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Handley Page Halifax
Bomber aircraft of the Royal Air Force. Aviation art prints of the Halifax Bomber by leading
aviation artists Ivan Berryman, Keith Woodcock, Gleed and Barry Price, available from
aviationprints.co.uk. Royal
Air Force heavy Bomber with a crew of six to eight. Maximum speed of
280mph (with MK.VI top speed of 312mph) service ceiling of
22,800feet maximum range of 3,000 miles. The Halifax carried four
.303 browning machine guns in the tail turret, two .303 browning machines
in the nose turret in the MK III there were four .303 brownings in
the dorsal turret. The Handley Page Halifax, first joined the Royal
Air Force in March 1941 with 35 squadron. The Halifax saw service in
Europe and the Middle east with a variety of variants for use with Coastal
Command, in anti Submarine warfare, special duties, glider-tugs, and
troop transportation roles. A total of 6177 Halifax's were built and
stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1952
Friday the 13th by Ivan Berryman Sadly, but two examples of the Handly page Halifax exist today - the
unrestored W1048 at the RAF Museum at Hendon, and the Yorkshire Air
Museums pristine LV907 Friday the 13th, a rebuild from the
remains of HR792. In this portrait of one of Bomber Commands oft-forgotten
workhorses, the original Friday the 13th is set against a stunning evening
cloudscape.
|
| Action This Day by Richard Taylor. A cold winters morning, as dawn breaks over RAF Lissett, revealing that last nights biting wind has once again brought a covering of snow to the airfield. But, with conditions forecast to improve, tonights operation to bomb industrial targets in Germany is set to proceed, and ground crew start to prepare Halifax Mk3 LV907 F-Freddy, simply known as Friday 13th, for action. This iconic aircraft flew an impressive total of 128 operational sorties with 158 Squadron between March 1944 and April 1945. Signed limited edition of 350 prints. Paper size 34.5 inches x 25 inches (85cm x 64cm). Price £110.00 Signed by :
Pilot Officer Maurice Spivey DFM,
Warrant Officer Rex Statham
and
Flight Lieutenant Fred Tunstall.
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 34.5 inches x 25 inches (85cm x 64cm) . Price £175.00 Signed by :
Pilot Officer Maurice Spivey DFM,
Warrant Officer Rex Statham,
Flight Lieutenant Fred Tunstall DFC,
Flight Lieutenant Tommy Coles DFC,
Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC,
Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM,
Warrant Officer Dennis Slack
and
Flight Lieutenant Alan Bryett.
Collectors edition of 70 prints. Paper size 34.5 inches x 25 inches (85cm x 64cm). Price £150.00 Signed by :
Pilot Officer Maurice Spivey DFM,
Warrant Officer Rex Statham,
Flight Lieutenant Fred Tunstall DFC,
Flight Lieutenant Tommy Coles DFC,
Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC,
Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM,
Warrant Officer Dennis Slack
and
Flight Lieutenant Alan Bryett.
RAF Bomber Command Tribute edition of 10 prints (supplied with original pencil drawing). Paper size 34.5 inches x 25 inches (85cm x 64cm). Price £1095.00 Signed by :
Pilot Officer Maurice Spivey DFM,
Warrant Officer Rex Statham,
Flight Lieutenant Fred Tunstall DFC,
Flight Lieutenant Tommy Coles DFC,
Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC,
Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM,
Warrant Officer Dennis Slack,
Flight Lieutenant Alan Bryett,
and includes the mounted signatures of :
Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett (deceased),
Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC OM DSO** DFC* (deceased),
Air Chief Marshal Sir Lewis Hodges KCB CBE DSO DFC* (deceased),
Group Captain J B Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)
and
Air Chief Marshal Sir Augustus Walker GCB CBE DSO DFC AFC (deceased).
Limited edition of 25 remarques. Paper size 34.5 inches x 25 inches (85cm x 64cm). Price £265.00 Signed by :
Pilot Officer Maurice Spivey DFM,
Warrant Officer Rex Statham,
Flight Lieutenant Fred Tunstall DFC,
Flight Lieutenant Tommy Coles DFC,
Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC,
Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM,
Warrant Officer Dennis Slack
and
Flight Lieutenant Alan Bryett.
