"THE BATTLE FOR BRITAIN"
BY ROBERT TAYLOR
L/E, signed and numbered by the artist.
L/E of 955
Size: 23.5" x 36"
Prices: $295 - $595
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With the Battle of Britain in its early stages, on the morning of Wednesday,
10 June, 1940, a convoy of slow-moving British cargo ships heading along the
south coast of England came under attack from a formidable force of Dornier Do17
bombers, escorted by five squadrons of Gernan fighters. Royal Air Force Fighter
Command scrambled several squadrons to meet the oncoming force in an effort to
protect the ships, and a massive dogfight involving more than a hundred planes
developed in the region of Dover. Ripping into the oncoming bombers, the RAF fighters attached head-on – a
hazardous tactic requiring great courage, but highly effective in unnerving
bomber crews, causing the pilots to swerve out of formation and abandon their
target. Head-on collisions were not uncommon. The great battle raged well into
the afternoon, and by evening the insurgents had been driven back to their bases
in France to lick their wounds. Only one direct hit was scored by the enemy,
when a 700-ton sloop was sunk. The Luftwaffe lost 19 aircraft, and although the
RAF had 7 aircraft damaged, it lost only one pilot that day. Robert Taylor's new painting captures a head-on attack between two seasoned
pilots high over the port of Dover in the late morning of 10 July 1940. A
Spitfire from 610 Squadron. flown by Squadron Leader Andrew Smith has taken on
an Me-109 from 1/JG3, the two aircraft flashing past each other at a closing
speed nearing 800 mph. Smith crash-landed his aircraft at Hawkinge following
this encounter, but the gallant squadron commander was to lose his life
following combat with Me-109s just two weeks later. Below the dueling aces, other aircraft contest the air above the old port,
while the coastline is seen streatching west into the distance. This is a superb
new limited edition, accurately recreating a typical scene from the first
decisive battle ever fought exclusively in the air. The editions: The Fighter Edition
Comprising main print, signed by 4 pilots:
Wing Commander Terence Kane
Group Captain Tom Dalton Morgan DSO DFC* OBE
Flight Lieutenant Richard L Jones
Squadron Leader J G Millard
400 signed and numbered with 4 signatures
$295
The Knights Cross Edition
All the above signatures plus:
Generalleutnant Günther Rall
Oberleutnant Gûnther Seeger
| 300 signed and numbered with 6 signatures | $345 | |
| 30 Artists Proofs | $525 |
The Battle of Britain Proofs
All the above signatures plus:
Major Hans-Ekkehard Bob
Oberleutnant Erwin Leykauf
Wing Commander George "Grumpy" Unwin DSO DFM*
Wing Commander George W Swanwick
Group Captain George H Westlake DSO DFC
Wing Commander Wilfred M Sizer DFC*
Flight Lieutenant Michael E Croskell
Squadron Leader Jocelyn G P Millard
Wing Commander Paddy Barthropp DFC
| 200 proofs, signed and numbered with 15 signatures | $595 |