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Having pounded
Poland into submission, the German onslaught continued through
Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg. The "phoney war"
was over. On May 10, 1940, upwards of seventy airfields in
France, Belgium and the Netherlands came under heavy attack
from the Luftwaffe, at that time rampant across the skies
of northern Europe.
Aware that the crucial Battle of Britain
was to come, Fighter Command's Hugh Dowding could risk but
four squadrons of his valuable Hurricane fighters to support
the British Expeditionary Force as it fought its rearguard
action in France. In the face of the overwhelming might of
Germany's Blitzkrieg tactics,
the RAF Hurricane Squadrons were involved in some of the entire
war. In spite of being so heavily outnumbered, in May and
June of 1940, almost 1300 Luftwaffe aircraft fell to the guns
of the young RAF pilots, though at a heavy price.
Based at a temporary forward airfield at
Lille Marc, the Hurricanes of No. 87 Squadron were in the
thick of the fighting. Flying the early model MkIs, armed
only with machine guns, their task was to beat back the incessant
air attacks on the British ground forces, and to do what they
could to hamper the advance of the German Panzer divisions
as they plundered inexorably towards Dunkirk.
Flying from ill-prepared grass strips,
with groundcrews making the best of what meager facilities
were on hand, the Hurricane pilots literally flew themselves
to a standstill. Front Line Hurricanes,
Robert Taylor's superbly constructed new painting, recreates
a typical scene at a forward air base of the era.
Showing the strains of battle, the single-bladed
MkIs of 87 Squadron taxi in from their skirmish. An old farmhouse
has been commandeered and now doubles up as flight operations,
officers' mess, and accommodation for the lucky ones. The
rest of the squadron camp in bell tents. The Medical Corps
ambulance parked under cover of the trees is thankfully not
needed on this mission, though the late model Citroën
saloon car will likely convey as many as it will hold to the
village tavern this evening.
A masterful painting by the world's
number one aviation artist, his first portraying The Battle
of France. Prints are signed by six great ACES of RAF Fighter
Command Hurricane pilots who flew during the Battle of France,
offering collectors of WWII aviation art the opportunity to
acquire a classic collector's piece.
An exclusive portfolio edition limited to
just 800 signed and numbered prints, each issued with two
superb matching numbered Companion Prints.
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Overall print
size: 32 3/4" wide x 23 1/2" high.
| Front
Line Hurricanes by Robert
Taylor |
| 800 s/n prints w/SIX
signatures. |
US $295 |
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| 80 Artist's Proofs. |
SOLD OUT |
Robert
Taylor's BATTLE OF FRANCE
Portfolio Complete
with TWO Companion Prints
Gloster Gladiator
A survivor of an earlier generation
of fighter aircraft, the Gloster Gladiator was pressed into
service during both the Battles of France and Britain, and
later went on to do sterling work in Greece and North Africa.
This magnificent little BI-plane inflicted an inordinate amount
of damage to enemy aircraft during the early part of the war
and flew into immortality in the guise of Faith, Hope and
Charity, the three legendary Gladiators that stood alone against
the Luftwaffe in the siege of Malta.
Robert's fine study of this beautiful
aircraft shows a MkII Gladiator of No. 615 (County of Surrey)
Squadron, based at Abbeville, northern France in April 1940.
Companion prints are intialled by the artist, and isued with
matching numbers within the Portfolio.
Bristol Blenheim
When the Blenheim entered service
with the RAF in 1937 its top speed exceeding 300 mph was considered
advanced. But, when war broke out two years later, this gallant
light bomber was no match for the Luftwaffe's single-engine
fighters, and casualties were high. The aircraft nevertheless
excelled in attacks on German armor divisions during the Battle
of France, and later came into its own as a night-fighter
during the blitz of London.
Robert Taylor's handsome study shows
a Mk IV Blenheim of No. 57 Squadron based at Rosieres, France,
flown by Flight Lieutenant James Foulsham and seen returning
from a daylight bombing raid on a German armored column, May
17, 1940. Companion prints are initialed by Robert Taylor and
issued with matching numbers within the portfolio. |
Wing
Commander
