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The Hard Way Home by Robert Taylor. (D)- World Naval Ships .com

The Hard Way Home by Robert Taylor. (D)


The Hard Way Home by Robert Taylor. (D)

The Battle of Britain had been won by the young fighter pilots of Fighter Command, but now it fell to another band of young men to wage total warfare against the Nazi war machine - the aircrew of RAF Bomber Command. And like the fighter pilots of the Battle of Britain, the young men who flew with Bomber Command came not just from Britain, but from all over the Commonwealth, and from the countries of occupied mainland Europe. Every man was a volunteer, prepared to endure the deadly flak and prowling night fighters, to say nothing of the savage and bitter cold, in order to wage their relentless attack on the military and industrial targets of the Third Reich. The aircraft that carried these young men to war were numerous, but bearing the brunt of the RAFs incessant campaign were two heavy bombers, the stalwarts of Bomber Command - the Lancaster and the Halifax. Between them they accounted for over three quarters of all the bombs dropped by the RAF, and Halifaxes alone accounted for a total of 73,312 operations, nearly a fifth of all missions carried out by Bomber Command.
AMAZING VALUE! - The value of the signatures on this item is in excess of the price of the print itself!
Item Code : DHM1987DThe Hard Way Home by Robert Taylor. (D) - This Edition
TYPEEDITION DETAILSSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSYOUR PRICEPURCHASING
PRESENTATION Original pencil tribute edition of 10 proofs.

SOLD OUT. Supplied with a matted original pencil drawing - full matted size 20 inches x 19 inches (51cm x 48cm)
Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) Irons, Harry
Godfrey, Laurie
Carter, Eric
Nawarski, Stanislaw
Sayer, Tom
Williamson, Frank
Mottershead, Bluey
Morrison, John
Walker, Frank
MacNamara, Len
Maltas, Fred
Gough, Harry
Evans, John
Thompson, Sam
Holiday, Matt
Bell, William
Taussig, Kurt
Elkington, John
Neil, Tom
Ryll, Stefan
Cleaver, Reg
Bressloff, Boris
Briggs, Graham
Clarke, Eric
Cox, George
Glendinning, Harry
Joss, Douglas
Lasham, Bob
Leksinski, Rudolf
Levy, Harry
Manning, Reg
Petrie-Andrews, John
Smith, Ron
Thomas, Ken
Bennett, Donald (matted on companion print)
Cheshire, Leonard (matted on companion print)
Jackson, Norman (matted on companion print)
Learoyd, Roderick (matted on companion print)
Reid, Bill (matted on companion print)
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £1070
SOLD
OUT
NOT
AVAILABLE
All prices on our website are displayed in British Pounds Sterling



Other editions of this item : The Hard Way Home by Robert Taylor.DHM1987
TYPEEDITION DETAILSSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSYOUR PRICEPURCHASING
PRINT Signed limited edition of 400 prints. Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) Irons, Harry
Godfrey, Laurie
Carter, Eric
Nawarski, Stanislaw
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £125
£65 Off!Now : £210.00VIEW EDITION...
ARTIST
PROOF
Collectors edition of 25 artist proofs.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item!
Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) Irons, Harry
Godfrey, Laurie
Carter, Eric
Nawarski, Stanislaw
Sayer, Tom
Williamson, Frank
Mottershead, Bluey
Morrison, John
Walker, Frank
MacNamara, Len
Maltas, Fred
Gough, Harry
Evans, John
Thompson, Sam
Holiday, Matt
Bell, William
Taussig, Kurt
Elkington, John
Neil, Tom
Ryll, Stefan
Cleaver, Reg
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £530
£65 Off!Now : £395.00VIEW EDITION...
PRINT RCAF edition of 25 artist proofs.

