Order Enquiries (UK) : 01436 820269

You currently have no items in your basket


Buy with confidence and security!
Publishing historical art since 1985

Don't Miss Any Special Deals - Sign Up To Our Newsletter!
Product Search         

ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS :
20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS
BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS
FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
No.41 Sqn RAF - Squadron Profile.

No.41 Sqn RAF

Founded : 15th April 1916
Country : UK
Fate :
Known Aircraft Codes : EB, PN

Seek and destroy

Founded in 1916, 41 Squadron was disbanded at the end of World War One, but reformed on 1st April 1923.

No.41 Sqn RAF


Latest No.41 Sqn RAF Artwork Releases !
  On the afternoon of 5th September 1940, Spitfires of 41 Sqn intercepted a large formation of Heinkel 111 bombers and their escorts over the Thames estuary, en route for London.  Flying N3162 as Red 2, Flight Lieutenant Eric Lock attacked the bombers head on as they began to turn north.  In a fraught combat, Lock was to destroy two He.111s and a Bf.109 on that single mission, setting him on course to become the highest scoring ace in the RAF during the Battle of Britain with sixteen confirmed victories and one shared.  His final total at the end of the war was twenty six kills confirmed and eight probables.

Total Commitment by Ivan Berryman. (PC)
 Flying as Leader of B Flight, 41 Sqn, on 15th August 1940, Pilot Officer Ted Shipman and the rest of his flight found themselves among a mass of Messerschmitt Bf.110s that had been detailed to escort a bomber force of Heinkel He111s on a raid on the North of England.  Having made one head-on attack on one of the Bf.110s, Shipman manoeuvred his Spitfire Mk.1 onto the tail of another and fired a long burst into it.  This was M8+CH of Oberleutnant Hans-Ulrich Kettling of 1./ZG76 and rear Gunner / Radio Operator O/ Gefr Volk, whose starboard engine burst into flames and disappeared into the dense cloudbase.  Shipman claimed this initially as a probable, but it was later confirmed as a victory when the aircraft was found to have crash landed at Streatham Nr Barnard Castle.  Spitfire K9805 (EB-L) is depicted breaking off the attack as Kettling's stricken Bf.110 begins to burn.  Ted Shipman would go on to serve with the Royal Air Force until December 1959 retiring as a Wing Commander.  Ted would also go onto become friends with  Hans-Ulrich Kettling, the pilot he shot down.

Tribute to Pilot Officer Ted Shipman by Ivan Berryman. (PC)
 Bardufoss airbase, over 150 miles North of the Arctic circle in the far North of Norway, was for twenty years the deployment base for No.41(F) Squadron Jaguars.  Flying in the ground attack and reconnaissance roles, the former Battle of Britain Squadron were Arctic operations specialists in a region noted for its dangerous winter weather and extreme flying conditions.  This print  portrays a Jaguar GR3, carrying Vinten JRP reconnaissance pod, in action during NATO exercises in the rugged and inhospitable area where military pilots enjoy some of the most challenging flying in the world.  Michael Rondot has drawn on his own experiences of low flying in north Norway to create a stunning painting dominated by the camouflaged Jaguar and dramatically illustrating the bleak terrain and atmosphere of an Arctic Warrior!

Arctic Warrior by Michael Rondot.
 Jaguar GR3A from 41 (Fighter) Squadron based at RAF Coltishall and flown by Squadron Leader Ian Smith thunders down a Norwegian fjord.  Coltishall Jaguars regularly deploy on exercise in northern Norway as part of NATO's protection of its northern flank.  However, Spring of 2006 saw the closure of RAF Coltishall, the loss of an historic airfield.

Snowcat by Robert Tomlin.

No.41 Sqn RAF Artwork Collection
Click the images below to view the fantastic artwork we have available to purchase!



41 Squadron Spitfires by Ivan Berryman.


Sqn Ldr Maurice Brown - No.41 Sqn by Ivan Berryman.


41 Sqn Scramble by Ivan Berryman.


Dornier's Demise by Ivan Berryman.


Into the Schwarm by Ivan Berryman.


Tribute to Pilot Officer Ted Shipman by Ivan Berryman.


Clipped Signature - Cyril Bamberger.


Clipped Signature - Robert Beardsley.


Clipped Signature - Edward Shipman.


Clipped Signature - Jack Steere.


Total Commitment by Ivan Berryman.


Victory Over the Rhine by Nicolas Trudgian.


