feet and a speed of 180 knots, keeping straight and level until I was within about half a mile of an enemy ship, with cameras recording what I was actually doing when I made my drop. To add to my nervousness we were told that the convoy consisted of nine merchantmen guarded by no less than 31 escort vessels. Fear was forgotten in the concentration needed to fly very low across the North Sea in close squadron formation but it reasserted itself sharply enough immediately the ships appeared. The convoy was as big as promised. The anti-flak squadrons, 455 (Australian) 489 (New Zealand) and 404 (Canadian) began their climb. Our leader, Squadron Leader Robin Burwell, held 144 back, aiming to brings us in to the ships just as the anti-flak aircraft completed their work. On his order - Attack, Attack - we spread out as briefed, choosing individually the biggest targets we could find and setting our travelling light torpedo sights accordingly. The other squadrons had caused havoc. There was smoke everywhere on the sea and in the sky. Explosions were occurring along the whole length of the convoy. I came in like a good new boy, doing just what I had been told. I was aware of a sort of sparkling curtain between me and my target and the pretty tracer curving gracefully towards us, but I was concerned only with speed and height and the need to wait until the ship grew large. My torpedo gone, I could at last ram open the throttles and take violent evasive action as I climbed through the flak from my target and the surrounding escort vessels into the safer sky beyond. As we circled the scene of the attack there were still bursts of heavy flak everywhere above the convoy. Some of the aircraft seemed to be having a second go. Many of the ships below were enveloped in smoke and steam and several were blazing - Bill Boorer, my navigator, thought our merchantman was one of them. We set course for our base, Strubby, in Lincolnshire, and landed in the dark, unscathed. At debriefing everyone told of the severe damage that had been inflicted but no-one could be really sure of who had done what. The next day I heard that, from my aircraft cameras and all the other evidence, my torpedo had been assessed as a hit. Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Image size 17 inches x 24 inches (43cm x 61cm). Price £140.00 Signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Neil Wheeler GCB, CBE, DSO, DFC, AFC (deceased), Group Captain A K Gatward DSO, DFC, AE, Group Captain R E Paddy Burns CBE, DFC, Wing Commander David L Cartridge DSO, DFC and Flying Officer Philip Brett DFC.
ITEM CODE LI0037 |
| HMS Valiant and HMS Phoebe at Alexandria, 1941 by Ivan Berryman. A pair of 272 Squadron Bristol Beaufighters roar over the extensively rebuilt battleship HMS Valiant as she lies at anchor at Alexandria late in 1941, accompanied by the cruiser HMS Phoebe and Valiants sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth (in the extreme distance) Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £95.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £135.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £480.00 £110 Off Selected Giclee Canvas Prints - Was £590
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £370.00 £90 Off Selected Giclee Canvas Prints - Was £460
Original painting by Ivan Berryman. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £4800.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
**Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. (1 copy reduced to clear) Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £85.00 ITEM CODE DHM1176 |
| Buffalo by Robert Tomlin. Beaufighter TFX L2451 EE-M was the personal aircraft of Wing Commander A K (Ken) Gatwood DSO, DFC of 404 Squadron from Davidstow Moor in Cornwall, England. On 21st August 1944, Wing Commander Gatwood was involved in attacking warships at Le Verdon amongst the anti-aircraft fire exploding around him in the sky. Signed edition print. Image size 16 inches x 20 inches (41cm x 51cm). Price £40.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE DHM2517 |
| Beaufighter Attack by Ivan Berryman. A pair of Beaufighters attacking Axis shipping in the North Sea. Without doubt one of the most outstanding and versatile aircraft in the Allied inventory during World War II, the Bristol Beaufighter was to endure a cautious reception by its crews when it first entered service, not least due to difficulties experienced by crews attempting to abandon a stricken aircraft in an emergency. Its performance and hard-hitting potential quickly overcame such doubts, however, and it went on to earn a commendable reputation - and the nickname Whispering Death. Signed limited edition of 35 prints. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 23cm). Price £80.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant Terry Clark
Limited edition of 15 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 23cm). Price £105.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant Terry Clark
Presentation Edition of 2 prints. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 23cm). Price £260.00 Features the matted original signatures of 2 pilots.
