"TYPHOONS AT FALAISE"
BY NICOLAS TRUDGIAN
Autographed by Roy Crane, John Golley, Ron Grant, Derek Lovell and H.G. "Pat" Pattison.
L/E of 600. Signed and numbered by the artist.
Size: 23 1/2" x 33 1/4"
Price: $150
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It is August 1944, barely two months since the Allies landed their first troops on the beaches of Normandy. Already the all-conquering German Panzer Divisions are in full retreat, and it is critical to halt them before they can regroup. Caught in the Gap at Falaise, the battle was to be decisive.
Flying from dusty airstrips throughout a continuous onslaught, rocket-firing Typhoons kept up their attacks on the trapped armored divisions from dawn to dusk. The effect was devastating - at the end of the ten-day battle, the 100,000 strong German force was decimated.
Nicolas Trudgian vividly captures this historic air-to-ground battle in dramatic fashion worthy of the great victory scored by the Typhoon pilots. An armored Division, seeking the protection of a high-banked country lane and farm buildings, is jammed nose-to-tail as Typhoons of 198 Squadron, Royal Air Force, deliver their deadly rocket and cannon fire. The tank column has been brought to a standstill, their reign of terror now almost at its end.
After an inauspicious start the Hawker Typhoon found its forte in the ground attack role, ultimately becoming the most deadly air-to-ground attack aircraft of the war. Able to outrun the Me109 and the Fw190, the Typhoon was highly maneuverable at low level and robust enough to take the considerable flak damage that this kind of aerial combat always attracted, and get its pilot home.
Nicolas Trudgian's fine painting TYPHOONS AT FALAISE pays tribute to a superb aircraft and the courageous pilots who flew them in combat during World War II. Each print in this highly exclusive edition is individually signed by FIVE pilots who flew the Typhoon in the Battle of Normandy.
THE SIGNATURES
Roy Crane trained originally on Hurricanes but was posted to 182 Squadron to fly Typhoons. He took part in dive bombing operations and later, when the Typhoons were equipped with rockets, on low level sorties against V1 and V2 sites. On D-Day, with 181 Squadron, he took part in strikes against a Panzer tank division, followed by unrelenting low level operations. Roy was shot down over Falaise in August 1944, and taken POW.
Flight Lieutenant JOHN GOLLEY
John Golley flew Hurricanes, Spitfires and Typhoons during World War II, commencing his combat flying with fighter sweeps and ground attacks over Northern Europe. During the run up to D-Day his No. 245 Squadron Typhoons were equipped with rockets, specializing in tank-busting in the Normandy Campaign. He has written several best-selling military books including The Day of the Typhoon.
Flight Lieutenant RON GRANT
Ron was serving with the Auxilliary Air Force when war broke out. After operational training he joined 183 Squadron flying Typhoons. In March 1944 his Typhoon was converted to rockets for attacking ships, barges, rocket and radar sites in preparation for the Invasion. In July 1944 he transferred to 609 Squadron in Normandy. In August 1944 Ron was forced to bail out after engine failure and became a POW.
Flight Lieutenant DEREK LOVELL
Flying Hurricanes Derek Lowell taught fighter evasion tactics to Lancaster pilots. Convening to Typhoons he joined 197 Squadron at Needs Oar Point in June 1944. Following D-Day he was involved with close support bombing attacks throughout the Battle of Normandy and operations against communications, rail and road targets, including the destruction of a German HQ. Derek continued on close support and interdiction duties until VE Day.
Squadron Leader H.G. 'PAT' PATTISON DFC
Joining up in 1940 Pat Pattison graduated for flying in the U.S.A. Returning home he flew Hurricanes in affiliation with Halifaxes of No. 6 (Canadian) Group. Converting to Typhoons, Pat joined No. 182 Squadron supporting the D-Day invasion on ground attack sorties. He was awarded the DFC in January 1945 and completed a total of 111 operational sorties.