Limited edition of 10 double remarques. Paper size 34.5 inches x 25 inches (85cm x 64cm). Price £445.00 Signed by :
Pilot Officer Maurice Spivey DFM,
Warrant Officer Rex Statham,
Flight Lieutenant Fred Tunstall DFC,
Flight Lieutenant Tommy Coles DFC,
Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC,
Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM,
Warrant Officer Dennis Slack
and
Flight Lieutenant Alan Bryett.
ITEM CODE DHM1902 |
| Halifaxes by Keith Woodcock. A Halifax bomber of Bomber Command is being refueled and checked by ground crew on a snow covered RAF airfield. The Halifax was one of the three major bombers of the RAF. The Royal Air Force Halifax had a crew of six to eight, a maximum speed of 280mph (with MK.VI top speed of 312mph) service ceiling of 22,800 feet maximum range of 3,000 miles. The Halifax carried four .303 browning machine guns in the tail turret, two .303 browning machines in the nose turret, and in the MkIII there were four .303 brownings in the dorsal turret. The Handley Page Halifax first joined the Royal Air Force in March 1941 with 35 squadron. The Halifax saw service in Europe and the Middle East with a variety of variants for use with Coastal Command, in anti submarine warfare, special duties, glider-tugs, and troop transportation roles. A total of 6177 Halifaxes were built and the aircraft stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1952. Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £
Eric Kemp RAF signature series edition of 100 prints. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £30.00 Signed by Flt Lt Eric Kemp DFC.  Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE KW0008 |
| Welcome Sight by Stephen Brown. The Handley Page Halifax, together with the Avro Lancaster, formed the backbone of the RAFs night offensive against Germany from 1942 to 1945 and finished the campaign with an impressive record of achievement. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £90.00
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £125.00
ITEM CODE DHM2233 |
| No.76 Squadron Halifax by Ivan Berryman. Halifaxes of No.76 Squadron RAF en route to another night bombing raid over Germany. The lead aircraft here has code MP-L. Serial numbers for aircraft were unique, but codes like MP-L were transferred after an aircraft was lost. A total of 10 aircraft carrying the codes MP-L were lost from No.76 Squadron.
These aircraft were :
L9530 : Shot down 12th-13th August 1941.
R9452 : Crashed 12th-13th April 1942.
W7660 : Shot down 19th-20th August 1942.
W7678 : Lost 3rd-4th March 1943.
DK172 : Shot down 23rd-24th May 1943.
DK200 : Crashed 11th-12th June 1943.
LK922 : Shot down 21st-22nd January 1944.
LK789 : Shot down 24th-25th April 1944.
MZ622 : Crashed 24th-25th May 1944.
LL579 : Crashed 27th February 1945. Signed limited edition of 20 giclee paper prints. Image size 26 inches x 17 inches (66cm x 43cm). Price £150.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 5 giclee paper artist proofs. Image size 26 inches x 17 inches (66cm x 43cm). Price £200.00 Signed by :
Warrant Officer Dennis Slack,
Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC,
Flight Lieutenant Tommy Coles DFC,
Squadron Leader Alfie Fripp,
Sergeant Len Manning,
Flight Lieutenant Tom Wingham,
Warrant Officer Reg Cleaver,
Flying Officer Jack Easter,
Flight Lieutenant Tom Payne,
Pilot Officer Maurice Spivey DFM,
Warrant Officer Rex Statham
and
Flight Lieutenant Fred Tunstall DFC. Save £20 on selected prints - Was £220
Small limited edition of 20 giclee paper artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £100.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Small limited edition of 50 giclee paper prints. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £75.00 Save £5 on selected prints - Was £80
Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £400.00 £90 Off Selected Giclee Canvas Prints - Was £490
ITEM CODE IBF0003 |
