Sopwith Camel

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History

SOPWITH CAMEL:   was the most successful fighter of World War one. Claiming almost 3,000 air victories. The prototype of the Sopwith camel first flew in December 1916, and its first combat mission began in June 1917. joined 4 squadron RNAS based near Dunkirk. The first Royal Flying Corp squadron to receive the aircraft was no. 70 squadron. The Sopwith camel was the first designed fighter to have two forward firing machine guns.  Its design gave it amazing maneuverability and aerobatic qualities. and was perfectly suited for aerial dog fighting.  Squadron after squadron was re equipped with the camel and by the end of February 1918 13 squadrons were fully operational with the aircraft along the western front.   Also used on the Italian Front with 3 squadrons equipped. This figure increased with a total of 19 squadrons equipped on the western front by August 1918.   This included two squadrons no. 151 and 152 for night fighter duties. in June 1918.   There was also a naval version of the Sopwith camel. the 2F.1s which gradually replaced the Sopwith Pup and other naval aircraft.  The Naval version most memorable fete was done by Lt S D Culley who took off from a towed wood platform and destroyed the Zeppelin L.53 on the 10tyh August 1918. also on the 18th July six aircraft took off from the forward deck of HMS Furious  to bomb the Zeppelin base at Tondern which they successfully did destroying two Zeppelins L.54 and L.60.  This was the first time carrier borne aircraft had destroyed a land base installation.  In total 5597 F.1s and 317 2F.1s were ordered  but there may have been 200 less built.

Performance. speed: 113mph at 10,000 feet.  service ceiling 19,000 feet.   Armament: two fixed forward firing Vickers .303 machine Guns. or one .303  forward firing and one .303 Lewis Gun

The Sky Warriors by Anthony Saunders  Sopwith Camel with 65 Squadron, on routine patrol, meet head-on with the unmistakable Albatross fighters of the German air force.

Homeward Bound - Sopwith Camel by David Pentland  210 Squadron RAF 1918.

 Patrolling the Line by Gerald Coulson  After having shoot down an Albatros DV over Ypres, captain Billy Barker in his personal aircraft B6313 leads his flight of novices in loose formation back to Allied Lines. Flying West into the early evening sun against the back drop of a dramatic skyline the four Sopwith Camels head back to their base at St Omer.

 

 

 

SHOWCASE PRODUCT

EDITIONS

Special Offer Pack of All Four Prints Price : £420

At the Setting of the Sun by Simon Atack Price : £105

Close Encounter by Ivan Berryman Price : £145

In Them We Trust by Ivan Berryman Price : £135

Fighter General by Graeme Lothian Price : £200

ARTIST
Featured Artist - Graeme Lothian



Graeme Lothian is an artist whose ability has seen him apply his talent to many different subjects - military, aviation, naval and landscape art. Having spent time in the army, taking on adventures such as parachuting, firing bazookas and making an attempt to climb Mount Everest, the discipline he has obtained from his experiences has been key to allowing him to take on his first love - painting - full time. Graeme first took on painting full-time by producing paintings of WW2 aircraft, such as Spitfires and Messerschmitts, but over his career in art, now spanning over two decades, has also produced many military and naval pieces too. More recently, he has undertaken a masive project of painting the River Thames, from its source, through London and beyond, producing over 50 paintings in this series, as well as a book. Graeme Lothian describes himself as a landscape painter. The paintings may have a Tiger, Steam Train, Spitfire or Kentish Oasts in them, but they're still landscapes. Graeme started painting in 1978 in oils, a medium he has stayed with since then. Joining the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces at the beginning of the 1980s, a parachuting accident curtailed his career and he returned to his first love - art. In the early 90s he formed a partnership with the late great Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson CB CBE DSO(two bars) DFC(bar) the top scoring Allied fighter pilot of WWII. Embarking on a career as an aviation artist, travelling all over Britain and Europe obtaining the signatures for his prints. Personally meeting the most famous aviators and top aces of both sides of the last war. Graemes first book An Artist on the Thames came out in 2004. His second, An Artist in London, which has taken 5 years to complete, is due to be published at the beginning of 2010. In between, he printed an Everest painting carrying the signatures of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Chris Bonnington. Graeme had solo exhibitions in 1981, 1989 in Sydney, Australia, 2007, 2008. In 2009, Graeme was one of only 56 other artists to exhibit at the internationally acclaimed and prestigious BP Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery, London. In 2010 he is to go to Afghanistan as a war artist, one of only a select few to visit the war zone. He is being hosted by various units in the Helmand Province and Kandahar. Born in Sri Lanka, Graeme has painted all over the world including Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, India and most recently Oman and Jordan. His originals hang all over the world and to date has had over 80 limited edition art prints published.

Battle of Britain Signature Prints



Save £165 on this specially selected pack of Battle of Britain aviation art 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 :

At the Setting of the Sun by Simon Atack,
Close Encounter by Ivan Berryman,
In Them We Trust by Ivan Berryman
and
Fighter General by Graeme Lothian.

In all, the prints have 13 different signatures of pilots and aircrew from both British and German sides of the Battle of Britain.

Graeme Lothian's Fighter General features some of the most popular and sought after German Battle of Britain pilot signatures.

Click the 'Special Offer Pack' Edition to order.

DETAIL IMAGES





EXTRAS

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