Original pencil drawing by Ivan Berryman. Currently 20% off this original! - was £500 Size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £400.00 ITEM CODE B0289 |
| RAF North Coates Strike Wing by Robin Smith.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 20 inches x 12.5 inches (51cm x 32cm). Price £60.00
Signed limited edition of 500 prints, signed by aircrew and artist. Image size 20 inches x 12.5 inches (51cm x 32cm). Price £80.00
ITEM CODE RS0001 |
| Seastrike by Ivan Berryman Without doubt one of the most outstanding and versatile aircraft in the Allied inventory during World War II, the Bristol Beaufighter was to endure a cautious reception by its crews when it first entered service, not least due to difficulties experienced by crews attempting to abandon a stricken aircraft in an emergency. Its performance and hard-hitting potential quickly overcame such doubts, however, and it went on to earn a commendable reputation - and the nickname Whispering Death. Here, two 254 Sqn TF. MkXs attack a captured Norwegian vessel in 1945. Signed limited edition of 250 prints. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £70.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Cunningham Presentation edition of 3 prints from the signed limited edition of 250 prints. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £150.00 Features the matted original signature of
Group Captain John Cunningham CBE DSO DFC AE DL FRAeS (deceased).
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £370.00 £90 Off Selected Giclee Canvas Prints - Was £460
**Signed limited edition of 250 prints. (3 copies reduced to clear) Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £46.00 ITEM CODE B0028 |
| Buffalo
by
Robert Tomlin Beaufighter TFX L2451 EE-M was the personal aircraft of Wing Commander
A K (Ken) Gatwood DSO, DFC of 404 Squadron from Davidstow Moor in
Cornwall, England. On 21st August 1944, Wing Commander Gatwood was
involved in attacking warships at Le Verdon amongst the anti-aircraft fire
exploding around him in the sky.
Double Trouble by Stan Stokes.The
Bristol Beaufighter was one of the most successful twin-engine fighters
utilized by the RAF during WW II. The forerunner of the Beaufighter was
the Bristol Beaufort, which was the first modern torpedo bomber to enter
service. The Beaufort, known officially as the Type-152 was derived from
the earlier Type-150, which in turn had been influenced by the Bristol
Blenheim. About the time the first Beauforts were being flight tested,
the aircrafts chief designer, Leslie Frise, commenced a study to see if
the Beauforts airframe could be adapted to create a twin engine fighter
design. The modified design (Type-156) incorporated a narrower fuselage,
a shorter nose section utilizing a single-seat cockpit, and a dorsal
observers position. The prototype Beaufighter made its first flight in
July of 1939. A year of flight testing and refinement followed. Only
Hercules III engines were available for the first production models.
This gave the first marks performance roughly comparable to a Hawker
Hurricane. Most Beaus were armed with four nose-mounted canon and an
additional six machine guns in the wings. This gave the Beaufighter an
impressive amount of firepower. As the Battle of Britain raged priority
was given to modifying existing aircraft to the night fighter role.
German bombers were relatively free from RAF fighters when attacking at
night. The Beaufighter represented an ideal platform for this night
fighter role. It was fast enough at 360-MPH to catch German bombers, it
was heavily armed, and the observers position was an ideal spot to
incorporate a radar operators controls. These night fighter versions
were painted a matte black. On October 25, 1940 a Beaufighter recorded
its first night victory. The Beaus utilized a transmitting antenna
mounted on the nose, and receiving antennas mounted on the leading
section of both wings. As the War progressed the Beaufighter would also
become an important ground attack and fighter/bomber for the RAF. As
depicted in Stan Stokes dramatic painting entitled Double
Trouble, an RAF Beaufighter piloted by Group Captain John Cunningham
downs a Ju-88 bomber. Cunningham was the RAFs top night fighter ace. He,
and his radar operator Jimmy Rawnsley, were credited with nineteen night
victories. Cunningham also downed one enemy aircraft during daylight.
He served with No. 604 Squadron, which had both a day and night
fighter capability. The squadrons night fighting proficiency rose
dramatically from late 1940 until mid-1941. By 1943, the Beaufighters
were replaced with faster Mosquitoes. Cunningham was demobilized
following the War. He joined DeHavilland Aircraft as its Chief Test
Pilot following the War, and retired from British Aerospace in 1980.
Strike and Strike Again by
Robert Taylor By the spring of 1945, Germanys once all-conquering
submarine fleet, driven by allied forces from its bases in estern France,
had fled to the relative safety of the Norwegian fjords - territory still
remaining under German occupation since 1940. In one of Hitlers last
stands, more than 100 U-Boats, merchant freighters, flakships, and other
military vessels were hathered in the narrow fjords, laying up by day and
sailing undercover of darkness. They were a menace that had to be
dealt with. Tasked with the difficult job of eliminating this force
were the Beaufighters and Mosquitos of RAF Coastal Commands Strike Wings
based in Scotland. - Our job was to go after this shipping and sink it -
recalled Wing Commader Colin Milson, C.O. of No. 455s Beaufighters. - The
fjords were often just 200 - 300 yards across with cliffs rising
vertically up 2000 feet, the deep water allowing the German shipping to
get in beneath these high overhanging cliffs. This made for
difficult and dangerous flying, exacerbated by the heavy flak and machine
gun fire that always welcomed us.
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