Return of the Few (Spitfire)

Description

Return of the Few Spitfire

by Philip E. West

The overall print size is 27 x 17¼”/70cms x 44cms.

In Celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain

September 1940. Geoffrey ‘boy’ Wellum together with other 92 Squadron Spitfire pilots,
return to their home base following yet another busy day’s fighting enemy aircraft over Southern England.
They will be exhausted, their nerves stretched to the limit but they live to fly and fight another day.
These courageous young men will once again do their duty in the fight for freedom and victory.

Prints have been signed by former Battle of Britain pilot Sqn. Ldr. Geoffrey Wellum DFC.
and additionally signed by three more Battle of Britain pilots.
(Please see details below)

50 Prints in the Artist Proof Edition £125.00
Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC joined the RAF with a Short Service Commission in August 1939. He joined no 92 Squadron flying Spitfires in June 1940 at the time of Dunkirk.
He flew throughout the Battle of Britain, later completing over 50 fighter sweeps and escorts over northern France and Belgium until August 1941.
He then joined 65 Squadron as Flight Commander in March 1942 operating over northern France and flew off Aircraft Carrier Furious on operation Pedestal, to Malta.
(Geoff was a Flt. Lt. during “Operation Pedestal”) He returned to the UK as a test pilot Gloster Aircraft and finished the war as a Pilot Attack Instructor.
Geoffrey was credited with three destroyed, four probable’s and several damaged and was awarded the DFC in July 1941.

The Artist Proof have also been signed by these distinguished pilots:
Return of the Few Spitfire

Flight Lieutenant Richard Jones began operational flying in 1940 with 64 Squadron flying Spitfires out of Kenley airfield, Surrey, from where he was in action during the Battle of Britain.
When 64 Squadron was withdrawn from the front line Richard joined No 19 Squadron based at Fowlmere, part of the Duxford Sector.
19 Squadron was part of “The Big Wing”, led by Douglas Bader,
the legendary legless fighter pilot.
As the Battle of Britain was drawing to a close Fl. Lt. Jones was shot down by a Me109 during a dogfight over Kent.
After the Battle of Britain he became a test pilot for Hawker Hurricanes and many other aircraft types.

Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC AE flying career began shortly before WW2, when he learnt to fly with the RAFVR. Called up for war service in September 1939,
he completed his training and was posted to 605 Squadron, equipped with Hawker Hurricanes. By early September 1940 he and his Squadron were in the thick of the air fighting over southern England, operating from Croydon during the Battle of Britain. Surviving the Battle, he later became an instructor, but shortly after joining 54 Squadron, which had Spitfires,
he and this unit became part of a group sent out to Australia to help defend the Darwin area. Bob’s squadron and two others, 452 and 457, engaged the Japanese incursions throughout 1943.
Awarded the DFC for his efforts, he returned to the UK and was given an assignment with a RAF public relations outfit, ending up in Normandy within three weeks of the invasion of 1944.
Often serving right up in the front lines, Bob saw the war at very close hand.

Wing Commander J.F.D, ‘Tim’ Elkington was born in 1920 and joined the RAF in 1939 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in July 1940.
Return of the Few