Robert Taylor They Landed by Moonlight WW II Aviation Prints Mint

  

(Robert Passed away in 2024). To fly a small aircraft at the dead of night, without radio communication or navigational assistance, deep into enemy-occupied territory, was an extremely perilous task. To then land on an unlit remote field, deliver secret agents, collect Resistance leaders, or downed airmen and fly them home without attracting the attentions of enemy night-fighters, was appallingly risky work.

It was acutely dangerous work requiring inordinate flying and navigational skills, and supreme courage. Most suited to these clandestine operations was the rugged Westland Lysander, operations being conducted, and weather permitting, during the moon's fullest phase.

Guided only by torch-light, the pilot made a hazardous night landing into an isolated field at a pre-arranged time, trusting that agents on the ground had checked the field for cart tracts and loitering Gestapo. Every mission required ice cold bravery and nerves of steel. Robert Taylor captures to perfection the secret world of the Special Operations pilot with his atmospheric painting'They Landed by Moonlight'. Packed with tension, he recreates the high drama of a typical rendezvous as a pilot from No.

161 Squadron based at Tangmere, readies his aircraft for take-off in a remote field deep inside occupied France. Clutching a Luger in one hand, he completes pre-take-off checks, as three passengers are spirited away by an armed member of the French Resistance. This print has five signatures.

THE MAIN PRINT IS HAND SIGNED BY. He flew Spitfires with No 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit at RAF Benson until 1943.

After a rest period he was posted to 52 Sqn at Dum Dum in May 1945. Lieutenant Colonel Francis Cammaerts DSO Born in 1916, the son of a Belgian poet Emile Cammaerts, he was a pacifist at the beginning of the war but his views changed when his brother was killed in the RAF, and in 1942 joined the Special Operations Executive - SOE. Flown to France in March 1943 (by Hugh Verity), he was to join a'circuit', which he soon found to be insecure. Over 15 months in the field he hardly ever stayed in the same house for more than a night or two.

By 1944 he was the inspired leader of thousands of well-trained and armed Resistance fighters in the South of France. His sabotage teams excelled at cutting railway lines when the time was required after D-Day.

Before the Allied landings in the South of France in August 1944, he was given command of all Allied missions in S. His guerrilla army held open the'Route Napoleon' from Cannes to Grenoble to allow the Allied army to by-pass the strong enemy forces near the lower Rhone. Air Chief Marshal Sir Lewis Hodges KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC Lewis Hodges flew with 49 Sqn. From June 1940 until he was shot down over occupied France in Sept 1940 and taken prisoner by the Vichy French. He managed to escape and made his way back to England, rejoining 49 Sqn. He took part in the attacks against the German Channel dash operation in Feb 1942.

Among the people he brought out of France were two future Presidents - Vincent Auriol and Francois Mitterand. Wing Commander Len Ratcliff DSO DFC Len Ratcliff joined the RAFVR in early 1939 to train as a pilot.

In 1941 he completed a full tour of 30 operations in Bomber Command with 49 squadron. He then spent a period in charge of A. C at the very center of clandestine activities in the whole of occupied Europe.

In 19443 he commanded this squadrons Lysander flight and later became the Squadron Commander. Taking advantage of full moon and fair weather, a Westland Lysander heads for a field west of Reims in north east France. The pilot will land agents, collect downed airmen and, all being well, return to England before dawn. STORED FLAT & PROTECTED & NEVER FRAMED.

Comes With The Certificate of Authenticite. This is a beautiful Collectible.

Overall Size Is About --- 30 1/2" x 23 1/2". Image Size Is About -------24" x 16". Print Number Is --------- 303 / 750. BOTH PRINTS ARE THE SAME NUMBER.

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