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A Time for Heroes by Robert Taylor.
Royal Air Force and Royal Navy fighter
aircrews flew combat throughout the six long years of World War Two. At
the outbreak of war in 1939 four RAF Hurricane squadrons and two
equipped with Gladiators went immediately to France where in short time
New Zealander Cobber Kain became the first Allied Ace of the war. In
April 1940 Hurricanes and Gladiators saw in action in Norway, when
Rhodesian Caesar Hull of 263 Squadron became the second air Ace. By the
fall of France the new Spitfire joined in the great air battles over the
Channel as the British Expeditionary Force evacuated Dunkirk. Bob
Stanford -Tuck, Douglas Bader, Peter Townsend, Sailor Malan, and many
other great Aces gained their first victories, but with German forces
massing on the French coast, the invasion of Britain looked imminent.
Only RAF Fighter Command stood in Hitlers way. By July, the most famous
of all air battles had begun. The next three months, under glorious
summer skies, saw the most decisive and continual aerial fighting in
history. The British victory in the Battle of Britain was to
fundamentally change the course of the war and, ultimately, the course
of history. But there were four and a half more years of air battles
still to be fought and won -from the English Channel Front to the North
African desert, from the Mediterranean to Far East Asia. It fell to
Fleet Air Arm pilots to see the last air fighting for British and
Commonwealth pilots, by then equipped with Seafires and American
Corsairs and Hellcats, as they took part in the final assaults on the
Japanese mainland. As the last embers of hostilities faded into history
the centuries old doctrine of maritime supremacy had gone. Now the
aircraft ruled. In his masterful painting A Time For Heroes Robert
Taylor pays tribute to the World War II fighter aircrews of the RAF and
Fleet Air Arm. A panoramic scene from the era of the Battle of Britain
shows Mk I Spitfires of 234 Squadron, 10 Groups top scoring squadron,
returning to St. Eval after intercepting heavy raids on south coast
ports during the heaviest fighting, in September 1940. St. Michaels
Mount, the castle built on the site of a 14th Century monastery to
defend Britains shores from earlier enemies, provides a symbolic
backdrop as once again a band of brothers is called upon to defend their
Sceptred Isle. |
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A Time for Heroes by Robert Taylor
Royal Air Force and Royal Navy fighter aircrews flew combat throughout the six long years of World War Two. At the outbreak of war in 1939 four RAF Hurricane squadrons and two equipped with Gladiators went immediately to France where in short time New Zealander Cobber Kain became the first Allied Ace of the war. In April 1940 Hurricanes and Gladiators saw in action in Norway, when Rhodesian Caesar Hull of 263 Squadron became the second air Ace. By the fall of France the new Spitfire joined in the great air battles over the Channel as the British Expeditionary Force evacuated Dunkirk. Bob Stanford -Tuck, Douglas Bader, Peter Townsend, Sailor Malan, and many other great Aces gained their first victories, but with German forces massing on the French coast, the invasion of Britain looked imminent. Only RAF Fighter Command stood in Hitlers way. By July, the most famous of all air battles had begun. The next three months, under glorious summer skies, saw the most decisive and continual aerial fighting in history. The British victory in the Battle of Britain was to fundamentally change the course of the war and, ultimately, the course of history. But there were four and a half more years of air battles still to be fought and won -from the English Channel Front to the North African desert, from the Mediterranean to Far East Asia. It fell to Fleet Air Arm pilots to see the last air fighting for British and Commonwealth pilots, by then equipped with Seafires and American Corsairs and Hellcats, as they took part in the final assaults on the Japanese mainland. As the last embers of hostilities faded into history the centuries old doctrine of maritime supremacy had gone. Now the aircraft ruled. In his masterful painting A Time For Heroes Robert Taylor pays tribute to the World War II fighter aircrews of the RAF and Fleet Air Arm. A panoramic scene from the era of the Battle of Britain shows Mk I Spitfires of 234 Squadron, 10 Groups top scoring squadron, returning to St. Eval after intercepting heavy raids on south coast ports during the heaviest fighting, in September 1940. St. Michaels Mount, the castle built on the site of a 14th Century monastery to defend Britains shores from earlier enemies, provides a symbolic backdrop as once again a band of brothers is called upon to defend their Sceptred Isle.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 31 inches x 23 inches (78cm x 58cm). Price £200.00 Signed by Group Captain Tom Dalton Morgan (deceased), Wing Commander Bob Doe and Wing Commander George Grumpy Unwin.