| Handley Page Halifax LK797 LK-E. by M A Kinnear. Pilot Officer Cyril Joe Barton, VC: Born 5th June 1921 in Suffolk, Cyril Barton volunteered for aircrew duties and joined the RAFVR on 16th April 1941, qualifying as a Sergeant Pilot 10th November 1942. He and his crew went to No.1663 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) at Rufforth in Yorkshire. On 5th September 1943, they joined No.78 Squadron. Barton was commissioned as a pilot officer three weeks later. Undertaking their first operational sortie (a raid against Montlucon) they served with No.78 squadron until 15th January 1944. Having completed nine sorties, they were posted to No.578 Squadron. Their second sortie with the squadron, was against Stuttgart in Halifax LK797 which was a brand new aircraft. On 30th March 1944, having now completed six sorties in LK797 - which the crew had named Excalibur, they took off on a raid against Nuremburg. Whilst still 70 miles from the target, they were attacked head on by two enemy fighters. Excalibur had two fuel tanks punctured, both the radio and rear turret disabled, the starboard inner engine was on fire and the intercom lines were cut. Despite several determined attacks by a Ju88 nightfighter, and with the aid of his crew, Barton managed to avoid the attacks. Unfortunately following the first attack, the navigator, bomb aimer and wireless operator had misinterpreted signals given to them and bailed out. Despite these difficulties, Barton decided to press on to the target and drop his bombs. Guided only by the Pole Star and his pilots flight map, Barton started for home, crossing the English coast ninety miles north of Burn. Low on fuel he ordered the three remaining crew to crash positions behind the main spar. Soon after three engines cut out and Barton attempted the forced landing. He made a gallant attempt to put down clear of the houses over which he was flying and the aircraft ploughed through several gardens and greenhouses. The rear fuselage broke off and landed in a deep railway cutting with the three crewmen inside. Excalibur had crashed near Ryhope village colliery, Co. Durham. Pilot Officer Cyril Barton died of his injuries but as a result of his selfless actions, the three crewmen survived. On 27th June 1944, Cyril Barton was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Open edition print. Image size 16.5 inches x 11.5 inches (42cm x 30cm). Price £14.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE AP0019 |
| Halifax Tugs Towing Hamilcar Gliders by Ivan Berryman. Halifax glider tugs of 644 Squadron, Tarrant Rushton, 1944. Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £70.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Save £5 on selected prints - Was £75
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £130.00 Signed by Flt Lt Eric Kemp DFC. Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Save £5 on selected prints - Was £135
Limited edition of 20 publishers proofs. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £115.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Kemp signature edition of 50 prints (Nos 1 - 50) from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £115.00 Signed by Flt Lt Eric Kemp DFC. Save £10 on selected prints - Was £125
Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Cosby / Evans Signature edition of 100 prints (No.s 801 - 900) from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £120.00 Signed by Warrant Officer Tom Cosby and Warrant Officer Eric Evans. Save £15 on selected prints - Was £135
Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Signature edition of 100 prints from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm) . Price £115.00 Signed by Eddie Young and one crew member who flew on Halifaxes. Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Rayner / Whitbread signature edition of 300 prints from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £115.00 Signed by :
Sergeant Titch Rayner
and
Private Alf Whitbread. Save £15 on selected prints - Was £130
Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of up to 50 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £480.00 £110 Off Selected Giclee Canvas Prints - Was £590
Limited edition of up to 50 giclee canvas prints. Size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £370.00 £90 Off Selected Giclee Canvas Prints - Was £460
Original painting, oil on canvas by Ivan Berryman. . Price £
Remarque edition - limited edition of 10 giclee prints featuring an original pencil remarque. Image size 26 inches x 17 inches (66cm x 43cm) plus border with text and remarque drawing.. Price £350.00
ITEM CODE DHM1713 |
| Mutual Support by Philip West. In the depths of winter, Halifax aircraft of 158 Squadron based at RAF Lissett, Yorkshire, make their final preparations before take off. A remarkable aircraft much loved by its crews. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Image size 24 inches x 8 inches (61cm x 20cm). Price £90.00
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Image size 24 inches x 8 inches (61cm x 20cm). Price £125.00
ITEM CODE DHM2202 |
| Yorkshire Warrior by Keith Aspinall.
Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £18.00
ITEM CODE KA0028 |
| A Friday in Winter by Keith Woodcock. Sadly, but two examples of the Handly page Halifax exist today - the unrestored W1048 at the RAF Museum at Hendon, and the Yorkshire Air Museums pristine LV907 Friday the 13th, a rebuild from the remains of HR792. Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £18.00
Kemp signature edition of 25 prints. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £38.00 Signed by Flt Lt Eric Kemp DFC. Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
ITEM CODE KW0018 |
| Yorkshire Relish by Keith Woodcock. Halifax bombers are prepared for another mission. Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £18.00
ITEM CODE KW0015 |
| Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson. On August 15th 1942, under the leadership of Don Bennet, a new group was formed from Bomber Command to develop specialised target finding and target marking. Made up purely from experienced volunteers, this elite and highly trained group of men were known as the Pathfinders. Up until this point the means available to Bomber Command of accurately finding their targets were totally lacking and the task of the Pathfinders was to develop techniques to precisely define these targets ahead of the main force. Initially made up of four Squadrons Nos. 7 (Stirlings) 35 (Halifax) 83 (Lancaster) and 156 (Wellingtons) they were based at a clutch of airfields between Cambridge and Huntingdon. Originally part of No.3 Group Bomber Command the Pathfinder Force was directly answerable to C-in-C Air Marshal Arthur Harris until January 1943 when it became a separate group, No.8 (PFF) . Personally selected for the task by Arthur Harris, the Australian born Don Bennet, just 32 years of age proved to be and inspired choice to form the Pathfinders. A navigation expert without peers he was widely experienced in flying all types of aircraft including fighters, flying boats and bombers and already an experienced operational bomber captain. Along with many of his colleagues, such as Hamish Mahaddie and John Searby he was responsible for instilling in his men the Pathfinder Spirit - an intangible quality of dedication which bonded them together. Pathfinder crews used a combination of personal skill and technical equipment 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. The first Pathfinder unit to fly the Halifax was 35 Squadron based at Graveley. With some of the greatest Bomber Aircrew amongst their number the unit quickly gained a reputation for excellence that was second to none. This superb painting from one of the worlds most highly regarded Aviation Artists, Gerald Coulson, depicts a Halifax B.MkII series 1A of 35 (PFF) Squadron on an operation over occupied Europe. Flying at around 20,000 feet and completely alone and unprotected, the crew navigate their bomber well ahead of the main force, leading the way to their target. Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm). Price £180.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC, Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM and Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased). Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm). Price £295.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC, Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM, Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased), Flight Lieutenant David Codd DFC, Flying Officer Sir Michael Hanham DFC and Flying Officer Don Carruthers.
Limited edition of 75 pathfinder proofs. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm). Price £ Signed by Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC, Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM, Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased), Flight Lieutenant David Codd DFC, Flying Officer Sir Michael Hanham DFC, Flying Officer Don Carruthers, Warrant Officer Harold Kirby, Wing Commander Ernest Rodley DSO DFC AFC AE, Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett (deceased), Group Captain Hamish Mahaddie DSO DFC (deceased) and Air Commodore John Searby DSO DFC (deceased).
ITEM CODE DHM2250 |
| Friday the 13th by Ivan Berryman. Sadly, but two examples of the Handly page Halifax exist today - the unrestored W1048 at the RAF Museum at Hendon, and the Yorkshire Air Museums pristine LV907 Friday the 13th, a rebuild from the remains of HR792. In this portrait of one of Bomber Commands oft-forgotten workhorses, the original Friday the 13th is set against a stunning evening cloudscape. Signed limited edition of 200 prints. Image size 23 inches x 14 inches (58cm x 36cm). Price £95.00 Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
Eric Kemp RAF signature series edition of 60 prints from the signed limited edition of 200 prnts. Image size 23 inches x 14 inches (58cm x 36cm). Price £130.00 Signed by Flt Lt Eric Kemp DFC. Save £15 on selected prints - Was £145
Part of our Buy One, Get One Half Price Offer
**Signed limited edition of 200 prints. (One copy reduced to clear) Image size 23 inches x 14 inches (58cm x 36cm). Price £70.00
ITEM CODE B0012 |
| Pathfinder Halifax by Nicolas Trudgian. Remembered fondly by many RAF, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand bomber crews, the Halifax served many diverse roles in WWII, including service with Special Duties, dropping agents and supplies behind enemy lines. Halifax MkIIs of 35 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, head out over the Lincolnshire coastline at dusk bound for Germany, August 1942. No.35 Squadron was one of the five squadrons selected to form the original Pathfinder Force. Signed limited edition of 400 prints. Paper size 12 inches x 9.5 inches (31cm x 24cm). Price £50.00 Signed by Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM
ITEM CODE NT0002 |
| Out of the Night - The First To Go In by Robert Taylor. Silently out of the night they came. With flaps deployed, three timber and plywood Horsa gliders swept swiftly down through the night skies, rapidly closing with their objective – Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal. On board, with tension etched deep into their blackened faces, men from the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, part of the British 6th Airborne Division, braced themselves for landing. They, and sappers from the Royal Engineers, were about to become the first fighting force to land in France on D-Day. They were about to make history. Signed limited edition of 300 prints Paper size 25.5 inches x 21.5 inches (65cm x 54cm). Price £95.00 Signed by :
Private Alf Whitbread
and
Private Billy Gray.