SOLD OUT.
Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) Edwards, J F Stocky
Warren, Douglas
Bowles, Edward
Cleaver, Reg
Curnock, Richard
Hewitt, Ian
Oakeby, Henry
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £160
SOLD
OUT
VIEW EDITION...
PRINT Collectors limited edition of 250 prints.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item!
Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) Irons, Harry
Godfrey, Laurie
Carter, Eric
Nawarski, Stanislaw
Sayer, Tom
Williamson, Frank
Mottershead, Bluey
Morrison, John
Walker, Frank
MacNamara, Len
Maltas, Fred
Gough, Harry
Evans, John
Thompson, Sam
Holiday, Matt
Bell, William
Taussig, Kurt
Elkington, John
Neil, Tom
Ryll, Stefan
Cleaver, Reg
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £530
£65 Off!Now : £325.00VIEW EDITION...
PRINT RCAF limited edition of 250 prints.

SOLD OUT.
Paper size 35 inches x 23 inches (89cm x 58cm) Image size 29 inches x 16 inches (74cm x 41cm) Edwards, J F Stocky
Warren, Douglas
Bowles, Edward
Cleaver, Reg
Curnock, Richard
Hewitt, Ian
Oakeby, Henry
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £160
SOLD
OUT
VIEW EDITION...
General descriptions of types of editions :



Extra Details : The Hard Way Home by Robert Taylor. (D)
About this edition :

Pencil Drawing Example :


About all editions :

Detail Sections




Signatures on this item
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
NameInfo


The signature of Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett (deceased)

Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett (deceased)
*Signature Value : £60 (matted)

Born in Australia, Bennet had joined the RAF before the war. He became widely experienced in flying all types of aircraft including fighters, flying boats and heavy bombers commanding 77 squadron, flying Halifaxes. In 1942, whilst commanding 10 Squadron, he was shot down on one of the attacks on the Tirpitz, but evaded capture and returned to England. Widley regarded as a navigation expert beyond comparison, he was personally selected by Arthur Harris to form the Pathfinder Force and his uncompromising attitude and ceaseless devotion to his men made him a legendary figure in WWII history. He died 15th September 1986.


The signature of Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid VC (deceased)

Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid VC (deceased)
*Signature Value : £70 (matted)

Volunteering for RAF aircrew in 1940, Bill Reid learned to fly in California, training on the Stearman, Vultee and Harvard. After gaining his pilots wings back in England he flew Wellingtons before moving on to Lancasters in 1943. On the night of Nov 3rd 1943, his Lancaster suffered two severe attacks from Luftwaffe night fighters, badly wounding Reid, killing his navigator and radio operator, and severely damaging the aircraft. Bill flew on 200 miles to accurately bomb the target and get his aircraft home. For this act of outstanding courage and determination he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Died 28th November 2001.
Flight Lieutenant Boris Bressloff DFC
*Signature Value : £15

Having completed his training as a Bomb Aimer he joined 635 Sqn serving with W.O. Ernie Patterson and W.O. Harry Parker on over 50 Ops in Lancasters with Pilot Alex Throne DSO DFC.


The signature of Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM

Flight Lieutenant John Petrie-Andrews DFC DFM
*Signature Value : £45

John Petrie-Andrews joined the RAF in 1940. After training as a pilot, in January 1943 he was posted to join 102 (Ceylon) Squadron at Pocklington for his first tour, flying Halifaxes. In February 1943 he transferred to 158 Squadron, still on Halifaxes. John the joined 35 Squadron, one of the original squadrons forming the Pathfinder Force. Here he flew first Halifaxes before converting to Lancasters. John Petrie-Andrews completed a total of 70 operations on heavy bombers, including 60 with the Pathfinders.
Flt Lt Bluey Mottershead DFC
*Signature Value : £15

Completed a full tour of Operations in 1943 flying Halifaxes for 158 Sqn at Lissett.
Flt Lt Bob Lasham DFC*
*Signature Value : £15

Pilot, 9 and 97 Squadrons.
Flt Lt Eric Clarke MiD
*Signature Value : £10

Weapons Operator, 49 Squadron.
Flt Lt George Cox
*Signature Value : £10

Flight Engineer, 214 Squadron.


