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Please note that our logo is used on our website images only and does not appear on our products. Devastating Strike by Robert Taylor. It was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world, one of the most envied - and one of the most feared. Built almost entirely of wood and assembled by carpenters, the beautifully streamlined de Havilland Mosquito, or Wooden Wonder was a triumph of ingenuity at a time when resources of light alloys were in short supply. Its greatest attribute was speed. Powered by two phenomenal Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, the Mosquito became the finest multi-role combat aircraft of World War II. No other Allied military aircraft was built in so many versions for so many roles - a fast bomber which could carry a huge 4,000lb payload; a day or night fighter; a fighter-bomber; trainer; torpedo bomber; photo reconnaissance aircraft; maritime strike aircraft and U-boat hunter were just some of the 43 different variants produced during a long and distinguished career. Mosquitos had pioneered the role of daring precision attacks with the September 1942 raid on the Gestapo Headquarters in Oslo and were involved in the first unescorted high-speed bombing raids on Germany. It was the Mosquito strike wings of Coastal Command, however, that endured some of the fiercest battles of the war. Flying over the unforgiving icy waters of the North Sea to attack enemy shipping along the coasts of Norway, Denmark and Hollad meant that precision flying was essential for survival; especially in the deep, sheer fjords where even the slightest lapse in concentration could result in instant destruction. In this painting, Mosquito Mk.VIs from No.143 Sqn, part of the famous Banff Strike Wing, come under intense defensive fire whilst delivering a blistering strike on enemy shipping off the Norwegian coast in early 1945. Their salvo of rockets, however, will likely be enough to penetrate the hulls of the ships. Item Code : DHM6573 Devastating Strike by Robert Taylor. - This Edition TYPE EDITION DETAILS SIZE SIGNATURES OFFERS YOUR PRICE PURCHASING PRINT Signed limited edition of 200 prints. Paper size 26 inches x 23.5 inches (66cm x 60cm) Image size 19.5 inches x 15.5 inches (50cm x 40cm) Beattie, Brian Curtis, Des + Artist : Robert Taylor Signature(s) value alone : £75 £22 Off! Now : £165.00 All prices on our website are displayed in British Pounds Sterling

Other editions of this item : Devastating Strike by Robert Taylor. DHM6573 TYPE EDITION DETAILS SIZE SIGNATURES OFFERS YOUR PRICE PURCHASING ARTIST PROOF Collectors artist proof edition of 25 prints. Paper size 26 inches x 23.5 inches (66cm x 60cm) Image size 19.5 inches x 15.5 inches (50cm x 40cm) Beattie, Brian Curtis, Des Foinette, Eric Maywood, Richard Dunn, George Prichard, George Youens, Jack Davie, Reg + Artist : Robert Taylor Signature(s) value alone : £250 £22 Off! Now : £345.00 VIEW EDITION... PRINT Collectors edition of 225 prints. Paper size 26 inches x 23.5 inches (66cm x 60cm) Image size 19.5 inches x 15.5 inches (50cm x 40cm) Beattie, Brian Curtis, Des Maywood, Richard Dunn, George Prichard, George Youens, Jack Davie, Reg + Artist : Robert Taylor Signature(s) value alone : £210 £22 Off! Now : £240.00 VIEW EDITION... General descriptions of types of editions :

Signatures on this item
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
Name	Info
Flight Lieutenant Brian Beattie (deceased) *Signature Value : £40	Born in 1921, Beattie joined the Royal Air Force on July 8th 1940. From the moment of signing up in the Recruitment Centre, Beattie was in no doubt that he wanted to join the RAF to be a pilot. Fortunately, amidst thousands of volunteers, things seemed to be panning out his way. 'I was next sent to No.1 Initial Training Wing for seven weeks,' Beattie recalls, 'and from there we were posted off to Elementary Flying Training (EFT), scattered all over the shop. Four of us for some reason were sent to Rhodesia.' Elementary Flying Training would be the student pilot's first introduction to the complexities of aviation and, for most, would be the first time of even setting foot inside an aircraft. 'After EFT we then moved on to RAF Kumalo, Bulawayo, to fly Oxfords,' Beattie goes on, 'we were now carrying out ITS and ATS which were our Intermediate and Advanced Training Squadrons. ITS was a conversion onto a more complex aircraft type whereas ATS now taught us navigation, bombing and air photography.' bHaving served at 489 Coastal Command flying torpedo carrying Hampdens, he later joined Des Curtis at 248 Sqn where he also flew the Tse-Tse firing Mosquito.
Flight Lieutenant Des Curtis DFC *Signature Value : £35	Originally a Wireless Operator / Gunner with No.235 Sqn on Beaufighters before converting to Mosquitos as a Navigator. He helped form 618 Sqn for ops against the Tirpitz, and then had success against U-boat pens om the French coast. In September 1944 he joined 248 Sqn Banff Strike Wing in Scotland.

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