First Of Many by Robert Taylor

At just after 7 o'clock on the morning of 11 July 1940, the phone rang in the dispersal hut of 242 Squadron. "Bandit approaching Cromer. Can you get your section off?" The new squadron commander, Douglas Bader, peered into the driving rain. "No! The weather is too bad. I'll go myself."

In terrible conditions, he scrambled his new Hurricane alone, climbing into thick, turbulent cloud. As Bader's Hurricane broke into a layer of clear air separating more heavy cloud above, he spotted a Dornier 17. Hauling his Hurricane around he brought his guns to bear; exchanging fire with the enemy rear-gunner as the Dornier scurried for cloud cover. Bader managed a few more bursts before the enemy bomber disappeared into the murk, and returned home not knowing if he had done sufficient damage to destroy the Dornier. On landing, Bader learned the Dornier had crashed into the sea off Cromer. It was 242 Squadron's first victory of the war, and was to be the "First of Many" successes achieved by the squadron and its mercurial commander.

Overall print size: 24" wide x 20" high.

A rare and exclusive collector edition issued in tribute to Sir Douglas Bader, one of the greatest fighter leaders in the history of air combat. Prints are signed by four highly decorated Hurricane and Spitfire Aces from the Battle of Britain, and who flew throughout World War Two.

First Of Many by Robert Taylor
600 Special Edition prints w/FOUR signatures.	US $250

Robert Taylor's painting, faithfully recorded after talking at length with Sir Douglas Bader, captures the moment his Hurricane broke cloud, just moments before scoring his famous victory.

Prints are signed by FOUR highly decorated fighter Aces that flew Hurricanes and Spitfires with distinction during the Battle of Britain.

The Signatures

Air Commodore Pat 'Jamie' Jameson CB DSO DFC
At the outbreak of war New Zealander 'Jamie' Jameson was a flight commander in 46 Squadron, flying Hurricanes. In April 1940 he took part in the Norwegian campaign, and on 8 June he was the last man to leave the sinking carrier HMS Glorious after the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had shelled her. Rescued, he returned to England, taking command of 266 Spitfire Squadron, part of Douglas Bader's Wing. In August 1942 he led 12 Group Wing over Dieppe, and in December was posted to North Weald to command 331 & 332 Norwegian Squadrons. In July 1944 he took command of 122 (Mustang) Wing, ending the war an Ace with 9 victories.

Group Captain Duncan Smith DSO DFC AE
Joining the RAFVR before the war, Duncan Smith flew Spitfires with 611 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain. In August 1941 he was appointed a flight commander and during this period destroyed 8 enemy aircraft. After a serious illness he returned to flight command of 64 Squadron, and in August 1942 flew operations over Dieppe. He then commanded the North Weald Wing. In May 1943 he was posted to Malta to command the Cuqa Spitfire Wing for the Invasion of Sicily, and then to command 244 Wing in the Desert. In November 1943 he commanded 324 Wing in Italy. He finished the war with a total of 19 victories.

Group Captain Peter Townsend CVO DSO DFC
Already an experienced pilot at the outbreak of war, Peter Townsend flew Hurricanes with 43 Squadron in the early air battles, shooting down the first German aircraft to fall on British soil. At the end of May 1940 he took command of 85 Squadron, which he led throughout the Battle of Britain as one of the Fighter Commands most popular Squadron commanders - first as a day fighting squadron and then from September as the first night-fighting squadron. His tally stood at 9 and 2 shared victories. From June of 1941 several station and squadron commands followed, including command of 605 Squadron. In February 1944 he was appointed Equerry to King George VI, a post he held for eight years.

Wing Commander Bob Stanford-Tuck DSO DFC
In the early stages of the Battle of Britain Bob Stanford-Tuck fought with 92 Squadron, scoring his first victory on 23 May 1940 over Dunkirk. On 11 September he was posted to command 257 Squadron on Hurricanes. He led this squadron until the summer of 1941 when he was given command of the Duxford Fighter Wing. After a brief spell in the USA, he returned to Spitfires commanding the Biggin Hill Wing. His combat career ended in January 1942 when he was shot down by ground fire over northern France, and taken prisoner. He escaped in January 1945. His final tally stood at 30 victories.