Signed limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 31 inches x 23 inches (78cm x 58cm). Price £395.00 Signed by Group Captain Tom Dalton Morgan (deceased), Wing Commander Bob Doe, Wing Commander George Grumpy Unwin, Squadron Leader Neville Duke, Wing Commander John Freeborn, Commander Mike Crosley, Flight Lieutenant John Squier (deceased), Lieutenant Commander Peter Meadway and Squadron Leader Mahinder Pujji.
Signed Fighter Pilots Edition of 250 prints. Paper size 31 inches x 23 inches (78cm x 58cm). Price £275.00 Signed by Group Captain Tom Dalton Morgan (deceased), Wing Commander Bob Doe, Wing Commander George Grumpy Unwin (deceased), Squadron Leader Neville Duke, Wing Commander John Freeborn, Commander Mike Crosley, Flight Lieutenant John Squier (deceased), Lieutenant Commander Peter Meadway and Squadron Leader Mahinder Pujji.
Signed Veterans Proof Edition of 75 prints. Paper size 31 inches x 23 inches (78cm x 58cm). Price £450.00 Signed by Group Captain Tom Dalton Morgan, Wing Commander Bob Doe, Wing Commander George Grumpy Unwin, Squadron Leader Neville Duke, Wing Commander John Freeborn, Commander Mike Crosley, Flight Lieutenant John Squier, Lieutenant Commander Peter Meadway, Squadron Leader Mahinder Pujji, Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC, AE, Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC*, Air Vice Marshal Johnnie Johnson CB, CBE, DSO**, DFC*, Wing Commander Harbourne Stephen CBE, DSO, DFC and Group Captain Peter Townsend CVO, DSO, DFC.
ITEM CODE DHM2248
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A Time For Heroes by Robert Taylor
- The Signatures
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 | Group Captain Tom Dalton Morgan DSO, DFC*, OBE (deceased)
Tom joined the RAF in 1935, serving with 22 Squadron. In June 1940 he was posted to Tangmere as 'B' Flight commander with 43 Squadron, flying Hurricanes, scoring his first victory on 12 July. In action over the Channel in August he was hit by crossfire, bailing out with slight wounds. He soon resumed flying but was again wounded on 6 September. Ten days later he was promoted to command 43 Squadron. In January 1942 he left the squadron to become a Controller. Promoted Wing Commander Operations with 13 Group, he then led the Ibsley Wing, consisting of 4 Spitfire, 2 Whirlwind, and 2 Mustang Squadrons. His final victory in May 1943 brought his score to 17. Briefly attached to the USAAF 4th Fighter Group, he was then Operations Officer with the 2nd TAF until the end of the war. He died 18th September 2004.
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 | Wing Commander Bob Doe, DSO, DFC*
In 1939 he joined the R.A.F. and upon completion of his training was posted to 234 squadron. During the Battle of Britain he achieved great success. He was one of the very few pilots to successfully fly both Hurricanes and Spitfires and was one of the top scorers of the Battle with 14 and two shared victories. He was awarded the DFC in October and a BAR in November. He joined 66 squadron as a Flight Commander then moving to 130 squadron in August 1943 saw him in 613 squadron flying Mustangs. October 1943 he was posted out to the Far-East, forming 10 squadron, Indian Air Force, which he led on the Burma front. Awarded the DSO in 1945. He stayed on in the R.A.F. after the war, retirement in 1966 was followed by opening a Garage business which proved successful.
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Bob Doe signing the print - Fighting Lady - by Graeme Lothian. |
Bob Doe with the original painting - Fighter Pilot of the RAF - by Graeme Lothian. |
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Bob Doe signing the print - Fighter Pilot of the RAF - by Graeme Lothian. |
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 | Wing Commander George Grumpy Unwin, DSO, DFM* (deceased)
George Unwin joined the RAF in 1929, and in 1936 was posted to Duxford with 19 Squadron as a Sergeant Pilot. He was one of the first pilots in the RAF to fly the Spitfire. With the outbreak of war 19 Squadron moved to Hornchurch and George, now one of the Squadron's most experienced pilots, took part in the great air battles over France and Dunkirk, scoring 3 and a half victories. He flew with 19 Squadron continuously during the whole of the Battle of Britain. He was commissioned in 1941. After a period instructing, he resumed operations, flying Mosquitoes with 16 Squadron. George finished the war with 13 victories, 2 shared, 2 unconfirmed, and 2 probables. He died 28th June 2006.
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 | Squadron Leader Neville Duke, DSO, OBE, DFC*, AFC, CzMC (deceased)
Neville Duke flew Spitfires as wingman to Sailor Malan in 92 Squadron. In November 1941 he was posted to 112 Squadron in the Middle East. After a second tour in the Desert, he flew a third tour, with 145 Squadron in Italy. He was the top scoring Allied Ace in the Mediterranean with 28 victories. After the war, in 1953, he captured the World Air Speed record. He died 7th April 2007.
