Aviation Art Print, countersigned by Polish veterans WWII

The world's only unique Art Print countersigned by Polish Air Force Veterans

Published in 1996, this Limited Edition includes iconic pilots Polish Air Force signatures giving collectors and autograph hunters alike a very unique opportunity to acquire this seldom.

About artist

Piotr Górka - born in Krakow 1958, professional graphic designer, he has established a strong reputation as a leading Polish aviation artist, specializing in the subject of World War II. One of the most recognizable Polish aviation artists. A graduate Master of Arts of the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, he worked for many years as an illustrator to different publishing houses. His oil paintings depict the history of Polish aviation during World War II. For over thirty years of creating them, he used the help and advice of Polish airman, veterans of World War II. During this period, he closely cooperated with the Veterans Association PAF in Great Britain, as well as the PAF association in the USA, Canada and Australia.

He copied his paintings lithographically and printed them in short, exclusive series. These prints, personally signed by many aces of the Polish Air Force, are a kind of historical trace. His PAF veteran collection signatures, the only one in the world, are truly unique and very exclusive. Piotr Górka has presented his works at many group and individual exhibitions. In cooperation with the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow, he presented them at the Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Munich. His paintings have been exhibited in Great Britain in collaboration with the Guild of Aviation Artist, as well as at the renowned Aces High gallery in Wendover UK. His works adorn many private collections and remind of the achievements of the Polish Air Force in many official institutions in the country and abroad.

History

         The first Polish night fighter squadron was formed in August 1940, equipped with Defiant two-seaters, The years of glory of the "Lwów Eagle Owls", as No.307 Squadron became known, were connected with the city of Exeter, where the unit was based for a major part of its existence, and which had the same motto as the city of Lwow: "Semper Fidelis" - "Ever faithful". First success against Luftwaffe night bombers did not come until March 1941. Conversion to twin-engined Beaufighters in the second half of 1941 resulted in a series of crasheds and accidents, but also in significant successes. Outstanding crews included Sgt Michal Turzanski - Sgt Henryk Ostrowski and Sgt Wladyslaw Illaszewicz - P/O Zbyszko Lissowski. Night flying required special skills from the pilots, but the night fighter's crew of two relied heavily on the radio-navigator (the operator of the on-board radar apparatus). As the engineering capability evolved, more and more effective devices with greater range of operation were introduced in newer types of aircraft. The radio-navigator's comfort improved. In early 1943 he has moved from the compartment in the rear of Beufighter to the wide cockpit of the fast Mosquito. Seated side-by-side with the pilot he had an excellent view of the situation not just during combat, but throughout the ever longer missions. Absence of the enemy over Britain forced them to look for targets by day, far out over the North Sea or the Bay of Biscay. At the end of 1943 the "Owls" returned to night fighter duties, flying patrols over Britain and offensive missions over occupied Europe. Such sorties were flown until the end of the war, and 1944 saw a new objective - the V1.­­­

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