Flt Lt Ken Thomas DFC
*Signature Value : £20

Originally joined the RAF as a mechanic, but went on to complete his pilots course. Ken completed 30 Operations flying Stirlings and Lancasters for 622 Sqn at Mildenhall.
Flt Lt Len MacNamara DFC
*Signature Value : £35

A Rear Gunner with 10 Squadron at Melbourne, before being transferred to 158 Squadron at Lissett. He completed 36 Operations, then after a spell at OTU, completed 10 more Operations with 75 New Zealand Squadron.
Flt Lt Matt Holiday DFC
*Signature Value : £10

Matt joined the RAF in March 1939 and was originally posted to 10 Squadron and later to 77 Squadron. He completed 52 operations as a Mid Upper Gunner on Halifaxes. On a raid to Dusseldorf they were attacked by fighters and broke away from the bomber stream, but after evasive action they followed on later and bombed Dusseldorf on their own, resulting in the whole crew receiving instant awards.
Flt Lt Ron Smith DFC AE
*Signature Value : £10

Air Gunner, 617 Squadron.
Flt Sgt Rudolf Leksinski
*Signature Value : £10

Weapons Operator, 30 Squadron.
Flying Officer Frank Walker
*Signature Value : £10

Frank Walker joined the RAF in 1943, and did his original training in Glasgow. He was posted to 466 Squadron which was formed at RAF Driffield in Yorkshire on 10th October 1942, and changed over from Wellingtons to Halifaxes in September 1943. As a Rear Gunner on Halifaxes, Frank completed 36 operations before the end of the war.
Flying Officer John Evans
*Signature Value : £15

John joined the RAF in late 1942. He qualified as a pilot and was posted to 158 Squadron at RAF Lissett. His 12th operation on 12th May 1944 was to Hasselt, where his Halifax was shot down by a night fighter. He evaded capture with the help of the Resistance in the Freteval Forest, and got back to England in September 1944.


The signature of Flying Officer Kurt Taussig (deceased)

Flying Officer Kurt Taussig (deceased)
*Signature Value : £45

Czech Kurt was sent, age 15, by his parents on the Kindertrnsport to England from Czechoslovakia in June 1939 to escape the Nazi persecution of the Jews. Determined to fight the Germans he joined the RAF at eighteen in late 1942, and after training was posted to the Middle East to join 225 Squadron flying Spitfires on photo-reconnaissance duties in Tunisia, the Sicily landings, and in Italy. He died on 19th September 2019.
Flying Officer Tom Sayer DFM
*Signature Value : £15

Tom was originally part of the RAFVR and was first posted to 10 Squadron as a pilot on Whitleys. He then transferred to fly Halifaxes with 102 Squadron at RAF Driffield and flew operationally from May to October 1943. He completed 35 operations in total. After a rest period he went to train new aircrew flying Stirlings who were involved in the towing of gliders for airborne operations during 1944 - 45.


The signature of Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC OM DSO** DFC* (deceased)

Group Captain Leonard Cheshire VC OM DSO** DFC* (deceased)
*Signature Value : £65 (matted)

One of the most courageous and determined bomber leaders of World War II, Leonard Cheshire flew four operational tours, starting in June 1940 with 102 Squadron on Whitley bombers at RAF Driffield. In November 1940, he was awarded the DSO for getting his badly damaged aircraft back to base. He completed his first tour in January 1941, but immediately volunteered for a second tour, this time flying Halifaxes with 35 Squadron. He became Squadron Leader in 1942, and was appointed commanding officer of 76 Squadron later that year. Leonard Cheshire ordered that non-essential weight be removed from the Halifax bombers in a bid to increase speed and altitude, hoping to reduce the high casualty rates for this squadron. Mid-upper and nose turrets were removed, and exhaust covers taken off, successfully reducing the loss rate. In July 1943 he took command of 617 Squadron. During this time he led the squadron personally on every occasion. In September he was awarded the Victoria Cross for four and a half years of sustained bravery during a total of 102 operations, leading his crews with careful planning, brilliant execution and contempt for danger, which gained him a reputation second to none in Bomber Command. Sadly, Leonard Cheshire died of motor neuron disease on 31st July 1992, aged 74.