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Neville Duke signing artwork of Graeme Lothian. |
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 | Wing Commander John Freeborn DFC*
Johnie Freeborn flew Spitfires with 74 Squadron over Dunkirk, and was in action throughout the Battle of Britain, he had been with his squadron longer, and flown more hours, than any other Battle of Britain pilot. He joined 602 Squadron in 1942, and commanded 118 Squadron in June 1943. In June 1944 he was promoted Wing Commander Flying of 286 Wing in Italy. John Freeborn scored 17 victories.
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 | Commander Mike Crosley DSC* Royal Navy
Fleet Air Arm Ace Mike Crosley joined the carrier HMS Eagle in late 1941, one of four FAA pilots flying Sea Hurricanes in defence of the Malta convoys, scoring 2 victories. In August 1942, during Operation Pedestal, he was lucky to escape with his life after the carrier was torpedoed and sunk by U73. She capsized within 7 minutes. He later joined HMS Biter flying Sea Hurricanes in Operation Torch, and Seafires during D-Day. Appointed CO of 880 Squadron FAA, he finished the war in the Far East, with 5.5 victories.
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 | Flight Lieutenant John Squier (deceased)
John Squier was called up from the RAFVR at the outbreak of war, joining 64 Squadron at Kenley in June 1940 flying Spitfires. In August he crash landed following an attack by Hannes Trautloft of III/JG51, suffering severe injuries. Rejoining 64 Squadron in November, he was posted to 72 Squadron, then 603 Squadron, and finally 141 Squadron. He was commissioned in 1942. After the war he became a test pilot and was the first pilot to eject at supersonic speed. He died 30th January 2006.
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Lieutenant Commander Peter Meadway Royal Navy
Peter Meadway joined the Royal Navy in 1939, and was posted as Observer to 825 Squadron FAA flying Swordfish from HMS Furious. Transferring to 810 Squadron FAA on HMS Ark Royal he took part in the successful torpedo attacks on the German Battleship Bismarck on the night of 26th/27th May 1941, and was witness to her sinking the following day.
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 | Squadron Leader Mahinder Pujji DFC
In 1940 Mahinder, a qualified pilot flying for Shell in India, volunteered to join the RAF and was commissioned as Pilot Officer. Arriving in England, he was posted to 43 Squadron, and then 258 Squadron at Kenley, flying both Hurricanes and Spitfires. Later posted to the Western Desert, then to India, and finally to Burma, where he completed two tours against the Japanese.
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Mahinder Pujji wearing his medals. |
Mahinder Pujji signing the print - Battle for the Skies over Dieppe - by Graeme Lothian |
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 | Air Commodore Peter Brothers CBE, DSO, DFC* (deceased)
Learnt to fly at the age of 16 and joined the RAF two years later in 1936. He first saw action in 1940 when as a Flight Commander in 32 Squadron, based at Biggin Hill, he flew his Hurricane against the fighters and bombers of the Luftwaffe. He recalls this as an intensely busy period, during which he shot down an Me109 - his first enemy aircraft; by the end of August that same year his tally of enemy aircraft shot down increased to eight. Awarded the DFC, he was transferred to 257 Squadron where he joined Bob-Stanford Tuck as a Flight Commander. Promoted in 1941 to Squadron Leader, Pete Brothers then took command of 457 Squadron RAAF, equipped with Spitfires. A year later when 457 Squadron returned to Australia, Pete took command of 602 Squadron. In the early autumn of 1942 he went on to become Wing Leader of the Tangmere Wing, succeeding his old friend, Douglas Bader. By the end of the war Pete Brothers had amassed 875 operational hours over a 44-month period. He was credited with having personally shot down 16 enemy aircraft and damaged many more. He later went on to command 57 Squadron during the Malaya campaign. Upon return to the UK Pete Brothers joined the V-Force, flying Valiant-4 jet bombers. He retired in 1973. Sadly, Pete Brothers died 18th December 2008.
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Peter Brothers signing the print - Combat Over Normandy - by Graeme Lothian |
Peter Brothers signing the print - Fighting Lady - by Graeme Lothian |
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 | Air Marshal Sir Denis Crowley-Milling KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC, AE (deceased)
He joined the RAFVR in 1937 as a Sgt, joining 615 squadron in France. During the Battle of Britain he was posted to 242 squadron and after winning a DFC joined 610 squadron as a Flight Commander in 1942. But, on 21st August he was shot down over France, evading capture and with the help of the resistance reached Spain, where he was interned for three months. After reaching England he rejoined 610 squadron and in 1942 was awarded his second DFC for operation on Typhoons. In 1943 he went to the USAAF Headquarters in England co-ordinating fighter operations with US heavy bomber raids. Af ter the war he stayed in the R.A.F. and had a very successful career, rising to the rank Air Marshal. He died in late 1996.