D-Day edition of 25 artist proofs Paper size 25.5 inches x 21.5 inches (65cm x 54cm). Price £175.00 Signed by :
Private Alf Whitbread,
Private Billy Gray,
Private Frank Bourlet,
Sergeant Peter Rocky Bright,
Private Stan Watson,
Craftsman Roy Bishop,
Gunner Ernie Brewer L d Hon,
Lance Corporal Harry Hopkins,
Private Frank Sankey
and
Squadron Leader John Fisher DFC.
D-Day edition of 200 prints Paper size 25.5 inches x 21.5 inches (65cm x 54cm). Price £135.00 Signed by :
Private Alf Whitbread,
Private Billy Gray,
Private Frank Bourlet,
Sergeant Peter Rocky Bright,
Private Stan Watson,
Craftsman Roy Bishop,
Gunner Ernie Brewer L d Hon,
Lance Corporal Harry Hopkins,
Private Frank Sankey
and
Squadron Leader John Fisher DFC.
ITEM CODE DHM1818 |
| Aircraft side view by M A Kinnear
Handley Page Halifax LK797 LK-E. Pilot Officer Cyril Joe
Barton, VC: Born 5th June
1921 in Suffolk, Cyril Barton volunteered for aircrew duties and joined
the RAFVR on 16th April 1941, qualifying as a Sergeant Pilot 10th November
1942. He and his crew went to No.1663 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) at
Rufforth in Yorkshire. On 5th September 1943, they joined No.78 Squadron.
Barton was commissioned as a pilot officer three weeks later. Undertaking
their first operational sortie (a raid against Montlucon) they served with
No.78 squadron until 15th January 1944. Having completed nine sorties,
they were posted to No.578 Squadron. Their second sortie with the
squadron, was against Stuttgart in Halifax LK797 which was a brand new
aircraft. On 30th March 1944, having now completed six sorties in LK797 -
which the crew had named Excalibur, they took off on a raid against
Nuremburg. Whilst still 70 miles from the target, they were attacked head
on by two enemy fighters. Excalibur had two fuel tanks punctured, both the
radio and rear turret disabled, the starboard inner engine was on fire and
the intercom lines were cut. Despite several determined attacks by a Ju88
nightfighter, and with the aid of his crew, Barton managed to avoid the
attacks. Unfortunately following the first attack, the navigator, bomb
aimer and wireless operator had misinterpreted signals given to them and
bailed out. Despite these difficulties, Barton decided to press on to the
target and drop his bombs. Guided only by the Pole Star and his pilot's
flight map,, Barton started for home, crossing the English coast ninety
miles north of Burn. Low on fuel he ordered the three remaining crew to
crash positions behind the main spar. Soon after three engines cut out and
Barton attempted the forced landing. He made a gallant attempt to put down
clear of the houses over which he was flying and the aircraft ploughed
through several gardens and greenhouses. The rear fuselage broke off and
landed in a deep railway cutting with the three crewmen inside. Excalibur
had crashed near Ryhope village colliery, Co. Durham. Pilot Officer Cyril
Barton died of his injuries but as a result of his selfless actions, the
three crewmen survived. On 27th June 1944, Cyril Barton was posthumously
awarded the Victoria Cross.
Mutual Support by Philip West In the depths of winter, Halifax aircraft of 158 Squadron based at
RAF Lissett, Yorkshire, make their final preparations before take off. A
remarkable aircraft much loved by its crews.
Halifax Legend by Robert Taylor RAF Pathfinder founder and Commander signs print featuring the four
engined Halifax bomber. Signatories: Don Bennett.
Welcome Sight by Stephen Brown The Handley Page Halifax, together with the Avro Lancaster, formed the
backbone of the RAFs night offensive against Germany from 1942 to 1945
and finished the campaign with an impressive record of achievement.
