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Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased) - Art prints and originals signed by Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

J B Tait

J B Tait
The signature of Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

31 / 5 / 2007Died : 31 / 5 / 2007

Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

One of Bomber Commands most outstanding leaders, James Brian -Willie- Tait was one of only two RAF officers who had the distinction of being awarded three Bars to his DSO, as well as a DFC and Bar. On the night before D-Day Tait was the 5 Group Master Bomber directing from the air the massed attack by Lancasters on the German defences in the Cherbourg peninsula. By then Tait had already flown more than 100 bomber sorties with 51, 35, 10 and 78 Squadrons. A Cranwell-trained regular officer, he was very much in the Cheshire mould: quiet, bordering on the introspective. He was to go on to command the legendary 617 Dambusters Squadron and lead it on one of its most famous raids which finally destroyed the German battleship Tirpitz. In July 1944 when Leonard Cheshire was replaced by Wing Commander J B Willie Tait, 617 Squadron discovered that it had acquired a Commanding Officer very much in the Cheshire mould. Quiet, bordering on introspection, Tait, who was a Cranwell-trained regular officer, had already flown over 100 bombing operations with 51, 35, 10 and 78 Squadrons before joining 617. Tait had also received a DSO and bar and the DFC. He was 26. In the best traditions of 617 Squadron, Tait wasted no time in adapting to the Mustang and Mosquito for low level marking. He appointed two new Flight Commanders including Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC. Although involved in many of 617 Squadrons spectacular operations, Taits name is always associated with the destruction of the Tirpitz. An earlier attack on the ship by the squadron on 15th September 1944 had caused severe damage but Tirpitz was still afloat. On 29th October the Squadron was frustrated on the second attack by cloud over the target. The final attack was launched in daylight on 12th November 1944. Leading a mixed force of 617 and 9 Squadron Lancasters, Tait achieved complete surprise and had the satisfaction of seeing the Tirpitz destroyed at last. He had led all three attacks. On 28th December 1944 Tait received a third bar to his DSO, becoming one of only two RAF men to achieve this distinction. It coincided with his leaving 617 Squadron. Tait served in the post-war RAF, retiring as a Group Captain in 1966. He died 31st May 2007.

Items Signed by Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

 On 12th November 1944, the mighty Tirpitz was finally destroyed by a combined force of Lancasters from No 9 and No 617 Squadrons. LM220, an aircraft of 9 Sqn is shown here making its run toward the target at approximately 09.40 hours on that fateful......
Raid on the Tirpitz by Ivan Berryman. (B)
Price : £320.00
On 12th November 1944, the mighty Tirpitz was finally destroyed by a combined force of Lancasters from No 9 and No 617 Squadrons. LM220, an aircraft of 9 Sqn is shown here making its run toward the target at approximately 09.40 hours on that fateful......

Quantity:
 Completed more than 100 sorties on bombers flying with No.51, No.35, No.10 and No.78 Sqn before taking command of No.617 Sqn, already famed for the Dambusters raid.  He led the squadron on all three attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, and rece......
Clipped Signature - James 'Willie' Tait.
Price : £30.00
Completed more than 100 sorties on bombers flying with No.51, No.35, No.10 and No.78 Sqn before taking command of No.617 Sqn, already famed for the Dambusters raid. He led the squadron on all three attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, and rece......

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 A cold winters morning, as dawn breaks over RAF Lissett, revealing that last nights biting wind has once again brought a covering of snow to the airfield.  But, with conditions forecast to improve, tonights operation to bomb industrial targets in Ge......
Action This Day by Richard Taylor. (C)
Price : £1095.00
A cold winters morning, as dawn breaks over RAF Lissett, revealing that last nights biting wind has once again brought a covering of snow to the airfield. But, with conditions forecast to improve, tonights operation to bomb industrial targets in Ge......

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 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Price : £160.00
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......

Quantity:
 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian (AP)
Price : £200.00
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......

Quantity:
 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian. (B)
Price : £190.00
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......

Quantity:
 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian. (XX)
SOLD OUT
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian. (Y)
Price : £130.00
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......

