Description

RETURN OF THE PATHFINDERS by Anthony Saunders Never had there been an aircraft like the de Havilland Mosquito; constructed almost entirely of wood with two Merlin engines bolted under each wing it could outrun any other piston-engine fighter in the world. Only when the Luftwaffe’s Me262 jet came on the scene did the enemy have anything of such speed but, unlike the Me262, the Mosquito – nicknamed the “Wooden Wonder” – was perhaps the most versatile aircraft of World War II. Allied squadrons operated Mosquitos in a huge number of roles including both day and night-bombers, night-fighter, as a ship-buster with Coastal Command, bomber support, photo-reconnaissance and, thanks to its speed and maneuverability as one of the finest intruders of the war. Mosquitos carried out some of the most dangerous and daring low-level pinpoint precision strikes ever seen and, of course, as part of the RAF’s elite Pathfinder force. Formed in 1942 and led by the inspirational Don Bennett, perhaps the finest navigator in aviation history who became the youngest Air Vice-Marshal in the RAF, the Pathfinders were Bomber Command’s specialist target-marking squadrons who, flying ahead of the main bomber force, located and identified their assigned targets with flares. Anthony Saunders’ atmospheric painting Return of the Pathfinders depicts the Pathfinder Mosquitos of 139 (Jamaica) Squadron, a unit that had joined Bomber Command’s No 8 (Pathfinder) Group in July 1943. Anthony skillfully conjures up the mood as dawn breaks over a crisp, icy landscape in a burst of color that illuminates the Mosquitos as they follow the course of the River Great Ouse on their return to RAF Upwood after a long overnight trip to Germany in early 1944. During a period that began on the night of 20 / 21st February 1944 this particular squadron undertook a series of 36 consecutive night attacks on Berlin. THE SIGNATURES The print is personally signed by highly respected veterans who flew de Havilland Mosquitos in combat during WWII, including members of the Pathfinder Force: Flying Officer KEN OATLEY - Navigator 22 Ops' with Pathfinder Force then flew in Okinawa Flight Lieutenant GEORGE DUNN DFC MID - Pilot with Pathfinder Force, flew 44 Ops' in total Flight Lieutenant JOHN TROTMAN DFC* - Pilot with Pathfinder Force, flew 70 missions in total Flight Lieutenant DES CURTIS DFC - Navigator with Banff Strike Wing, flew missions to attack the Tirpitz Please note: The prints in my st ore are hand-signed by the veterans involved in the painting so the signatures are original autographs and not reproductions. T he certificate of authenticity is included. CONDITION: My items are guaranteed to be in perfect condition, any issues are clearly detailed in the description. SHIPPING: As a former aviation art retailer I have shipped countless prints over the years. My prints are rolled in acid free tissue and shipped in heavy duty tubes, and the shipping is insured and guaranteed. If you are interested in more than one item I will always do my best to combine the shipping to save costs – please just ask.