Lt Stanislaw Nawarski DFC KM (deceased)
*Signature Value : £40

Polish pilot Stanislaw Nawwarski flew with the French Air Force, but escaped to England after the fall of France in 1940 and joined the RAF. Just prior to the Battle of Britain he was injured after being shot down whilst ferrying an unarmed Hurricane. In 1941, back in action, he was posted to 302 Polish Squadron flying Spitfires. He flew Spitfires om D-Day and throughout the subsequent Allied advance through Normandy, scoring four victories, all Me109s. He died on 8th January 2017.
Pilot Officer Stefan Ryll
*Signature Value : £35

Stefan Ryll went into operations with 306 Squadron flying both Hurricanes and Spitfires, and took part in the last raid of the war flying a P-51 Mustang on escort for the bombers flying to Berchtesgaden.
Sqd Ldr Frank Williamson AFC
*Signature Value : £10

Was at 10 Sqn and 102 Sqn at the same time as Tom Sawyer, he flew Whiltleys and Halifaxes and he completed 26 Operations.
Sqn Ldr Douglas Joss MBE
*Signature Value : £15

A Rear Gunner posted to 626 Squadron at Wickenby on Lancasters where he completed a full tour during 1944. After the War in an attempt to keep Bomber Command veterans in touch with each other he was the founder member of the Wickenby Register.
Sqn Ldr Harry Glendinning
*Signature Value : £10

Navigator, 115 Squadron.
Sqn Ldr Reg Manning DFC
*Signature Value : £15

Flight Engineer, 10, 51 and 76 Squadrons.


Warrant Officer Eric Carter (deceased)
*Signature Value : £35

Initially posted to 615 Squadron flying Hurricanes, Eric was then posted to 81 Squadron, again on Hurricanes. In the autumn of 1941 he accompanied the squadron on HMS Argus to Russia as part of Force Benedict, a clandestine operation to defend the strategically important Russian port of Murmansk. As well as operational patrols the squadron escorted Russian bomber missions. He died in August 2021.
Warrant Officer Fred Maltas
*Signature Value : £15

Fred joined the RAF as a Flight Engineer and was originally sent to 51 Squadron at RAF Snaith on Halifaxes. He then joined 35 Squadron as they undertook their Pathfinder duties. On his 2nd operation to Krefeld on 21st June 1943 his Halifax HR799 was shot down, and Fred ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft VI.
Warrant Officer Graham Briggs DFM
*Signature Value : £15

Weapons Operator, 58 and 103 Squadrons.
Warrant Officer Harry Gough
*Signature Value : £10

Harry joined the RAF in 1943 as a Rear Gunner in 10 Squadron affectionately known as Shiny 10 at RAF Melbourne, part of 4 Group. At the beginning of the war they were equipped with Whitleys, upgrading to the Halifax in December 1941. On 8th July 1940, they moved to RAF Leeming, Yorkshire and again on 19th August 1942 to RAF Melbourne, Yorkshire. Harry completed 33 operations.