Quantity:
Winter in Northern Europe brings short days, long nights and, for the most part, appalling weather making navigation difficult and flying hazardous, even by todays electronically sophisticated standards.  Throughout RAF Bomber Commands arduous six ye......
Strike and Return by Robert Taylor (D)
SOLD OUT
Winter in Northern Europe brings short days, long nights and, for the most part, appalling weather making navigation difficult and flying hazardous, even by todays electronically sophisticated standards. Throughout RAF Bomber Commands arduous six ye......NOT
AVAILABLE
At sunrise on 12 November, 1944, led by Wing Commander James Tait, Lancasters of 617 Squadron RAF prepare to make their bombing run on the German battleship Tirpitz, lying in the Norwegian fjord at Tromso.......
Target Bearing 270 by Robert Taylor (B)
SOLD OUT
At sunrise on 12 November, 1944, led by Wing Commander James Tait, Lancasters of 617 Squadron RAF prepare to make their bombing run on the German battleship Tirpitz, lying in the Norwegian fjord at Tromso.......NOT
AVAILABLE
Probably the most famous RAF Squadron in history, mainly due to the audacious Dambuster raid in 1943. Other notably successful missions flying their Avro Lancaster bombers included precision raids on the mighty German battleship Tirpitz, U-boat pens,......Legends of the Air by Philip West. (AP)
Price : £150.00
Probably the most famous RAF Squadron in history, mainly due to the audacious Dambuster raid in 1943. Other notably successful missions flying their Avro Lancaster bombers included precision raids on the mighty German battleship Tirpitz, U-boat pens,......

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 Published to mark the 50th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Avro Lancaster on 9th January 1941. ......
Lancaster by Frank Wootton.
Price : £400.00
Published to mark the 50th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Avro Lancaster on 9th January 1941. ......

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 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (AP)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (B)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (C)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (RM)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (RMB)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 By April 1945 everyone, except a few die-hard fanatical Nazis, knew the war in Europe was over; the end was only a matter of time. So when Bomber Command dispatched a force of over 300 Lancaster bombers to destroy Hitler's infamous Obersalzberg ......
Home Again England by Robert Taylor. (AP)
Price : £295.00
By April 1945 everyone, except a few die-hard fanatical Nazis, knew the war in Europe was over; the end was only a matter of time. So when Bomber Command dispatched a force of over 300 Lancaster bombers to destroy Hitler's infamous Obersalzberg ......

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 By April 1945 everyone, except a few die-hard fanatical Nazis, knew the war in Europe was over; the end was only a matter of time. So when Bomber Command dispatched a force of over 300 Lancaster bombers to destroy Hitler's infamous Obersalzberg ......
Home Again England by Robert Taylor. (B)
Price : £225.00
By April 1945 everyone, except a few die-hard fanatical Nazis, knew the war in Europe was over; the end was only a matter of time. So when Bomber Command dispatched a force of over 300 Lancaster bombers to destroy Hitler's infamous Obersalzberg ......

