A CLASSIC MASTERWORK COMMEMORATING THE INDOMITABLE AIRCREWS OF RAF BOMBER COMMAND DURING WWII

ALMOST HOME By Robert Taylor 

A lone 9 Squadron Lancaster, separated from the main force during a punishing mission to Germany in late 1944, returns to safety. The weary crew are no doubt relieved to see familiar fields beneath them as they approach their base at RAF Bardney. 9 Squadron had received their Lancasters in September 1942 and became a leading unit within Bomber Command. Working on operations alongside 617 Squadron, they specialized in dropping Barnes Wallis’s famous 12,000 lb ‘Tallboy’ bombs, including the successful mission to sink the German battleship Tirpitz.

“…night after night, month after month, our bomber squadrons travel far into Germany, find their targets, often under the heaviest fire, often with serious loss, with deliberate, careful discrimination, and inflict shattering blows upon the whole of the technical and war-making structure of the Nazi power. On no part of the Royal Air Force does the weight of the war fall more heavily than on the daylight bombers…”                                                 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Winston Churchill

With these words the British Prime Minister reminded the British House of Commons of the heroic role undertaken by the young men of RAF Bomber Command during World War II as they set out across the North Sea to wreak havoc upon the enemy. And the cost they bore – for the odds of a safe return were, at best, marginal.

This stunning piece depicts Lancasters of 460 Squadron RAAF returning to their Lincolnshire base at RAF Binbrook following a daylight raid over Germany in the late winter of 1944. With the sun almost set, evening shadows lengthen on a magnificent winter landscape dusted with snow, as Lancaster J-Squared leads the mighty bombers as they descend in the fading light and the squadron motto rings true in the ears of the arriving crew – “Strike and Return“.

THE SIGNATURES
The print is personally hand signed by the artist along with two two highly-regarded RAF Bomber Command veterans who flew Lancasters on operations over Europe during World War II, including a Rear Gunner who served with 9 Squadron:

Warrant Officer HARRY IRONS DFC
Flight Lieutenant RUSSELL “RUSTY” WAUGHMAN DFC AFC LD’H

Print size: 30 ¾ x 23 ½ inches

Please note: The prints in my store are hand-signed by the veterans involved in the painting so the signatures are original autographs and not reproductions.

The certificate of authenticity is included.

CONDITION: My items are guaranteed to be in perfect condition, any issues are clearly detailed in the description.

SHIPPING: As a former aviation art retailer I have shipped countless prints over the years. My prints are rolled in acid free tissue and shipped in heavy duty tubes, and the shipping is insured and guaranteed.

If you are interested in more than one item I will always do my best to combine the shipping to save costs – please just ask.