Spitfires Over St Michaels Mount by Robert Taylor.


Snowcat by Robert Tomlin.


Arctic Warrior by Michael Rondot.


Coltishall - End of the Line by Michael Rondot.


Hawker Fury IIs of 41 Sqn RAF by Keith Woodcock.

Aces for : No.41 Sqn RAF
A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name.
NameVictoriesInfo
Eric Stanley Lock26.50
Brian John George Carbury15.50
John Terrance Webster15.00
Tom Neil14.00The signature of Tom Neil features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Tony Gaze12.50The signature of Tony Gaze features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
George Harman Ben Bennions11.00The signature of George Harman Ben Bennions features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available.
Aircraft for : No.41 Sqn RAF
A list of all aircraft known to have been flown by No.41 Sqn RAF. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
SquadronInfo

Fury




Click the name above to see prints featuring Fury aircraft.

Manufacturer : Hawker

Fury

Full profile not yet available.

Hornet


Click the name above to see prints featuring Hornet aircraft.

Manufacturer : de Havilland

Hornet

Full profile not yet available.

Jaguar




Click the name above to see prints featuring Jaguar aircraft.


Jaguar

Full profile not yet available.

Spitfire




Click the name above to see prints featuring Spitfire aircraft.

Manufacturer : Supermarine
Production Began : 1936
Retired : 1948
Number Built : 20351

Spitfire

Royal Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph up to The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I 34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575 miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine guns, for MKs V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936. and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19 squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named Seafires. By the end of production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408 Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires in front line use until April 1954.
Signatures for : No.41 Sqn RAF
A list of all signatures from our database who are associated with this squadron. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
NameInfo


Sqdn Ldr H C Baker
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Sqdn Ldr H C Baker
Sqdn Ldr H C Baker

Just one month before the Battle began, Henry Butch Baker had already seen fierce fighting over Dunkirk where he shot down one German aircraft and damaged another. After surviving a car accident, he joined 41 Squadron on September 15 â€" viewed by many as Battle of Britain Day â€" when 17 squadrons fought off a major attack. Flew Spitfires and helped destroy seven Messerschmitts in the Battle.




Squadron Leader Cyril Bam Bamberger
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Squadron Leader Cyril Bam Bamberger

3 / 2 / 2008Died : 3 / 2 / 2008
Squadron Leader Cyril Bam Bamberger

Born in Port Sunlight on May 4th 1919, Cyril Bamberger won an electrical engineering apprenticeship at Lever Brothers in 1934. He joined 610 Squadron AuxAF, in 1936 on the ground staff. Accepted for pilot training with the RAF VR in late 1938, he soloed in mid 1939. Bamberger was called up at the outbreak of war and on the 23rd October 1939 was posted to No 8 EFTS, Woodley and later went to 9 FTS, Hullavington to complete his training. He rejoined 610 (F) Squadron at Biggin Hill on July 27th but with no experience on Spitfires, he was sent to Hawarden for three weeks. Back with 610 (F) Squadron, Bamberger claimed a probable Bf109 on August 28th 1940. He was posted to 41 (F) Squadron at Hornchurch, Essex, September 17th and on October 5th he claimed a Bf109 destroyed. After volunteering for Malta, Bamberger left 41 (F) Squadron in mid-October 1940. He sailed from Glasgow on the Aircraft Carrier HMS Argus. Luckily for him, he did not fly off for Malta with the twelve Hurricanes ad two navigating Skuas which did. Only five of the fourteen aircraft reached their destination. Bamberger eventually reached Malta on November 28th on the destroyer HMS Hotspur, and on arrival he joined 261 Squadron. On January 18th 1941 he destroyed a Junkers JU87 Stuka and another the following day. 261 Squadron was dispended on May 21st 1941. Bamberger moved on the 12th to the newly formed 185 (F) Squadron at Hal Far. He was posted back to England on June 12th and was sent to Central Gunnery School at Sutton Bridge. Commissioned in February 1942, he was posted to Northern Ireland as a Gunnery Officer with the Americans who were converting to Spitfires. In March 1943 Bamberger volunteered for North Africa where he joined 93 Squadron at Hal Far, Malta in May. On July 13th operating over Sicily, he shot down a Junkers JU87 Stuka. In August Bamberger joined 243 Squadron in Sicily as a Flight Commander. He was awarded the DFC (28.09.43). On October 16th Bamberger damaged a Bf109, his first success after 243 crossed into Italy. On May 25th 1944 he claimed a Bf109 destroyed and on June 15th a Macci 202 damaged. Bamberger came off operations in July for medical reasons returning to the UK. He was sent on an instructors course and in early 1945 was posted to the Gunnery School at Catfoss. Awarded a bar to his DFC (14.11.44). Bamberger received it from the King at Buckingham Palace on July 3rd 1945. Released in 1946, Bamberger returned to Lever Brothers and rejoined 610 Squadron at Hooten Park, becoming its CO in 1950. When the Korean crisis came, he was recalled to the RAF. In February 1951 he was granted a permanent commission and in May 1952 moved to an Intelligence Unit, assessing strike capabilities of the Chinese and Koreans. Bamberger retired on January 29th 1959 as a Squadron Leader, and became managing director of a small packaging materials company â€" he started in 1954. On retirement he had an antique shop in Hampshire. Sadly, Cyril Bamberger passed away on 3rd February 2008.