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 Official limited edition print of the 60th Anniversary of the Normandy Veterans Association.  The Eastern Flank of the D-Day battlefield, 1300 hours, June 6th 1944.  No single picture could possibly encompass the actions of all British forces on D-D......
Normandy Veterans Association 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Print by Michael Turner.
SOLD OUT
Official limited edition print of the 60th Anniversary of the Normandy Veterans Association. The Eastern Flank of the D-Day battlefield, 1300 hours, June 6th 1944. No single picture could possibly encompass the actions of all British forces on D-D......NOT
AVAILABLE
A first-hand account of the sinking of the Tirpitz by Bob Knights. - The early morning of 12th November 1944 was clear and very cold, and the wings of the Lancasters of 617 Squadron, parked on the airfield at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, were coated ......
The Sinking of the Tirpitz by Frank Wootton.
SOLD OUT
A first-hand account of the sinking of the Tirpitz by Bob Knights. - The early morning of 12th November 1944 was clear and very cold, and the wings of the Lancasters of 617 Squadron, parked on the airfield at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, were coated ......NOT
AVAILABLE
A first-hand account of the sinking of the Tirpitz by Bob Knights.  -  The early morning of 12th November 1944 was clear and very cold, and the wings of the Lancasters of 617 Squadron, parked on the airfield at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, were coate......
The Sinking of the Tirpitz by Frank Wootton (B)
SOLD OUT
A first-hand account of the sinking of the Tirpitz by Bob Knights. - The early morning of 12th November 1944 was clear and very cold, and the wings of the Lancasters of 617 Squadron, parked on the airfield at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, were coate......NOT
AVAILABLE
On April 25th 1945, the RAF despatched over 300 Lancasters to attack The Eagles Nest, Hitlers private mountain top castle at Berchstegaden.  It was a symbolic raid, for the war was almost over, but it seemed appropriate that, after almost six years o......
Escort for the Straggler by Robert Taylor.
SOLD OUT
On April 25th 1945, the RAF despatched over 300 Lancasters to attack The Eagles Nest, Hitlers private mountain top castle at Berchstegaden. It was a symbolic raid, for the war was almost over, but it seemed appropriate that, after almost six years o......NOT
AVAILABLE
<b>SOLD OUT. ......
Straggler Returns by Robert Taylor.
SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT. ......NOT
AVAILABLE

Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)


Tony Iveson Signature Lancaster and Spitfire Prints.
Pack Price : £460.00
Saving : £295
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Target Bearing 270 by Robert Taylor.
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Lest We Forget by Robert Tomlin.
Spitfire Country by Ivan Berryman.

Quantity:


Dambusters Discount 5 Print Pack.
Pack Price : £180.00
Saving : £240
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
The One That Broke The Dam by Ivan Berryman.
'O' Safe Home by Ivan Berryman.
No Way Back by Ivan Berryman.
Raining Fire by Ivan Berryman.

Quantity:
Pack 562. Pack of two 617 Sqn aviation prints by Nicolas Trudgian and Gerald Coulson.
Pack Price : £290.00
Saving : £140
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Summer Harvest by Gerald Coulson.

Quantity:
Pack 563. Pack of two Lancaster bomber prints by Philip West and David Pentland.
Pack Price : £270.00
Saving : £120
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Legends of the Air by Philip West. (AP)
Target Y The Eder Dam Raid, The Ruhr Valley, 17th May 1942 by David Pentland. (AP)

Quantity:
Tony Iveson Pilot Signed Lancaster Bomber Prints by Robert Taylor and Nicolas Trudgian.
Pack Price : £330.00
Saving : £95
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Target Bearing 270 by Robert Taylor.
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.

Quantity:
No.617 Squadron Lancaster Tirpitz Raid Print Pack by Nicolas Trudgian and Ivan Berryman.
Pack Price : £190.00
Saving : £105
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Raid on the Tirpitz by Ivan Berryman.

Quantity:
Tirpitz Raid Lancaster Aviation Prints by Nicolas Trudgian and Philip West.
Pack Price : £240.00
Saving : £170
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Preparing for the Tirpitz by Philip West.

Quantity:
617 Sqn Lancaster Print Pack by Nicolas Trudgian and Gerald Coulson.
Pack Price : £260.00
Saving : £170
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Summer Harvest by Gerald Coulson.

Quantity:
Tirpitz Raid Aviation Prints by Stan Stokes and Nicolas Trudgian.
Pack Price : £185.00
Saving : £75
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Attack on the Tirpitz by Stan Stokes.
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.

Quantity:
Lanacaster Tirpitz Print and Pilot Signature Pack.
Pack Price : £180.00
Saving : £70
......

Titles in this pack :

Clipped Signature - Joe Warburton.
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.