Warrant Officer Harry Irons DFC (deceased)
*Signature Value : £40

Joining the RAF at the age of 16 in 1940, he did 2 full tours as a Rear Gunner with 9 Squadron and took part in nearly all the famous raids of Bomber Command. He finished in 1945 at 158 Squadron flying Halifaxes. 'I had just turned 18 when we went on a gunnery school course. After that six-week training, we usually went for a further three months training to an Operational Training Unit. It so happened that 9 Squadron had just converted from Wellingtons to Lancasters and they were 14 air gunners short on the squadron, so they posted us from gunnery school after six weeks' training straight to the squadron. 'When I got there, I was approached by a Flt Lt Stubbs, who said to me: 'You're my new gunner. We've got a gunner already but he's been flying Wellingtons and he doesn't want to be a rear gunner. He wants to go in the mid-upper turret. You'll be the rear gunner.' But, he said, on my first raid, the best thing for me to do would be to go on the mid-upper turret. 'That way you can see exactly what's going on,' he said. 'My first raid in Lancasters with 9 Squadron was to Dusseldorf on September 10th, 1942. Every time we went on a bombing raid, we had to do an air test first. We would test our guns, test the bomb sight, test the hydraulics, test the engines, and when you landed, if everything was OK, you told the engineers that everything was fine for the raid. As we landed, the armourers arrived with the bomb load. I still remember now, it was one 4,000 pounder - one huge, fat bomb - and 1,200 incendiaries. 'Our bomb aimer was an 'old sweat'. We used to call him 'The Old Boy'. He was 26. He said that with that bomb load we had, we were definitely going to the Happy Valley. When we returned to the mess, we got ready to go to the briefing. We were briefed and the curtain came down off the target and there it was - Dusseldorf. 'That's right,' said the bomb aimer to me, 'that's where we are going, Dusseldorf.' Most of our raids were on the Ruhr Valley and the reason why I am alive now is because - I don't know why - but I never went to Berlin. I wouldn't be talking to you now if I had been to Berlin. I can assure you. 'We put all our gear on. It took about half an hour for the air gunner to get dressed with all the clothing. I clambered into the mid-upper turret and off we went. As we crossed the Dutch coast, I could see we were about 1,400 or 1,500 feet over the coast. I could see a huge number of lights coming up. Far below us there was light flak, in beautiful colours, but it never touched us because we were a little too high. 'We crossed over Holland and the bomb aimer said: 'We are approaching the target, Skipper,' so I decided to swing my turret around and have a look. I was absolutely shocked by what I saw. I could not believe my eyes seeing what was in front of me. The flak, the guns, the lights, the search lights. It was incredible and I was really, really, really frightened. The plane was bouncing about. Then the bomb aimer said: 'Bomb doors open' and in we go straight and level. 'On my left I could see an aircraft on fire going down, and one below us I could see exploding. And I thought to myself: 'We're in for something here!'. I could not believe that we were going to fly through this huge explosion. But we went through it. Then the pilot was talking to the bomb aimer, and the bomb aimer said: 'We have missed the target, Skipper. We're going to have to go round again.' And I thought: 'Dear, oh dear, we've got to go all the way round, come back and go through all that again.' Which we did. And on the second run, we dropped our bombs. 'Bomb doors closed. On the way home. Flying back, there were problems with the oxygen, so the skipper – he was 21 and on his second tour, and old hand – took us down lower. We had to drop below 10,000 feet, and as we crossed the Dutch coast, the light flak opened up. It was absolutely hair-raising. There were hundreds and hundreds of these lights flashing past us but, strangely enough, not one of them hit us. 'When we got back, we landed and had a look at our aircraft. There were about 10 or 15 holes, two or three inches wide, across the fuselage, flak holes caused by shrapnel from the shells. We must have caught them on the Dutch coast. We were lucky but I've seen much worse. We went in for a briefing, had a coffee and went to bed. That was my first raid. Later, I found out, that our skipper, who had finished his tour, unfortunately got killed during training a couple of weeks later.'
Harry Irons died on 10th November 2020.
Warrant Officer Harry Levy
*Signature Value : £15

Weapons Operator, 9 Squadron.
Warrant Officer John Morrison (deceased)
*Signature Value : £40

With 35 Sqn he flew as a WOP/Air Gunner on Halifaxes taking part in 24 'Ops' but was shot down on the attack on the Tirpitz in April 1942. After being captured he spent the rest of the War as a PoW in several camps including Stalag Luft III. We have learned that John Morrison has now sadly passed away.
Warrant Officer Laurie Godfrey
*Signature Value : £10

As a WOP/Air Gunner he joining 408 Sqn, only the second RCAF squadron formed overseas, serving on first Halifaxes and Lancasters completing 32 operations.