Squadron Leader Robert Beardsley DFC
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Squadron Leader Robert Beardsley DFC
Squadron Leader Robert Beardsley DFC

An RAFVR pilot, joining 610 Squadron at Biggin Hill at the peak of the Battle of Britain, in August 1940, Beardsley had three confirmed victories before the end of the Battle. Posted to 41 Squadron, Beardsley spent months with the Tangmere Wing in 1941, remembering Bader for his determination to operate the wing on every possible occasion and his calmness of the radio which compared favourably with some other Wing Leaders. Commissioned in June 1941, Beardsley remained with 41 Squadron until November. After a period instructing, he went to North Africa with 93 Squadron, covering the Allied invasion. After D-Day he went to France with 222 Squadron on Spitfires. Beardsley left the RAF in 1945 but rejoined in 1949, flying Meteors with 74 Squadron.



Squadron Leader Ben Bennions DFC
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Squadron Leader Ben Bennions DFC

30 / 1 / 2004Died : 30 / 1 / 2004
30 / 1 / 2004Ace : 11.00 Victories
Squadron Leader Ben Bennions DFC

Ben Bennions joined the RAF in 1929 and after pilot training he was posted to 41 Squadron. He was already a seasoned Spitfire pilot by the outbreak of World War Two. During the Battle of Britain he destroyed 12 enemy aircraft and 5 probables before being shot down on October 1st 1940. Ben baled out, and badly wounded with one eye destroyed and serious head injuries underwent plastic surgery by Archie McIndoe. He is the sole surviving Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot who is both a member of the Caterpillar Club (using silk parachutes) and a founder member of the Guinea Pig Club (those who underwent plastic surgery) Ben Bennions died 30th January 2004.



Lieutenant John Bradshaw
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Lieutenant John Bradshaw
Lieutenant John Bradshaw

Volunteering to fly with the RAF, John Bradshaw flew Spitfires with 41 Squadron. An experienced pilot, he transferred to the USAAF in 1943 and was immediately posted to the 56th Fighter Group, flying with the 63rd Fighter Squadron. He flew a total of 126 combat missions, flew on D-Dat, belly-landed twice in Holland, and downed 1.5 enemy aircraft.




Squadron Leader Maurice P Brown
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Squadron Leader Maurice P Brown

20 / 1 / 2011Died : 20 / 1 / 2011
Squadron Leader Maurice P Brown

Maurice Peter Brown (known as Peter) was born in London on 17th June 1919. On leaving school he qualified for entry in the civil service with an appointment in the Air Ministry. But in April 1938 he left to join the Royal Air Force with a short service commission. In September 1939 he was posted to 611 West Lancashire Squadron with Spitfires in 12 Group, initially at Duxford and then Digby. His initiation into battle was over Dunkirk. He was at readiness throughout the Battle of Britain, including with the controversial Ducford Big Wing on 15th September, when the Luftwaffe's morale was broken, and then in late September with 41 Squadron at Hornchurch where the fiercest fighting with highest casualties had taken place. It was a quantum leap. In June 1941, after serving as a flight commander in the squadron, Peter was posted as an instructor to 61 Operational Training Unit at Heston and other OTUs and then at AFUs as a Squadron Leader Flying. He left the RAF with the rank of Squadron Leader and was awarded the Air Force Cross. In his flying career, Maurice Peter Brown flew Spitfire Mk.I, Mk.II and Mk.V. We have learned the sad news that Maurice Peter Brown passed away on 20th January 2011.