"Welcome Sight" depicts Halifax Mk IIIs of 158 Squadron passing
over the village of West Tanfield on the River Ure, heading for the bomber
base of Lisset, Yorkshire. |
|
Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson On August 15th 1942, under the leadership of Don
Bennett, a new group was formed from Bomber Command to develop specialised
target finding and target marking. Made up purely from experienced
volunteers, this elite and highly trained group of men were known as the
Pathfinders. Up until this point the means available to Bomber
Command of accurately finding their targets were totally lacking and the
task of the Pathfinders was to develop techniques to precisely define
these targets ahead of the main force. Initially made up of four
squadrons - Nos. 7 (Stirlings), 35 (Halifax), 83 (Lancaster) and 156
(Wellingtons) - they were based at a clutch of airfields between Cambridge
and Huntingdon. Originally part of No.3 Group Bomber Command the
Pathfinder Force was directly answerable to C-in-c Air Marshall
Arthur Harris until January 1943 when it became a separate group, No.8 (PFF).
Personally selected for the task by Arthur Harris, the Australian born Don
Bennett, just 32 years of age proved to be an inspired choice to form the
Pathfinders. A navigation expert without peers he was widely
experienced in flying all types of aircraft including fighters, flying
boats and bombers and already an experienced operational bomber
captain. Along with many of his colleagues, such as Hamish Mahaddie
and John Searby he was responsible for instilling in his men the
'Pathfinder Spirit' - an intangible quality of dedication which bonded
them together. Pathfinder crews used a combination of personal skill
and technical equipment 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. The first Pathfinder unit to fly the
Halifax was 35 Squadron based at Graveley. With some of the greatest
Bomber Aircrew amongst their number the unit quickly gained a reputation
for excellence that was second to none. This superb new painting
from one of the worlds most highly regarded Aviation Artists, Gerald
Coulson, depicts a Halifax B MkII series 1A of 35 (PFF) Squadron on an
operation over occupied Europe. Flying at around 20,000 feet and
completely alone and unprotected, the crew navigate their bomber well
ahead of the main force, leading the way to their target. |
| Signatures
for 'Leading the Way': The following three signatures an on all editions:
Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC : After
joining the RAF in 1940 he was called up in early 1941 and entered OTU
where he qualified as an observer and was then posted operationally to 466
Sqn at Leconfield on Wellingtons. At the end of 1942 he joined 35
Sqn as a Navigator at Gravely as part of the Pathfinder Force, initially
on the Halifax and later converting to Lancasters. He remained with
the Pathfinders until 1944 when he was posted to Stoney Cross to convert
back to Wellington 1C's as a way of becoming reacquainted with two engined
aircraft. he spent the remainder of the war flying Dakota's in the
Far East and left the RAF in mid 1946.
Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM : Joining
the RAF in 1940 he was initially posted to Cardington as a driver and
ended up on the Isle of Sheppey releasing explosive met balloons in order
to hamper enemy aircraft. Volunteering for aircrew he attended a
gunnery course at Stormy Down in 1942 and shortly after joined 51 squadron
at Snaith in Yorkshire, as a Rear Gunner on Lancasters. In 1943
after many operations with the main force he volunteered for the
Pathfinders and joined 35 Squadron at Gravely on both the Halifax and
Lancaster. He remained with this unit until the end of the war
completing 82 operations and left the RAF in 1946
Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE : He initially
joined the RAF in 1932 on a short service commission and qualified as a
pilot, becoming an instructor. He served at the Central Flying
School at Uphaven between 1939 and 1942 and was then released for an
operational tour with 15 squadron at Mildenhall, flying Lancasters.
He then moved to Feltwell as Chief Flying Instructor before volunteering
for the Pathfinder Force and joined 35 squadron at Gravely on Halifax's
followed by 582 squadron at Little Staunton on Lancasters, gaining a
Mention in Despatches. He finished the war with 66 operations and
joined Transport Command, serving in Cairo and Malta, leaving the RAF in
1946.
