£175.00
Flown by some of the top Battle of Britain Aces such as Douglas Bader and Peter Townsend, the Hawker Hurricane, unlike its faster, thoroughbred companion the Spitfire, was a go-anywhere, do-anything, tough-as-old-boots warhorse. Sturdy to fly and resilient under fire, the Hurricane may have lacked its companion’s finesse but, seen at its best, it wrought havoc in the massed formations of Luftwaffe bombers pummelling southern England during the long, hot summer of 1940. By the end of the week, culminating on Sunday 16 September, the Luftwaffe finally had enough; their massed daylight attacks had been routed. Between the beginning of July and the end of October, eight out of ten enemy aircraft destroyed had fallen victim to the guns of a Hurricane.
Shown centre stage in Anthony Saunders’ outstanding painting is one pilot who knew the Hurricane as well as anyone – Battle of Britain Ace Tom Neil. Flying Hurricanes with 249 Squadron from North Weald, the artist puts the 20-year old Flight Lieutenant in the thick of the fighting, some 15,000 feet south-east of London on Wednesday 11 September 1940.
Describing the action as he powered his machine head-on towards the enemy bombers Tom Neil recalled the ‘surging excitement mixed with apprehension. The thick line bombers ……advancing towards us. Slowly. Inexorably. Aiming directly for the City. Thirty? Forty? Fifty? Who knew? Too many, anyway. No beam attack this. Straight for them. A head-on attack…!’. With adrenaline coursing through his veins the young pilot focused solely on the next few seconds because things were ‘going to be difficult. Everyone pushing, squeezing. Then firing! The line of Heinkels growing magically in my windscreen. My guns ripping and shuddering. Lines of sparks and smoke streaking ahead…….Watch out! I was forced to pull away, shrieking expletives. Then, it was all over’. Within seconds he was through the pack and falling away, ready to climb and attack once more, this time having the satisfaction of forcing a Heinkel down to crash-land in a field below.
In tribute to all the heroic Hurricane pilots who flew and fought in the Battle of Britain, Anthony’s painting has been faithfully reproduced as a fine art limited edition and printed onto borders that were personally signed many years ago. This means every copy in the edition carries the original and authentic autograph of the famous Ace depicted in the scene, creating a remarkable collector’s piece to be cherished for future generations.
The Signatures
Along with the artist Anthony Saunders, every print carries the original signature of one of the most highly-respected Battle of Britain fighter Aces:
Sir Sydney Camm designed the Hawker Hurricane as a rugged, single-seat monoplane in the early 1930s. Although the Spitfire often captures the public’s imagination, the Hurricane was the true “backbone” of Fighter Command. Specifically, it inflicted 60% of all Luftwaffe losses during the 1940 campaign. This “tough-as-old-boots” warhorse is the central limited edition print subject of our Heritage Collection. In addition, you can explore the technical history of this aircraft at the RAF Museum.
This outstanding limited edition print by Anthony Saunders depicts a dramatic moment on September 11, 1940. Indeed, it showcases 20-year-old Flight Lieutenant Tom Neil of 249 Squadron in a fierce head-on attack. Neil recalled the surging excitement as he dived his machine toward a massive pack of Heinkel bombers heading for the City of London. Every limited edition print in this series captures the adrenaline of the young pilots who routed the Luftwaffe’s daylight attacks.
The Hurricane originated from a monoplane derivative of the Hawker Fury biplane. Despite initial lack of interest from the Air Ministry, Hawker refined the design to include retractable landing gear and the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Consequently, the RAF received a resilient fighter that could withstand heavy damage. Furthermore, the aircraft used conventional construction methods. This allowed ground crews to perform major repairs without external support. This reliability proved crucial as eight out of ten enemy aircraft destroyed in 1940 fell to the guns of a Hurricane.
To ensure historic value, every copy of this limited edition print carries an original, authentic autograph. Notably, Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC AE personally signed the borders of these prints many years ago. Moreover, Neil was one of the most highly respected aces of the conflict, flying from North Weald during the height of the battle. As a result, this artwork is not just a painting. It is a tangible link to a “Hero of the Hurricane” and a remarkable piece for any serious collector.
By the end of production in 1944, manufacturers completed 14,487 Hurricanes across Britain and Canada. Finally, the Hurricane’s versatility allowed it to serve in all major theatres of the Second World War. This limited edition print honors the determination of pilots like Douglas Bader and Peter Townsend. In fact, the Hurricane was a steady gun platform that wrought havoc in massed enemy formations. Therefore, securing a copy ensures the legacy of this heroic aircraft lives on for future generations. Shop our collection today to own this signed masterpiece.
| Dimensions | 67.31 × 50.16 cm |
|---|---|
| Print Type | Signed and Numbered |
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