Cranston Fine Arts would like to extend our many thanks to Squadron Leader Maurice Peter Brown for spending a day (17/2/2010) with us signing a number of our art prints.

Maurice Peter Brown signing an original pencil drawing of 41 Sqn Spitfires.

Maurice Peter Brown signing High Patrol by Ivan Berryman.



Pilot Officer Norman Brown
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Pilot Officer Norman Brown
Pilot Officer Norman Brown

Served on Spitfires with 611 and 41 Squadrons. On 1st November 1940 Norman was part of a flight of Spitfires that overshot Hornchurch due to poor visibility and soon found themselves in the London Balloon Barrage area. These balloons were tethered with metal cables and upon striking one; Browns aircraft was seriously damaged, forcing him to land in the built-up area of Dagenham. He left the squadron in February 1941 and left the RAF that April, working in the timber industry for the rest of the war.



Squadron Leader Peter Brown AFC
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Squadron Leader Peter Brown AFC
Squadron Leader Peter Brown AFC

A short service commission pilot, Brown joined 611 Squadron at Duxford in September 1939 and served with them through the Battle of Britain, including the period the Squadron was part of the Duxford Wing. Over Dunkirk on June 2, the Squadrons first major action was with a large formation of Bf 109s. Browns Spitfire was damaged and he landed at Southend with a burst tyre. He shared in the destruction of a Do 17 on August 21 and on the 15th he destroyed an He 111 and shared a probable Do 17. On September 28 1940, Brown moved to 41 Squadron where he increased his score. On October 20th he shot down a Bf 109 and the pilot baled out near Ashford. Brown landed at West Malling and collected the pilots life jacket as confirmation of his victory! His final score was three confirmed victories. After promotion to Flight Commander he was posted on June 28 1942 to a training role at 61 Sqn OTU.




Group Captain Dick Garwood DFC ADC
Click the name above to see prints signed by Group Captain Dick Garwood DFC ADC
Group Captain Dick Garwood DFC ADC

Dick Garwood also served on No 41 Sqn at RAF Coltishall with the artist and Glen Torpy during the 1980s. He flew Tornados during the Gulf War and later commanded No II(AC) Sqn before assuming command of Royal Air Force Marham.



Tony Gaze DFC**
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Tony Gaze DFC**
20 / 1 / 2011Ace : 12.50 Victories
Tony Gaze DFC**

Australian Tony Gaze joined Bader at Tangmere in March 1941 flying with 610 Sqn, scoring several victories during the high summer of that famous year. In 1942 he was posted to 610 Sqn and then commanded 64 Sqn. In Sept 1943 he joined 66 Sqn but was shot down. Evading capture he escaped back to England. In July 1944 he flew again with 610 Sqn then 41 Sqn. In the final days of the war he flew meteor jets with 616 Sqn. Tony gaze finished the war an Ace with 11 and 3 shared destroyed, 4 probable and one V. He was awarded the DFC with 2 bars.




Squadron Leader Mike Gordon DFC MBE
Click the name above to see prints signed by Squadron Leader Mike Gordon DFC MBE
Squadron Leader Mike Gordon DFC MBE

41(F) Sqn Flight Commander 1989-1992




Flt Lt Peter Graham
Click the name above to see prints signed by Flt Lt Peter Graham
Flt Lt Peter Graham

Peter joined the RAF in April 1941, and after training in the US was posted in April 1943 to join 41 Squadron based at Hawkinge, Kent. He flew fighter sweeps over the Channel, France and Belgium, including many Rubarb ops. On 1st September 1944, whilst attacking a train carrying V2 rockets, he sustained heavy damage from flak and the train exploding, causing him to bail out. After a heavy parachute landing, he was injured and taken POW, being sent to Stalag Luft I.




Wing Commander Steve Griggs AFC
Click the name above to see prints signed by Wing Commander Steve Griggs AFC
Wing Commander Steve Griggs AFC

Steve Griggs has flown the Jaguar since 1976 with 31, 54(F) and 41(F) squadrons. In 1982 he ejected twice within a five-month period; the first after being shot down over Germany by an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile fired inadvertently from an RAF F-4 Phantom; the Second after a catastrophic engine fire over Northeast Scotland. He was awarded the Air Force Cross for pioneering night low level flying in the Jaguar With night vision goggles and was at the time of signing the print, the Officer Commanding 41(F) Squadron.