Quantity:
Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

Squadrons for : Group Captain J B Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Group Captain J B Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased). A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

No.10 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st January 1915

Rem acu tangere - To hit the mark

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.10 Sqn RAF

No.10 Sqn RAF

No.10 Sqn was formed on 1st January 1915 (from elements of No. 1 Reserve Squadron) moving to to St Omer, France in July 1915. The squadron flew BE2C's in August 1915 in the role of spotters for the Indian Corps during the Battle of Loos. During the Battle of Arras in April 1917 the squadron carried out some bombing sorties. After the First World war had ended No.10 squadron served in Germany before returning back the the UK and was disbanded in the winter of 1919. No.10 squadron was reformed in January 1928 as a heavy bomber squadron nad based at Upper Heyford. The squadron was equipped with Hyderabads, and over the following 10 eyars the squadron flew an assortment of bombers, including Hinaidis, Virginias and Heyfords. In January 1937, the Squadron was re equipped with Whitley bombers and moved to Dishforth. For the first few months of the Second World War, No. 10 Squadron carried out leaflet-dropping missions over Germany and in late 1941 was re equipped with the Halifax bomber. In May 1945, the squadron moved form Bomber Command to Transport Command and was re equipped with Dakotas. After the war the squadron was disbanded in 1947 only to be bought back into service for the Belrin Airlift in 1948 again flying the Dakota. Once the emergency was over the squadron again was disbanded. The squadron was again reformed during the 1950's and equipped with Canberras and was involved in operation during the Suez Crisis and during 1958 to 1964 the squadron was again re equipped with Victors based at Cottesmore. In July 1966 No.10 squadron were to be come the first squadron to be equipped with VC10s and since then were involved in air to air refuelling and tanker transport. The squadron was disbanded in October 2005 at Brize Norton, but reformed once again on 1st July 2011 flying Airbus Voyager aircraft.


Battle Honours of No 10 Squadron

Western Front 1915-1918
Loos, Somme 1916
Arras, Somme 1918
Channel and North Sea 1940-1945
Norway 1940
Ruhr 1940-1945
Fortress Europe 1940-1944
German Ports 1940-1945
Biscay Ports 1940-1945
Berlin 1940-1945
Invasion Ports 1940
France and Germany 1944-1945
Norway 1944
Rhine
Gulf 1991
Iraq 2003.


No.35 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st February 1916
Fate : Disbanded 28th February 1982
Madras Presidency

Uno animo agimus - We act with one accord

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.35 Sqn RAF

No.35 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.51 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 15th May 1916

Swift and sure

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.51 Sqn RAF

No.51 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.617 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 23rd March 1943

Apres mois, le deluge - After me, the flood

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.617 Sqn RAF

No.617 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.78 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st November 1916
Fate : 78 Squadron was disbanded on 30 September 2014

