"TANGMERE HURRICANES "

by Nicolas Trudgian

"TANGMERE HURRICANES" by aviation artist Nicolas Trudgian is a signed and numbered limited edition print from an edition limited to only 1000 prints. This print is completely SOLD OUT at the publisher. This print was personally signed by the real Group Captain Peter Townsend.  Townsend was born on 22 November 1914 and had outstanding service in the Royal Air Force in World War II.  He flew the RAF Hurricane, the same type of aircraft that is depicted in this beautiful print.  In the Netflix series "The Crown," Group Captain Peter Townsend (as played by actor Ben Miles) is a key character because of his romance with Princess Margaret (as portrayed by actress Vanessa Kirby). The romance caused a crisis in the British monarchy and was doomed to fail.  Unfortunately, Group Captain Townsend died 19 June 1995.  If you are a fan of "The Crown," this print, with the real Group Captain Peter Townsend's signature, would have a very special place in your home.  The following paragraph is Group Captain Peter Townsend's graphic personal account of aerial combat during the Battle of Britain: 

"As the wheels of my Hurricane raised, the engine cut, spluttered, then recovered - caused by the blast from bombs exploding behind, where the rest of my squadron somehow got airborne. Above were Dorniers, escorted by Me110s and Me109s. I climbed at full boost and reached the Me110s first. As I attacked, Me109s fell upon me spraying tracer from behind. A Me109 turned in front, I hit him and he streamed vapor. Then another, I hit him too and he rolled over smoking. A third just below - I could easily see the pilot, but while maneuvering to shoot, a Me110 came at me, firing head on. My Hurricane was badly hit in the windscreen and self-sealing fuel tank but mercifully there was no fire. I was wounded and momentarily lost control. I bailed out low down just missing some large oaks, and landed among fir saplings. After convincing the Home Guard and a policeman of my nationality, we all adjourned to the Royal Oak, Hawkhurst for drinks all round and a wonderfully friendly crowd waved me off to hospital." Group Captain Peter Townsend's graphic personal account of a single Battle of Britain combat mission typifies the action, and the spirit of the fighter pilots who fought the most decisive air battle in history.

Nicolas Trudgian captures wonderfully that spirit and atmosphere in his painting "TANGMERE HURRICANES." Refueled and rearmed, Hurricanes of 601 Squadron - known as the Millionaire’s Squadron for the number of wealthy and aristocratic pilots that made up its numbers - climb out over a Sussex village railway station to rejoin the ever-changing patterns of white vapor trails and tiny specks glinting like diamonds high above.