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Dennis Crowley-Milling signing the print - Fighting Lady - by Graeme Lothian |
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 | Air Vice Marshal Johnnie Johnson CB, CBE, DSO**, DFC* (deceased)
Johnnie Johnson joined 92 Spitfire squadron in August 1940, but it was with 616 squadron that he scored his first victory on June 26th 1941 while flying with Douglas Baders Tangmere Wing. He was squadron leader of 610 squadron in July 1942, but it was as Wing Commander of the Kenley Wing in 1943 that his scores really started to mount. He was W/C of 144 wing during D-Day and led 127 and 125 wings until the end of the war when we has the topscoring allied fighter pilot with 38 air victories. Inspired by the great British WW 1 aces like Bishop and Ball, Johnnie Johnson dreamed often as a child of becoming an R.A.F. pilot. The young Johnson enthusiastically joined the Volunteer Reserve at the first opportunity. After completing his initial flight training Johnson was posted to 616 Squadron at Kenley. However, this Squadron had been hit hard with the loss of six pilots and five wounded, and the unit was withdrawn to Coltishall prior to Johnson encountering combat. With only 12 hours of flight time in a Spitfire this was no doubt advantageous. In February 1941 Billy Burton moved the Squadron to Tangmere. Douglas Bader then arrived to take over the Tangmere Wing, and fly with the 616 Squadron. Johnnie, Alan Smith and Cocky Dundas were chosen to fly with Bader. During the summer of 1941 the Battle of Britain was at its peak. Bader took the time to instruct Johnson carefully in both the art of flying and the skills necessary to attain success in aerial combat. Bader's idea of an afternoon off duty, according to Johnson, was to take his section over the Channel in hopes of running into Adolph Galland and his Abbeyville Boys. On August 19, 1941 Bader failed to return from a mission when 616 Squadron was hit hard by a group of Messerschmitt 109s. Johnson flew on in Baders absence, and in the summer of 1942 he was promoted to command of the 610 Squadron. In 1943 he was promoted again to Wing Commander of the Canadian Spitfire Wing in Kenley. By that time Johnson had attained eight confirmed victories. During the spring and summer of 1943 Johnnie led the Canadian unit on more than 140 missions over Northwest Europe. Johnsons squadron attained more than 100 victories during this period, and Johnnies own personal score rose to 25. After a short leave, Johnson was posted to lead the 144 Canadian Spitfire Wing. On D-Day Johnson led his Wing on four missions in support of the Allied invasion. On June 8, Johnsons Wing was the first Spitfire group to land in newly liberated France. Johnson continued fighting in France through September 1944 when he achieved his 38th and final victory. Patrolling the Rhine Johnsons unit jumped nine 109s which were flying beneath them in the opposite direction. Five of the 109s were downed. Early in 1945 Johnson was promoted to Group Captain and put in command of the 125 Wing, which was equipped with the Spitfire XIV. Flying from former Luftwaffe airfields the 125 Wing assisted in the final Allied push to Berlin. Johnson attributed much of his aerial combat success to his ability to make tight turning maneuvers. Johnsons tightest call came on August 19, 1942 when he was unable to dislodge an Me-109 from his tail during the raid on Diepppe. Johnson raced his Spitfire flat out at a group of Royal Navy ships. The usual barrage of flak and tracer fire came right at him, and fortunately for the ace, missed his Spitfire but effectively eliminated the brave pilot on his tail. During the Korean War Johnson flew fighter-bombers with the USAF. Following his retirement from the R.A.F. in 1966 Johnson founded the Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust that has provided homes for more than 4000 disabled and elderly persons, and his sixth book Winged Victory was published in 1995. Johnson flew many of the Spitfire models. His favorite was the beautiful Mark IX, the best of them all. Johnnie passed away in 2001 at the age of 85, in Derbyshire, England.
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Artist Graeme Lothian with Johnnie Johnson. |
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 | Group Captain Peter Townsend CVO, DSO, DFC (deceased)
Peter Townsend was one of the most inspirational fighter leaders of the Battle of Britain. In February 1940, flying a Hurricane, he had shot down the first German aircraft to fall on English soil in World War II, and this was the first of a string of successes for the popular commander of 85 Squadron. Shot down twice, wounded, and flying part of the Battle when he couldn't walk, Peter Townsend survived to lead the first night-fighter squadron. He later became Equerry to King George VI, a post he held for 8 years. He died 19th June 1995.
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