Nemo non paratus - Nobody unprepared

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.78 Sqn RAF

No.78 Sqn RAF

No. 78 Squadron was formed as part of the Royal Flying Corps on 1 November 1916 for home defence at Harrietsham and tasked with protecting the southern English coast. It was originally equipped with obsolescent BE2 and more modern BE12 fighters. changing to Sopwith 1½ Strutters in late 1917, followed by Sopwith Camels in mid-1918. It arrived at Sutton's Farm, under the command of Major Cuthbert Rowden, in September 1917 and was there until December 1919, with a detachment at Biggin Hill. The squadron disbanded on 31 December 1919 re-formed in 1936 as a heavy-bomber squadron and in the second world conflict served with the Yorkshire-based No.4 Group. Beginning operations with Whitleys in 1940, it converted to Halifaxes in 1942 and continued with that type of aircraft for the rest of the European war. Among the highlights of No. 78's war record was its participation in the historic 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne on 30/31st May 1942; the epic raid on Peenemunde on 17/18th August 1943; and the attack on the coastal gun battery at Mont Fleury on 5/6th June 1944, in direct support of the invasion of Normandy. In February 1941, No. 78 Squadron supplied the Whitleys and some of the crews (other crews were provided by No. 51 Squadron) which figured in Operation Colossus, the first Allied airborne operation of the war and the one in which British paratroops destroyed a large aqueduct at Tragino in southern Italy. From July to October 1942, No.78 Squadron was commanded by Wing Commander JB Tait, who later led the combined force of Lancasters from Nos. 617 (the squadron he then commanded) and 9 Squadrons which, using 12,000Ib Tallboy bombs, destroyed the Tirpitz in Tromso fjord. No. 78 flew, a total of 6,337 sorties comprising 6,017 bombing sorties and 320 minelaying sorties; made 302 bombing raids and bombed 167 different targets; dropped approximately 17,000 tons of bombs - 7,000 tons (i.e. more than a third of the total) between D-Day and VE Day; successfully laid 1,064 mines; and destroyed 31 enemy aircraft and damaged 35. The squadron's own losses totalled 182 aircraft. On 7th May 1945, No.78 Squadron was transferred from Bomber Command to Transport Command.converting to Dakotas, moved to Egypt. Here, No 78 took up route flying around the Mediterranean, North Africa and Middle East, receiving Vallettas in 1950, before disbanding at Fayid, Egypt at the end of September 1954. No 78 took up route flying around the Mediterranean, North Africa and Middle East, receiving Vallettas in 1950, before disbanding at Fayid, Egypt at the end of September 1954. On 24 April 1956, No 78 Squadron reformed, this time in Aden as a tactical transport unit equipped initially with Pioneers and then the larger Twin Pioneer. Detachments were undertaken all around the region, and it was felt that some sort of firepower capability should be added to the aircraft, and so guns were mounted in the rear entrance and missiles fitted under the wings. In 1962, the unit achieved what is believed to be the first firing of a guided missile by the RAF in an attack against rebel forces in Aden - quite an achievement for a transport squadron! No 78 Squadron was disbanded in December 1971. The Squadron reformed on 22 May 1986 when No. 1310 Flight, operating Boeing Chinooks, and the Westland Sea King HAR.3 equipped No. 1564 Flight merged at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands Originally operating the Chinook HC.1, these were later replaced with HC.2s. From 1988 to 2007, No. 78 Squadron was the only RAF squadron permanently based in the Falkland Islands. The four Tornado F3s which provide air defence are operated by No. 1435 Flight, while No. 1312 Flight operated a single Vickers VC10 and one Lockheed Hercules C.3. n December 2007, No. 78 Squadron reverted to its previous identity of No. 1564 Flight and a new No. 78 Squadron formed at RAF Benson as part of the Joint Helicopter Command, flying the Merlin HC3 and the new Merlin HC3A helicopters purchased from Denmark. By 2008, the total fleet of twenty eight RAF Merlin helicopters will be operated in a pool with 28 (AC) Squadron, also based at RAF Benson 78 Squadron was disbanded on 30 September 2014
Aircraft for : Group Captain J B Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)
A list of all aircraft associated with Group Captain J B Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased). A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
SquadronInfo

Lancaster




Click the name above to see prints featuring Lancaster aircraft.

Manufacturer : Avro
Production Began : 1942
Retired : 1963
Number Built : 7377

Lancaster

The Avro Lancaster arose from the avro Manchester and the first prototype Lancaster was a converted Manchester with four engines. The Lancaster was first flown in January 1941, and started operations in March 1942. By March 1945 The Royal Air Force had 56 squadrons of Lancasters with the first squadron equipped being No.44 Squadron. During World War Two the Avro Lancaster flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 618,378 tonnes of bombs between 1942 and 1945. Lancaster Bomberss took part in the devastating round-the-clock raids on Hamburg during Air Marshall Harris' Operation Gomorrah in July 1943. Just 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations each, and 3,249 were lost in action. The most successful survivor completed 139 operations, and the Lancaster was scrapped after the war in 1947. A few Lancasters were converted into tankers and the two tanker aircraft were joined by another converted Lancaster and were used in the Berlin Airlift, achieving 757 tanker sorties. A famous Lancaster bombing raid was the 1943 mission, codenamed Operation Chastise, to destroy the dams of the Ruhr Valley. The operation was carried out by 617 Squadron in modified Mk IIIs carrying special drum shaped bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis. Also famous was a series of Lancaster attacks using Tallboy bombs against the German battleship Tirpitz, which first disabled and later sank the ship. The Lancaster bomber was the basis of the new Avro Lincoln bomber, initially known as the Lancaster IV and Lancaster V. (Becoming Lincoln B1 and B2 respectively.) Their Lancastrian airliner was also based on the Lancaster but was not very successful. Other developments were the Avro York and the successful Shackleton which continued in airborne early warning service up to 1992.

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