Air Vice-Marshal Chris Harper CBE
Click the name above to see prints signed by Air Vice-Marshal Chris Harper CBE
Air Vice-Marshal Chris Harper CBE

Air Marshal Christopher N Harper CBE , RAF, is a senior Royal Air Force Officer, who joined the Royal Air Force in the Flying branch in 1976, and was assigned to the SEPECAT Jaguar force, with 41( F ) Squadron, 31 and 14 Squadrons. Between 1994 and 1997 he commanded 41( F ) Squadron and was involved in operations over Bosnia. He was involved in operations over Iraq whilst Station Commander, RAF Coltishall during 1999-2001. Harper was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal an appointment to the NATO post of Deputy Commander Joint Force Command Brunssum on 31st March 2009.




Group Captain Mark Hopkins OBE
Click the name above to see prints signed by Group Captain Mark Hopkins OBE
Group Captain Mark Hopkins OBE

Officer Commanding 41(F) Sqn 2002-2004



Wing Commander Robert G Middlemiss DFC CD
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Wing Commander Robert G Middlemiss DFC CD
Wing Commander Robert G Middlemiss DFC CD

Bob was born in Montreal in 1920 and was educated at Commercial High School of Montreal. After graduating from high school Bob Middlemiss accepted a track scholarship from an American College but war broke out and he volunteered to join the RCAF. He was told when an opening was available he would be called. In the interim, his Dad's Regiment, of which he was the RQSM, the 17th Duke of York's Royal Canadian Hussars was mobilized as the 3rd Canadian Motorcycle Regiment. Bob decided to join as a trooper but was called by the Air Force and a few months later joined the RCAF on September 14, 1940. He received his flying training at 13 EFTS, St. Eugene, ON and 9 SFTS, Summerside, PEI where he received his wings. He was posted overseas and trained on Spitfires at 57 OTU, Hawarden, Cheshire. He was posted to 145 Squadron and then later to 41 Squadron. They carried out operations consisting of air defence patrols against high level and low level fighter bomber attacks, convoy patrols in the English Channel, fighter sweeps, bomber escort and low level rhubarbs. In June 1942, he was selected to serve with a team of Spitfire pilots posted to Malta. They were taken to within 700 miles of Malta on the aircraft carrier HMS Eagle and then launched to hopefully make the island. During his tour with 249 Squadron on Malta Bob shot down and destroyed three enemy aircraft and damaged two others before he was shot down and wounded. After recuperating, he served as an Instructor at 52 OTU and then 53 OTU in England. From the OTU he was posted to 403 Squadron, part of the 127 Wing commanded by Johnnie Johnson, the highest scoring ace of WWII. Bob had the honour of flying as his number 2 on a number of sorties. After completing two tours of operations he returned to Canada and instructed on Hurricanes and Mosquitos.

Colonel Middlemiss was decorated for his war effort with the Distinguished Flying Cross the citation read as follows:
This officer completed two tours of operational duty and has completed sorties from Malta and the United Kingdom. He has destroyed three enemy aircraft and damaged others. His standard of leadership as a section leader and flight commander has always been high and he has invariably shown outstanding courage.


Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC
20 / 1 / 2011Ace : 14.00 Victories
Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC

Tom Neil was born on 14th July 1920 in Bootle, Lancashire. Tom Neil (also to become known in the RAF as 'Ginger') joined the RAFVR in October 1938 and began his flying training at 17 E and RFTS, Barton, Manchester. Tom Neil was called up on the 2nd os September 1939 being sent to 4 ITW, Bexhill in early November. On 1st December 1939, he was posted to 8 FTS and on completion of the course he was commissioned and posted to 249 Squadron in May 1940 flying Hurricanes just before the start of the Battle of Britain flying from North Weald. On 7th September 1940, Tom Neil encountered and claimed a Bf109 destroyed. On the 11th an He111, on the 15th two Bf109s and a Do17 destroyed and another Do17 shared, on the 18th an He111 damaged and on the 27th a Bf110 and a Ju88 destroyed, a Bf110 probably destroyed and a Ju88 shared. On 6th October Tom Neil shared a Do17, on the 25th claimed a Bf109 destroyed, on the 27th a Do17 probably destroyed, on the 28th a Ju88 shared and on 7th November a Ju87 and two Bf109s destroyed. He was awarded a DFC on 8 October, but on 7 November, after claiming 3 victories over the North Sea off the Essex coast, he collided in mid-air with Wing Commander Francis Beamish and his aircraft lost its tail. He baled out of his Hurricane unhurt, Beamish force-landing unscathed. Tom received a Bar to his DFC on 26 November, and on 13 December was promoted flight Commander. The squadron was posted to Malta in May 1941, flying off HMS Ark Royal on the 21st. During a summer of frequent scrambles, he claimed one further victory in June, while on 7th October he led a fighter-bomber attack on Gela station, Sicily. He departed the island in December 1941, returning to the UK via the Middle East, South and West Africa, and Canada, finally arriving in March 1942, when he became tactics officer with 81 Group. A spell as an instructor at 56 OTU, before being posted as a flying liaison officer with the 100th Fighter Wing of the US 9th Air Force in January 1944. He managed to get some flying in over France with this unit, claiming a share in 6 aircraft destroyed on the ground before D-Day, and a dozen or so more later, plus a number of other ground targets. In January 1945 he was sent to the school of Land/Air Warfare as an instructor. In March 1945 he was posted out to Burma, where he undertook some operations with 1 Wing, Indian Air Force, to gain experience of the operations in this area. Returning to the UK in April, he resumed instructing at the school until the end of the year. In January 1946 he attended the Empire Test Pilots School, undertaking No.4 short course and No.5 course, a total of 18 months. Posted briefly to Farnborough, he sought a move to Boscombe Down, where he stayed for some 3 years. In 1948 in went to Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, to take part in the first high altitude pressure suit experiments, as a precursor to the aerospace programme. 1950-51 he was a staff officer at HQ, Fighter Command, while in 1952 he attended the staff college at Bracknell. He was then given command of 208 Squadron in Egypt, which he led until 1956, leaving just before the Suez operation. He returned to the UK to become W/Cdr Operations, Metropolitan sector, until 1958, when he attended the flying college at Manby. He went to the British Embassy in Washington for 3 years from 1959, returning to the Ministry of Defence but retiring from the service as a Wing Commander in 1964. Meanwhile he had added the US Bronze Star to his decorations in august 1947, and an AFC in January 1956.




Sqn Ldr Hugh Parry
Click the name above to see prints signed by Sqn Ldr Hugh Parry
Sqn Ldr Hugh Parry

Hugh Parry joined the RAF from Northern Rhodesia in December 1939, and after training in England was posted in February 1941 to join 260 Squadron flying Hurricanes. In April he transferred to 266 Squadron flying first Spitfires and then Typhoons. In March 1943 he went to Malta with 601 Squadron on the USS Wasp, flying the Spitfire Vc, where he remained until July. After a spell as a test pilot, he returned to combat with 41 Squadron flying Spitfire MkXIIs. On 24th September 1943 he was shot down near Beauvais and managed to evade capture for the next five months until he was eventually captured by the Gestapo in Paris. After a month in prison he was sent to Stalag Luft III until the end of the war.




Squadron Leader Ian Smith
Click the name above to see prints signed by Squadron Leader Ian Smith
Squadron Leader Ian Smith

Jaguar pilot, No.41 Sqn.




Wing Commander George W Swanwick
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by Wing Commander George W Swanwick

4 / 1 / 2011Died : 4 / 1 / 2011
Wing Commander George W Swanwick

George Swanwick was born on 10th November 1915 and was an air-gunner on Wallaces and Hinds with 504 squadron at RAF Hucknall during the 1930s. In May 1936, 504 became part of the Auxiliary Air Force, and in October 1938 converted to a fighter unit, equipped with Gauntlets. In 1938 George re-trained as a pilot, and was promoted to Sergeant Pilot in August 1939. In May 1940 George Swanwick joined 7 BGS, and on 7th September was posted to 54 Squadron at Catterick flying Spitfires. He then went to 41 Squadron at Hornchurch. Commissioned in late 1941, he was posted to 222 Squadron at North Weald in April 1942 as a Flight Commander. In July George Swanwick joined 603 Squadron in Malta and in September 1942, George was posted to 7 OTU at Port Sudan as Flight Commander. In July 1943, he joined 81 Squadron in Malta as a supernumerary. George was invalided back to the UK and following his discharge from hospital in 1944, George held various staff appointments until the end of the war. George Swanwick was granted a Permament Commission in 1949 and retired on 30th April 1970, as a Wing Commander. Sadly, George Swanwick passed away on 4th January 2011.