The signature of Warrant Officer Norman Jackson VC (deceased)

Warrant Officer Norman Jackson VC (deceased)
*Signature Value : £70 (matted)

Norman Jackson joined 106 Squadron as a flight engineer, and his 30th operational raid earned him the Victoria Cross. While climbing out of the target area over Schweinfurt, his Lancaster was hit by an enemy night-fighter and the inner starboard engine set on fire. Although injured by shrapnel he jettisoned the pilots escape hatch and climbed out on to the wing clutching a fire extinguisher, his parachute spilling out as he went. He succeeded in putting out the fire just as the night-fighter made a second attack, this time forcing the crew to bale out. Norman was swept away with his parachute starting to burn but somehow survived the fall to spend 10 months as a POW in a German hospital. Sadly, Norman Jackson died on 26th March 1994.
Warrant Officer Reg Cleaver (deceased)
*Signature Value : £35

Served with 419 (Moose) Squadron RCAF. Reg Cleaver was a Flight Engineer and Co-pilot on Halifaxes until On his 17th operation on 24 June 1943, on a raid to Wuppertal, his aircraft was shot down by German Fw190 nightfighters. After initially evading capture he was eventually captured in Holland where he was beaten by the Gestapo and taken as a PoW to Stalag Luft 6 until the end of the war. He died aged 89 when his car hit a tree in Brandon, he was given a funeral with full military honours at St. John the Baptist Church in Brinklow.
Warrant Officer Sam Thompson
*Signature Value : £10

As a Mid Upper Gunner he was posted to 103 Sqn on Halifaxes before transferring to 9 Sqn where he completed 3 raids on the Tirpitz and also Berchtesgaden, completing 50 Ops in total.
Warrant Officer William Bell
*Signature Value : £15

Bill joined the RAF in 1941 and was posted to 103 Squadron at RAF Elsham Wolds as a Navigator on Halifaxes. He was later transferred to 166 Squadron, and was on his 20th operation, flying to Berlin in November 1943 when he was shot down and ended up as a PoW in Stalag Luft IVb. He escaped on three separate occasions but was recaptured every time - the war finished just before his fourth attempt!


The signature of Wing Commander John Elkington (deceased)

Wing Commander John Elkington (deceased)
*Signature Value : £40

John (Tim) Elkington was born in 1920 and joined the RAF in September 1939. Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in July 1940 he was immediately posted to join 1 Squadron flying Hurricanes atTangmere. On 15 August he shot down an Me109 over the Channel, but the following day he was himself shot down over Thorney Island. He baled out injured and was admitted to hospital, his Hurricane crashing at Chidham. He died on 1st February 2019.


The signature of Wing Commander Roderick Learoyd VC (deceased)

Wing Commander Roderick Learoyd VC (deceased)
*Signature Value : £70 (matted)

On the day that war was declared Rod Learoyd was on patrol flying Hampdens with 49 Sqn. Continually involved with low level bombing, on the night of 12th August 1940, he and four other aircraft attempted to breach the heavily defended Dortmund - Ems canal. Of the four other aircraft on the mission, two were destroyed and the other two were badly hit. Learoyd took his plane into the heavily defended target at only 150 feet, in full view of the searchlights, and with flak barrage all around. He managed to get his very badly damaged aircraft back to England, where he circled until daybreak when he finally landed the aircraft without inflicting more damage to it, or injuring any of his crew. For his supreme courage that night he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He later joined 44 Sqn with the first Lancasters, and then commanded 83 Sqn. He died 24th January 1996.


