Price range: £110.00 through £250.00
The Luftwaffe had done everything in its power to pummel London into submission but they failed. By the end of September 1940 their losses were mounting.
For weeks since the early days of September, London had been the main target for the Luftwaffe and during that time Luftwaffe High Command had grown increasingly despondent as their losses steadily mounted. Far from being on the brink of collapse RAF Fighter Command, though vastly outnumbered, had shown an incredible resilience. The fighting had reached a dramatic climax on Sunday 15 September when, bloodied and bruised, the Luftwaffe had lost the upper hand on a day of intense combat that had culminated with a humiliating retreat. Almost every day that had passed since then had seen the Luftwaffe do everything in its power to pummel London and regain the initiative, but the daylight raids were becoming increasingly costly. On Friday 27 September, 80 days after the Battle of Britain had officially begun, the Luftwaffe came once more, this time concentrating on the fastest bombers they had – Ju88s and Bf110s. And they came in force, principally targeting London and Bristol.
Anthony Saunders’ superb painting depicts one of these raids, this time by bombers from KG77 as they head over the Medway Estuary, east of the City of London, in an attempt to attack the capital’s warehouses and docks. Among the many units defending the capital that day was 92 Squadron from Biggin Hill and Anthony portrays the Spitfire of Pilot Officer Geoffrey Wellum in his dramatic piece. With a deft flick of the rudder Wellum banks his fighter away to port seconds after sharing in the destruction of a Ju88. It was just one of more than 50 German aircraft destroyed by the RAF during the day.
The Signatures
Adding great authenticity to this superb release the prints are personally signed by iconic Battle of Britain fighter pilots, including Geoffrey Wellum himself, representing Churchill’s famous ‘Few’ and giving collectors a historic account of Britain’s ‘Finest Hour’.
The Limited Edition
Joining artist Anthony Saunders in signing every print is a highly distinguished Spitfire pilot who flew in the Battle of Britain:
The Collector’s Edition
Each print in this three signature edition is additionally signed by two famous Battle of Britain fighter pilots:
The Artist Proofs & Remarques
The FIVE signature Artist Proofs and Remarques are additionally signed by a further two highly regarded fighter pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain:
R.J. Mitchell designed the Supermarine Spitfire as a high-performance, short-range interceptor. Its distinctive elliptical wing and thin cross-section allowed it to achieve speeds that surpassed most contemporary aircraft. Specifically, the Spitfire was the only British fighter in continuous production throughout the entire war. This limited edition print is one of the highlights of our Heritage Collection. In addition, you can explore the part played by the Spitfire during the Battle of Britain at the RAF Museum.
Decisive Blow is a superb limited edition print by Anthony Saunders and captures the climax of the air war on September 27, 1940. Indeed, the Luftwaffe launched a massive raid targeting London and Bristol using their fastest Ju 88 and Bf 110 bombers. The painting depicts the Spitfires of 92 Squadron from Biggin Hill as they intercept KG77 over the Medway Estuary. Pilot Officer Geoffrey Wellum banks his fighter away to port after destroying an enemy bomber. Every limited edition print in this series serves as a dramatic tribute to the defense of the capital’s docks and warehouses.
During the Battle of Britain, Spitfire units maintained a high victory-to-loss ratio. Consequently, the aircraft captured the public imagination as the premier RAF fighter. Although the Hawker Hurricane flew more sorties, the Spitfire generally engaged the Luftwaffe’s elite Messerschmitt Bf 109 units. Furthermore, the Spitfire airframe proved incredibly adaptable. It eventually transitioned from the 1,030 hp Merlin engine to the massive 2,340 hp Griffon engine. This evolution kept the Spitfire at the forefront of combat until the 1950s.
To add great authenticity, highly distinguished fighter pilots have personally signed each limited edition print. Notably, the signatures include Pilot Officer Geoffrey Wellum, whose aircraft is the subject of the painting. Moreover, the Collector’s Edition features the marks of Kenneth Wilkinson and John “Tim” Elkington. These men represent Churchill’s famous “Few” who stood alone during Britain’s finest hour. As a result, this artwork offers collectors a historic account signed by those who actually lived through the intense combat of September 1940.
This release commemorates a day when the RAF destroyed more than 50 German aircraft. Finally, the Artist Proofs and Remarques include even more rare signatures, such as Flight Lieutenant Archie McInnes and Squadron Leader Tony Pickering. In fact, there are only around 70 airworthy Spitfires left in the world today. Therefore, securing a signed limited edition print preserves the memory of the pilots and their legendary aircraft. Shop our collection today to add this historic Biggin Hill tribute to your collection.
| Dimensions | 67.31 × 50.16 cm |
|---|---|
| Print Type | Collectors Edition, Signed and Numbered, Artists Proof |
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