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| Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us. |
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| All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be reproduced without their consent. |
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See our great selection of
artists like Sam Lyons,
John D Shaw, Robert
Bailey, & Domenic DeNardo!
artists like Sam Lyons,
John D Shaw, Robert
Bailey, & Domenic DeNardo!
Thousands of Civil and
Military Aviation Art
prints.
Military Aviation Art
prints.
Click here to see one the most
popular aviation artist in the
country, Sam Lyons. We offer
one of the largest selections of
Sam Lyons aviation art.
popular aviation artist in the
country, Sam Lyons. We offer
one of the largest selections of
Sam Lyons aviation art.
Click Here to see some of the
world's best World War II Aviation
Art! John Shaw pays tribute to
the men who fought for the
American Freedom during World
War II.
world's best World War II Aviation
Art! John Shaw pays tribute to
the men who fought for the
American Freedom during World
War II.
"Lancaster Dusk"
| approx overall size 28" x 18" |
Lancasters forming up for a mission.
Signed by Flt Lt. Bill Reid VC, F/S Fred Fish, W/O Ron Liversage and Flt Lt. Eddie Wheeler
The signatories
Flight Lieutenant William 'Bill' REID, VC, RAF Volunteer Reserve.
Flew Lancaster bombers with 61 and 617 Squadrons. His citation for the Victoria Cross ('The
London Gazette', 14 December 1943) reads:
"On the night of November 3rd, 1943. Flight Lieutenant Reid was pilot and captain of a
Lancaster aircraft detailed to attack Dusseldorf. Shortly after crossing the Dutch coast, the
Pilot's windscreen was shattered by fire from a Messerschmitt 110. Owing to a failure in the
heating circuit, the rear gunner's hands were too cold for him to open fire immediately or to
operate his microphone and so give warning of danger: but after a brief delay he managed to
return the Messerschmitt's fire and it was driven off.
During the fight with the Messerschmitt, Flight Lieutenant Reid was wounded in the head,
shoulders and hands. The elevator trimming tabs of the aircraft were damaged and it became
difficult to control. The rear turret, too, was badly damaged and the communications system
and compasses were put out of action. Flight Lieutenant Reid ascertained that his crew were
unscathed, and saying nothing about his own injuries, he continued his mission.
Soon afterwards, the Lancaster was attacked by a Focke Wulf 190. This time, the enemy's fire
raked the bomber from stem to stern. The rear gunner replied with his only serviceable gun,
but the state of his turret made accurate aiming impossible. The navigator was killed and the
wireless operator fatally injured. The mid-upper turret was hit and the oxygen system put out
of action. Flight Lieutenant Reid was again wounded and the flight engineer, though hit in the
forearm, supplied him with oxygen from a portable supply.
Flight Lieutenant Reid refused to be turned from his objective andDüsseldorf was reached
some 50 minutes later. He had memorised his course to the target and had continued in such
a normal manner that the bomb-aimer, who was cut off by the failure of the communications
system, knew nothing of his captain's injuries or of the casualties to his comrades.
Photographs show that, when the bombs were released, the aircraft was right over the centre
of the the target.
Steering by the pole star and the moon, Flight Lieutenant Reid then set course for home. He
was growing weak from loss of blood. The emergency oxygen supply had given out. With the
windscreen shattered, the cold was intense. He lapsed into semi- consciousness. The flight
engineer, with some help from the bomb-aimer, kept the Lancaster in the air despite heavy
anti-aircraft fire over the Dutch coast.
The North Sea crossing was accomplished. An airfield was sighted. The captain, revived,
resumed control and made ready to land. Ground mist partially obscured the runway lights.
The captain was also much bothered by blood from his head wound getting into his eyes, But
he made a safe landing although one leg of the damaged undercarriage collapsed when the
load came on.
Wounded in two attacks, without oxygen, suffering severely from cold, his navigator dead, his
wireless operator fatally wounded, his aircraft crippled and defenceless, Flight Lieutenant
Reid showed superb courage and leadership in penetrating a further 200 miles into enemy
territory to attack one of the most strongly defended targets in Germany, every additional mile
increasing the hazards of the long and perilous journey home. His tenacity and devotion to
duty were beyond praise."
Flight Sergeant Fred FISH
, RAF Bomber Command. Flew Lancasters with 50 Squadron as a mid-upper gunner,
completing 19 operational missions of which the most famous was the Wesel raid.
