The Longest Day by Adrian Rigby
Published to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day landings on
6th June, depicting Spitfires of 44 Squadron led by Johnnie Johnson.
Counter signed by Wing Commander Paddy Barthropp and Flying Officer Ken
Wilkinson.
NORMANDY BEACH HEAD PATROL BY GEOFF LEA
Spitfire Mk9. of 56 squadron patrol the D-Day landings.
COMBAT OVER NORMANDY BY GRAEME LOTHIAN
Spitfires of R.C.A.F 144 Wing led by Wing Commander Johnson in combat
with ME109's of JG3 over Arromanches, France June 1944.
with
three signatures of British RAF fighter Pilots
Air Vice Marshal
J E Johnnie JOhnson C.B, C.B.E D.S.O , D.F.C D.L
Air
Commodore Pete BrothersC.B.E. D.S.O D.F.C (Wing Commander Flying
Culmhead Wing)
Muscateer
by Robert Tomlin Squadron Leader John Plagis, Commanding Officer of 126 Squadron, in his
Spitfire LFIX, returns from France on 24th July 1944 after shooting down
an Me109. Plagis went on to score 15 aerial victories before the end of
World War II.
Summer of 44 by Stuart Brown MkIX Supermarine Spitfires take off for evening patrol of the Normandy
coast, June 1944. Signed by Raymond Baxter, WWII Spitfire pilot and well known
broadcasting voice of British Aviation.
D-Day, A New Dawn for Europe by John Young The ever-popular and ubiquitous Spitfire is shown landing somewhere
in Europe, bearing its invasion strips on the fuselage and wings.
D-Day most certainly did mark a new day for Europe, the sacrifices and
suffering well documented as Allied troops fought to give Europe back to
its rightful Governments. This print is signed by both the late and highly decorated Johnnie
Johnson and the production test pilot, Alex Henshaw MBE and is a limited
edition
Victory Over Gold by Nicholas Trudgian
Spitfires of 401 Squadron over the Normandy beaches, June 1944.
Battle Line by Philip West
On the 6th
June 1944 the invasion of Normandy commenced. The RAF was, of
course, a major combatant and formed part of a dedicated Allied force
tasked with freeing Europe. VE Day finally signalled the end of
hostilities on the 8th MAY 1945. During those bitter months many
great air battles were fought in the unforgiving skies and individual
combats ensued. One such combat is depicted here, displaying the
eerie feeling of the victor and vanquished between two of the greatest
aircraft ever built.
Never before in the history of war had such an impressive and awesome
gathering of aircraft come together. The Allies' quest was for
freedom, with the Luftwaffe fighting for its very existence - the battle
lines were drawn.
Signed and numbered by the artist and countersigned by the late Air
Vice-Marshall J. E. 'Johnnie' Johnson.
Normandy Breakout by Nicolas Trudgian
Wing
Commander Geoffrey Page had no business risking life and limb at low level
in a Spitfire in the maelstrom of D-Day and the heavy fighting that
followed. On 12th August 1940, during the height of the Battle of
Britain, he had been shot down in his Hurricane in flames. Page
scrambled out of the inferno, baling out into the sea, but his burns were
so severe he spent most of the next two years in hospital undergoing skin
grafts. Most would have called it a day, but not the young
Page. Showing the hallmark determination common among fighter
pilots, he was back in the air by the spring of 1943. Immediately
successful, on 29th June he and another pilot shot down 6 enemy aircraft
in one ten minute encounter and by the following summer he was given
command of 125 Wing. By D-Day Geoffrey Page commanded 132 Squadron's
Spitfires, taking an active role in the invasion, and the heavy fighting
in the weeks that followed.
Over the Beaches by Philip West