Air Chief Marshal Sir John Thomson GCB CBE AFC
Click the name above to see prints signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir John Thomson GCB CBE AFC

10 / 7 / 1994Died : 10 / 7 / 1994
Air Chief Marshal Sir John Thomson GCB CBE AFC

Sir John Thomson is the Jaguar Force's most respected senior pilot. He commanded 41(F) squadron when it re-equipped with the Jaguar in the recce/attack role and later commanded the RAF Germany strike/attack wing at RAF Bruggen. Up until 1994 he was Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Strike Command and then was appointed Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces NORTHWEST. Sadly, days after taking up this post, he took ill and was rushed to hospital, where he died on 10th July 1994.




Air Vice-Marshal Glen Torpy CBE DSO
Click the name above to see prints signed by Air Vice-Marshal Glen Torpy CBE DSO
Air Vice-Marshal Glen Torpy CBE DSO

Glen Torpy was a reconnaissance/attack pilot flying Jaguars with the artist on No.41 Sqn before moving to Tornados. In the Gulf War he commanded No XIII Sqn and the Tornado reconnaissance force at Dhahran for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He is now Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group.




Warrant Officer Peter Wall
Click the name above to see prints signed by Warrant Officer Peter Wall
Warrant Officer Peter Wall

Joined the RAF at the Air Crew Reception Centre at Lords Cricket Ground, London in 1941 and after Initial Training Wing at Clare College, Cambridge, found himself en route to the USA to take part in the Arnold Scherne, being trained to be a pilot by the South East Army Air Corps in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. After 200 hours of training Peter graduated at a ceremony where he was given the silver wings normally awarded to the American cadets - the RAF wings came later out of a cardboard box! On return to the UK and after six weeks at the Advanced Flying Unit at Bodney, Norfolk, he was posted to the target towing at 61 OTU, Rednal and West Felton, flying Westland Lysanders and Miles Martinets, towing drogues for the Spitfire pilots to shoot at. After six months he joined a Spitfire course and after completion Peter was sent to Hawkinge, Kent to join No 41 Sqdn who were flying a new Spitfire, the Mark 12 with the Griffon engine developing nearly 2000 horsepower. The task there was to protect the bombers returning from raids in Northern France. From there the Sqdn was sent to Beachy Head to deal with the hit and run raiders attacking Eastbourne and other South Coast towns. Up until then it had been forbidden to take the aircraft over to the continent but the policy changed and the Sqdn joined up with 91 Sqdn to form a Wing acting as escort cover to the bombers trying to destroy the V1 and V2 sites. Returning from one of these operations he had an accident on landing and was sent to Training Command as an Instructor! After converting to the twin engine Oxford he taught trainees at Southrop Advanced Flying Unit for a further six months when he was selected to be an instructor at Luisgate Bottom teaching ex-operational Bomber pilots to be OTU instructors. Whilst there, he gained an A2 instructing category. As not so many instructors were then required the Unit was closed down and he then went to Church Lawford where he taught Naval Officers to fly on Harvards without any preliminary training on simpler aircraft quite successfully!




Air Commodore Sir Archie Winskill KCVO CBE DFC AE
Click the name or photo above to see prints signed by or with the mounted signature of Air Commodore Sir Archie Winskill KCVO CBE DFC AE

9 / 8 / 2005Died : 9 / 8 / 2005
Air Commodore Sir Archie Winskill KCVO CBE DFC AE

An RAFVR pilot, Winskill flew with both 72 Squadron and 603 Squadrons during the Battle of Britain. Commissioned in August 1940 he was posted in February 1941 to 41 Squadron where he soon became a Flight Commander. Baders determination to engage the enemy at every possible opportunity is what he remembers most clearly of the period, On August 14th he was shot down over France, just five days after Bader. He managed to evade capture and, with the help of the French Resistance, made his way to Spain and then Gibraltar. He was the first pilot to use this route home. After another operational posting to North Africa, after which he was awarded a Bar to his DFC, he finished the war with four confirmed victories. Post war he stayed on in the RAF and was Captain of the Queens Flight for 14 years. He died 9th August 2005.

Archie Winskill with Paddy Barthropp, signing prints of - Fighting Lady - by Graeme Lothian. In the background are the original paintings Fighting Lady and Fighter General, both by Graeme Lothian.


Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

Join us on Facebook!

Sign Up To Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with all our latest offers, deals and events as well as new releases and exclusive subscriber content!

This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts.  Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE

Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269.  Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com

Follow us on Twitter!

Return to Home Page