Warrant Officer Ron LIVERSAGE, MBE, RAF Bomber Command.
Flew Lancasters with 625 Squadron as an air gunner, completing a full tour of 32 operational
missions.
Flight Lieutenant Eddie WHEELER, DFC, RAF Bomber Command.
Flew Lancasters with 97 Squadron (Pathfinder Force) as a wireless operator/air gunner,
completing 28 operational missions including the famous raids on Peenemunde and
Friedrichshaven. Author of "Just to get a bed" (Square One Publications ISBN 1 872017 207).
The signatories
Flight Lieutenant William 'Bill' REID, VC, RAF Volunteer Reserve.
Flew Lancaster bombers with 61 and 617 Squadrons. His citation for the Victoria Cross ('The
London Gazette', 14 December 1943) reads:
"On the night of November 3rd, 1943. Flight Lieutenant Reid was pilot and captain of a
Lancaster aircraft detailed to attack Dusseldorf. Shortly after crossing the Dutch coast, the
Pilot's windscreen was shattered by fire from a Messerschmitt 110. Owing to a failure in the
heating circuit, the rear gunner's hands were too cold for him to open fire immediately or to
operate his microphone and so give warning of danger: but after a brief delay he managed to
return the Messerschmitt's fire and it was driven off.
During the fight with the Messerschmitt, Flight Lieutenant Reid was wounded in the head,
shoulders and hands. The elevator trimming tabs of the aircraft were damaged and it became
difficult to control. The rear turret, too, was badly damaged and the communications system
and compasses were put out of action. Flight Lieutenant Reid ascertained that his crew were
unscathed, and saying nothing about his own injuries, he continued his mission.
Soon afterwards, the Lancaster was attacked by a Focke Wulf 190. This time, the enemy's fire
raked the bomber from stem to stern. The rear gunner replied with his only serviceable gun,
but the state of his turret made accurate aiming impossible. The navigator was killed and the
wireless operator fatally injured. The mid-upper turret was hit and the oxygen system put out
of action. Flight Lieutenant Reid was again wounded and the flight engineer, though hit in the
forearm, supplied him with oxygen from a portable supply.
Flight Lieutenant Reid refused to be turned from his objective andDüsseldorf was reached
some 50 minutes later. He had memorised his course to the target and had continued in such
a normal manner that the bomb-aimer, who was cut off by the failure of the communications
system, knew nothing of his captain's injuries or of the casualties to his comrades.
Photographs show that, when the bombs were released, the aircraft was right over the centre
of the the target.
Steering by the pole star and the moon, Flight Lieutenant Reid then set course for home. He
was growing weak from loss of blood. The emergency oxygen supply had given out. With the
windscreen shattered, the cold was intense. He lapsed into semi- consciousness. The flight
engineer, with some help from the bomb-aimer, kept the Lancaster in the air despite heavy
anti-aircraft fire over the Dutch coast.
The North Sea crossing was accomplished. An airfield was sighted. The captain, revived,
resumed control and made ready to land. Ground mist partially obscured the runway lights.
The captain was also much bothered by blood from his head wound getting into his eyes, But
he made a safe landing although one leg of the damaged undercarriage collapsed when the
load came on.
Wounded in two attacks, without oxygen, suffering severely from cold, his navigator dead, his
wireless operator fatally wounded, his aircraft crippled and defenceless, Flight Lieutenant
Reid showed superb courage and leadership in penetrating a further 200 miles into enemy
territory to attack one of the most strongly defended targets in Germany, every additional mile
increasing the hazards of the long and perilous journey home. His tenacity and devotion to
duty were beyond praise."
Flight Sergeant Fred FISH
, RAF Bomber Command. Flew Lancasters with 50 Squadron as a mid-upper gunner,
completing 19 operational missions of which the most famous was the Wesel raid.
Warrant Officer Ron LIVERSAGE, MBE, RAF Bomber Command.
Flew Lancasters with 625 Squadron as an air gunner, completing a full tour of 32 operational
missions.
Flight Lieutenant Eddie WHEELER, DFC, RAF Bomber Command.
Flew Lancasters with 97 Squadron (Pathfinder Force) as a wireless operator/air gunner,
completing 28 operational missions including the famous raids on Peenemunde and
Friedrichshaven. Author of "Just to get a bed" (Square One Publications ISBN 1 872017 207).
| The characteristic nose of the mighty 'Lanc' |