The following three signatures an on the Artist Proof
and Pathfinder Proof editions :
Flight Lieutenant David Codd DFC : Joining the Army
in 1938 he initially served with Royal Engineers at Dunkirk before
volunteering for aircrew and transferring to the RAF in 1941. He
qualified as a navigator and in 1942 joined 10 squadron at Leeming on
Halifax's before moving to 35 squadron with the Pathfinders, again on
Halifax bombers. In 1943 his aircraft was shot down near Cologne and
he became a POW at Stalagluft 3, having completed 42 operations. He
returned to England in May 1945 and left the RAF in 1947. Flying
Officer Sir Michael Hanham DFC : He joined the RAF straight from school in
1942 and initially qualified as a navigator but then retrained as a flight
engineer in 1943. He volunteered for the Pathfinder Force and joined
35 squadron as a flight engineer on Halifax's and Lancasters, completing
55 operations with this unit. In May 1945 he became a Flying Control
Officer and was posted to India, leaving the RAF in 1946. Flying
Officer Don Carruthers : Joining the RAF in 1941 he trained as a wireless
operator and completed his ops training at Lossiemouth on Wellingtons
where he formed up with a crew that was to stay together for his entire
operational career in Bomber Command. In 1943 he was posted to 466
squadron at Leconfield on Wellingtons before converting to the
Halifax. He and his crew volunteered for the Pathfinder Force and
joined 35 squadron on Halifax's and then Lancasters. In 1945 having
completed a total of 63 operations he moved to Transport Command flying
Dakotas in India with 238 squadron and then Calcutta with 52
squadron. He left the RAF in 1946. The
following five signatures are only on the Pathfinder Proof edition : Warrant
Officer Harold Kirby : Called up in 1942 he attended a flight mechanics
course at RAF Halton and then qualified as a flight engineer in 1943,
joining 467 squadron at Waddington on Lancasters. In August 1944 his
aircraft was forced to crash land after an operation when a 1000lb bomb
from another Lancaster ripped through their port wing and destroyed the
undercarriage over France. In September 1944 he joined 97 squadron
at Coningsby on Lancasters as part of the Pathfinders and remained with
this unit until the end of the war. He left the RAF in 1946. Wing
Commander Ernest Rodley DSO DFC AFC AE : He initially joined the RAFVR in
1937 and was commissioned and posted to Bomber Command in 1941.
Joining 97 Sqn, flying Manchesters he was involved in the famous Augsberg
daylight raid for which he received a DFC. At the end of 1942 he
joined RAF Scampton helping to convert to Lancaster bombers before
rejoining 97 Sqn at Bourn as a Pathfinder. After a spell at Warboys
as an instructor he took command of 128 Sqn at Wyton, flying Mosquitoes as
part of the Light Night Striking Force. Staying with this unit he
finished the war having completed 87 operations. Air
Vice Marshal Don Bennett CB CBE DSO : Born in Australia, Bennett had
joined the RAF before the war. He became widely experienced in
flying all types of aircraft including fighters, flying boats and heavy
bombers commanding 77 squadron, flying Halifax's. In 1942 whilst
commanding 10 squadron he was shot down on one of the attacks on the
Tirpitz, but evaded capture and returned to England. Widely regarded
as a navigation expert beyond compare, he was personally selected by
Arthur Harris to form the Pathfinder Force and his uncompromising attitude
and ceaseless devotion to his men made him a legendary figure in WWII
history. Group Captain Hamish Mahaddie DSO
DFC AFC : Initially joining the RAF in 1928 as a Halton apprentice he
qualified as a pilot in 1935 and was involved in the first bombing raid of
WWII on the island of Sylt. In 1942 after a period instructing, he
joined one of the first Pathfinder units 7 squadron, flying Stirlings from
Oakington. After 50 ops he was given the task by Don Bennett of
finding 'volunteers' for the Pathfinder Force and over the next two years
he recruited around 17,000 of the best aircrew in the business for No 8
group. In 1944 he took command of Warboys, the PFF training unit and
had become a living legend in Bomber Command. Air
Commodore John Searby DSO DFC : He joined the RAF in 1929 as a Halton
apprentice but was a Sergeant flying bombers when war broke out.
Joining 106 squadron he flew Lancasters with Guy Gibson and eventually
took over as Squadron Commander when Gibson left for 617 squadron. A
specialist in navigation, he was then chosen by Arthur Harris to take
command of No 83 Pathfinder Squadron at Wyton. Searby quickly
developed a superb reputation as a Pathfinder and was involved in
countless precision raids including his role as Master Bomber on the
Peenemunde raid, coordinating the attack by over six hundred heavy
bombers. |
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