The signature of Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC (deceased)

Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC (deceased)
*Signature Value : £50

Tom Neil was born on 14th July 1920 in Bootle, Lancashire. Tom Neil (also to become known in the RAF as 'Ginger') joined the RAFVR in October 1938 and began his flying training at 17 E and RFTS, Barton, Manchester. Tom Neil was called up on the 2nd os September 1939 being sent to 4 ITW, Bexhill in early November. On 1st December 1939, he was posted to 8 FTS and on completion of the course he was commissioned and posted to 249 Squadron in May 1940 flying Hurricanes just before the start of the Battle of Britain flying from North Weald. On 7th September 1940, Tom Neil encountered and claimed a Bf109 destroyed. On the 11th an He111, on the 15th two Bf109s and a Do17 destroyed and another Do17 shared, on the 18th an He111 damaged and on the 27th a Bf110 and a Ju88 destroyed, a Bf110 probably destroyed and a Ju88 shared. On 6th October Tom Neil shared a Do17, on the 25th claimed a Bf109 destroyed, on the 27th a Do17 probably destroyed, on the 28th a Ju88 shared and on 7th November a Ju87 and two Bf109s destroyed. He was awarded a DFC on 8 October, but on 7 November, after claiming 3 victories over the North Sea off the Essex coast, he collided in mid-air with Wing Commander Francis Beamish and his aircraft lost its tail. He baled out of his Hurricane unhurt, Beamish force-landing unscathed. Tom received a Bar to his DFC on 26 November, and on 13 December was promoted flight Commander. The squadron was posted to Malta in May 1941, flying off HMS Ark Royal on the 21st. During a summer of frequent scrambles, he claimed one further victory in June, while on 7th October he led a fighter-bomber attack on Gela station, Sicily. He departed the island in December 1941, returning to the UK via the Middle East, South and West Africa, and Canada, finally arriving in March 1942, when he became tactics officer with 81 Group. A spell as an instructor at 56 OTU, before being posted as a flying liaison officer with the 100th Fighter Wing of the US 9th Air Force in January 1944. He managed to get some flying in over France with this unit, claiming a share in 6 aircraft destroyed on the ground before D-Day, and a dozen or so more later, plus a number of other ground targets. In January 1945 he was sent to the school of Land/Air Warfare as an instructor. In March 1945 he was posted out to Burma, where he undertook some operations with 1 Wing, Indian Air Force, to gain experience of the operations in this area. Returning to the UK in April, he resumed instructing at the school until the end of the year. In January 1946 he attended the Empire Test Pilots School, undertaking No.4 short course and No.5 course, a total of 18 months. Posted briefly to Farnborough, he sought a move to Boscombe Down, where he stayed for some 3 years. In 1948 in went to Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio, to take part in the first high altitude pressure suit experiments, as a precursor to the aerospace programme. 1950-51 he was a staff officer at HQ, Fighter Command, while in 1952 he attended the staff college at Bracknell. He was then given command of 208 Squadron in Egypt, which he led until 1956, leaving just before the Suez operation. He returned to the UK to become W/Cdr Operations, Metropolitan sector, until 1958, when he attended the flying college at Manby. He went to the British Embassy in Washington for 3 years from 1959, returning to the Ministry of Defence but retiring from the service as a Wing Commander in 1964. Meanwhile he had added the US Bronze Star to his decorations in august 1947, and an AFC in January 1956. Tom Neil died on 11th July 2018.
The Aircraft :
NameInfo
HalifaxRoyal Air Force heavy Bomber with a crew of six to eight. Maximum speed of 280mph (with MK.VI top speed of 312mph) service ceiling of 22,800feet maximum range of 3,000 miles. The Halifax carried four .303 browning machine guns in the tail turret, two .303 browning machines in the nose turret in the MK III there were four .303 brownings in the dorsal turret. The Handley Page Halifax, first joined the Royal Air Force in March 1941 with 35 squadron. The Halifax saw service in Europe and the Middle east with a variety of variants for use with Coastal Command, in anti Submarine warfare, special duties, glider-tugs, and troop transportation roles. A total of 6177 Halifax's were built and stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1952

Everything we obtain for this site is shown on the site, we do not have any more photos, crew lists or further information on any of the ships.

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