We Salute You. Artist Proof Mounted

Description

 We Salute You. 

We Salute You.
Artist Proof  Edition signed by Philip E. West
Flight Lieutenant George Dunn, DFC Ld’H – Bomber Command Pilot
Flight Lieutenant John Bell, MBE DFC Ld’H

see below for more information
Overall size including the double mounts approx. 23” x 18” (59 x 45cms)
This print is available in a larger size on our web site.

50 Prints in the  Artist Proof Edition £85.00

Buy any two mounted prints for £155.00 plus £12.00 postage for two prints
we will refund the difference back to you.
We Salute You.
As night falls Lancaster bombers head out over Lincoln Cathedral on yet another highly dangerous mission over enemy territory.
Lancaster aircraft first entered service in 1941, normally with a crew of seven whose average age was 22.
With a top speed of 287mph and ability to carry a massive bomb load of 22,000lbs, Lancasters proved a formidable as well as reliable aircraft, one held in the highest regard by its young,
though highly motivated crews.
Despite increasingly capable aircraft like the Lancaster, a great deal was asked of Bomber Command crews and their aircraft, resulting in substantial losses.
Of the 7373 Lancasters built 3677 were lost. From the over 125,000 involved in Bomber Command during the war 55,573 were killed, 8,000 wounded and 10,000 became prisoners of war.
To all these brave men we owe a great debt of gratitude for their bravery.
The main aircraft passing over Lincoln Cathedral is the now famous “Phantom of the Ruhr”, which went on to complete an amazing 120 ops.
Signatures – The prints have been signed by the artist Philip West and the following distinguished WW2 airmen
We do hope you will find these biographies of interest. We hope that by knowing a little about the men behind each signature, it will help you to get the most from your copy of ‘We Salute You’. We would ask you not to reproduce the biographies in any format without our permission.

 Flight Lieutenant George Dunn, DFC Ld’H – Bomber Command Pilot
George Dunn enlisted in the RAF in January 1941, and was called up in June of the same year. He was allocated to RAF Bomber Command and trained as a pilot in the UK and Canada (under the Empire Air Training Scheme). In May 1943 he was attached to 10 Squadron (very fleetingly) and then to 76 Squadron based initially at Linton-on-Ouse and then at Holme-on-Spalding-Moor in Yorkshire, part of 4 Group Bomber Command. Between May 1943 and October 1943 George took part in air operations against targets in Occupied Europe and Germany, completing his first ‘tour’ (30 operations) two weeks after his 21st birthday. During this time he took part in a number of ‘significant’ raids, including Hamburg and the V weapon research facility at Peenemunde.
After a period instructing (which could almost be as hazardous as operations) he converted to flying Mosquitos and flew with the Light Night Striking Force flying nuisance and diversionary raids, and later with the meteorology flight flying solo sorties to obtain advance weather data for planning raids. Now 96 Years old (2019), George is still active giving talks about his experiences and raising funds for maintaining the Bomber Command memorial in London’s Green Park
We Salute You.

Flight Lieutenant John Bell, MBE DFC Ld’H

 Flight Lieutenant John Bell, MBE DFC Ld’H – John was a 16 year school boy in September 1939 preparing to return to school. His Father predicted that the war would not last very long so John should consider his future and find a job. He became an office boy with a firm of accountants in the city of London.
By the time he was 18 years the war had intensified and so in 1941 joined the RAF. He had hoped to be a pilot but at the selection day he was told he was too tall so would not fit in a cockpit. He then began training as a navigator / bomber, which he completed in South Africa. In January 1943 he was posted to an Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) where he became part of a five man crew of a Wellington bomber. The crew was increased to seven and they were trained on the new 4 engine bombers. They were then posted to 619 Squadron at RAF Woodall Spa to fly in an Avro Lancaster.
In June 1943 they undertook their first tour of bombing raids. All bomber crews had to complete 30 missions before they were entitled to a break. The break would be to train other crews after which they would be called back to do further 20 missions. Realising they would probably be split-up if they took the break they opted to carry on.
This was not unusual as the crews formed a very close bond with each other.
Hoping for a change from the large high altitude formation night bombing raids they transferred to 617 Squadron (The Dam Busters) at RAF Scampton. Only to be informed by the C/O Leonard Cheshire that his Squadron were no longer flying low level missions. Instead they was about to become a high altitude precision bombing unit.

Philip West is recognised as one of the world’s finest aviation artists. Collectors of his original oil paintings span the globe,
many waiting patiently for his next breathtaking canvas to appear.
Self taught, Philip has won many accolades for his paintings, not the least of which was the prestigious Duane Whitney Award for Excellence at the 1997 American Society of Aviation Artists Exhibition.
We Salute You.