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Wellington by Robert Taylor.
Published in 1980 this rare art print shows Wellingtons of 425 Squadron RCAF, with the aircraft KW - E and KW - N clearly shown. This superb prints carry the rare original signature of FLt/Lt Townsend who passed away in April 1991. These were the only prints he signed personally. 100 Wellingtons from 420, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428, 429, and 431 Squadrons were ordered on an attack at Mannheim. The crews were over the target at between 12,000 and 16,000 feet, releasing 118,000 lbs of high explosives and 91,000 lbs of incendiaries. According to reports, bombing was accurate with severe damage being caused.
Wellington X HE-475 coded KW-E, failed to return from this operation :
Sgt P. Bujold RCAF, taken prisoner
Sgt W. Harris RAF, taken prisoner
P/O H. Gray RAF, killed
Sgt W. Redding RAAF, taken prisoner
F/Sgt J. Leblanc RCAF, killed. |
| | Item Code : DHM2179 | Wellington by Robert Taylor. - This Edition | |
| | TYPE | EDITION DETAILS | SIZE | SIGNATURES | OFFERS | YOUR PRICE | PURCHASING | | PRINT | Signed edition of 1500 prints.
Last 5 prints available. | Paper size 24 inches x 20 inches (61cm x 51cm) |  Townsend, Bill 
+ Artist : Robert Taylor
Signature(s) value alone : £85 | £60 Off! | Now : £140.00 |
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| Extra Details : Wellington by Robert Taylor. | | About all editions : | 
A photo of an edition of the print.
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| 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 Bill Townsend CGM DFM (deceased)
*Signature Value : £85
| Pilot and Captain of Lancaster AJ-O, he attacked the Ennepe Dam. Transferring to the RAF from the Army in 1941, Bill Townsend served a tour as a pilot with 49 Squadron, before joining 617 Squadron, at the time a Flight Sergeant. As part of 617 Squadron Bill Townsend flew Lancaster ED-886 codenamed AJ – O for Orange in the famous dambuster raid of May 1944. Flight Sergeant Townsend flew his bomber and crew in the third wave of the famous raid. After the first two dams (Mohne and Eder) were breached, O for Orange was tasked to attack the Ennepe dam. With no anti-aircraft firing at them, they had time to do three trial runs before they released their bomb, but it failed to damage the dam. Forced to fly back at tree top level by enemy action, his Lancaster was the last to return. It limped home short of one engine. He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for his courageous actions in the raid. Bill Townsend was later promoted to Flight Lieutenant. He had been a pupil at Monmouth and after the war studied at Lincoln College, Oxford. He became a business man and a civil servant after his studies. FLt/Lt Townsend passed away in April 1991 , there with a flypast by 617 Tornadoes at his cremation on the 15th April 1991 |
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