"Moonlight Strike"
Sheet Size: 23.5" x 34"
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| Ozark Airfield Artworks |
This Scenario
An RAF Mosquito of 264 Squadron
destroys a FW190 over London,
England during 1943
An RAF Mosquito of 264 Squadron
destroys a FW190 over London,
England during 1943
Signatures
Flight Lieutenant D. W. Schmidt joined the RCAF in 1941. He attended
OTU in Britain before joining 236 Squadron as a Coastal Command
Beaufighter pilot. Sixteen days later he was with a ferry unit at Lyneham,
testing Beaufighters. During that year he was posted to Malta to join 227
Squadron. In six sorties he claimed eight aircraft. He also scored many
hits on Italian shipping. At war's end he was in the UK with 404 Coastal
Mosquito squadron. He holds the DFC and Bar.
Warrant Officer 1st Class Stanley G. Reynolds joined the RCAF in 1942
at the age of 18. In June 1943, after receiving his pilots wings, he was
posted to England. After training on Blenheims and Beaufighters, he
was sent with his navigator to Scotland. In June of 1944 he was posted
to 410 Squadron where he made 35 flights in Mosquitos. Stan was
awarded a wound stripe for injuries received on active service, and is a
member of the renowned 'Guinea Pig Club.'
Flight Lieutenant Marie Wright (nee Sylvester) began her flying career at
the tender age of sixteen and a half. She earned her wings with the
RCAF after training on a variety of aircraft. Marie was eventually posted
to Hornchurch Station near London, England. Mosquitos are among the
65 different types she flew in the ATA which was a part of Tactical Air
Command. She flew aircraft to and from many stations in England and,
after DDay, in France. She has a particular fondness for the de
Havilland Mosquito.
Flight Lieutenant J. H. (Jack) Reilly joined the RCAF in 1940 and served
in Canada, Alaska and overseas until 1946. He flew Mosquitos on
high-level operations and has 30,000 hours on 70 different types of
aircraft. During the war he flew B24's and Sunderlands on operations.
On flight test duties, he flew Corsairs, Spitfires and Hurricanes. He
maintains his Airline Transport Pilot's licence and still flies today.
The Story
One of the truly remarkable aeronautical developments of World War II
occurred during Britain's darkest hours in 1940. With the Battle of
France lost, Dunkirk evacuated, and the Battle of Britain about to
commence, aircraft development was not a top priority. Constrained by
the use of non-strategic materials, the de Havilland Mosquito was born.
Constructed of molded plywood and metal, this radical-concept twin
engine airplane surpassed everyone's expectations. Initially envisioned
as a bomber, it quickly filled the roles of long-range photo
reconnaissance, mine-layer, pathfinder, and high speed military
transport.
But it was in the fighter role for both day and night that this high speed
aircraft (378 mph) excelled. Its long range, exceptional fire power and
payload capacity made it into a highly versatile and successful war
plane.
The de Havilland Mosquito
Fitted with radar and assisted by ground control intercept (code named
'Starlight') the famous Mosquito proved particularly potent against
raiding German aircraft at night. The interdiction forays into British
airspace during the early 1940's by the FW190 and twin engine types,
were seeking 'targets of opportunity.'
In Robert Bailey's second Night Combat painting MOONLIGHT STRIKE,
a Mosquito of 264 Squadron, RAF, has been vectored toward an enemy
raider, and the on-board radar operator has directed the pilot upon the
unsuspecting aircraft. The FW190 carries a 500kg bomb that will not
find a target on British soil tonight. Instead, the Lufwaffe pilot will be
lucky to survive the bale out from his airplane that is engulfed in flame
after suffering the blistering fire from the attacking Mosquito's 20mm
fusillade.
The successful missions which the Mosquitos completed have become
legend, just as the crews who flew them.
Flight Lieutenant D. W. Schmidt joined the RCAF in 1941. He attended
OTU in Britain before joining 236 Squadron as a Coastal Command
Beaufighter pilot. Sixteen days later he was with a ferry unit at Lyneham,
testing Beaufighters. During that year he was posted to Malta to join 227
Squadron. In six sorties he claimed eight aircraft. He also scored many
hits on Italian shipping. At war's end he was in the UK with 404 Coastal
Mosquito squadron. He holds the DFC and Bar.
Warrant Officer 1st Class Stanley G. Reynolds joined the RCAF in 1942
at the age of 18. In June 1943, after receiving his pilots wings, he was
posted to England. After training on Blenheims and Beaufighters, he
was sent with his navigator to Scotland. In June of 1944 he was posted
to 410 Squadron where he made 35 flights in Mosquitos. Stan was
awarded a wound stripe for injuries received on active service, and is a
member of the renowned 'Guinea Pig Club.'
Flight Lieutenant Marie Wright (nee Sylvester) began her flying career at
the tender age of sixteen and a half. She earned her wings with the
RCAF after training on a variety of aircraft. Marie was eventually posted
to Hornchurch Station near London, England. Mosquitos are among the
65 different types she flew in the ATA which was a part of Tactical Air
Command. She flew aircraft to and from many stations in England and,
after DDay, in France. She has a particular fondness for the de
Havilland Mosquito.
Flight Lieutenant J. H. (Jack) Reilly joined the RCAF in 1940 and served
in Canada, Alaska and overseas until 1946. He flew Mosquitos on
high-level operations and has 30,000 hours on 70 different types of
aircraft. During the war he flew B24's and Sunderlands on operations.
On flight test duties, he flew Corsairs, Spitfires and Hurricanes. He
maintains his Airline Transport Pilot's licence and still flies today.
The Story
One of the truly remarkable aeronautical developments of World War II
occurred during Britain's darkest hours in 1940. With the Battle of
France lost, Dunkirk evacuated, and the Battle of Britain about to
commence, aircraft development was not a top priority. Constrained by
the use of non-strategic materials, the de Havilland Mosquito was born.
Constructed of molded plywood and metal, this radical-concept twin
engine airplane surpassed everyone's expectations. Initially envisioned
as a bomber, it quickly filled the roles of long-range photo
reconnaissance, mine-layer, pathfinder, and high speed military
transport.
But it was in the fighter role for both day and night that this high speed
aircraft (378 mph) excelled. Its long range, exceptional fire power and
payload capacity made it into a highly versatile and successful war
plane.
The de Havilland Mosquito
Fitted with radar and assisted by ground control intercept (code named
'Starlight') the famous Mosquito proved particularly potent against
raiding German aircraft at night. The interdiction forays into British
airspace during the early 1940's by the FW190 and twin engine types,
were seeking 'targets of opportunity.'
In Robert Bailey's second Night Combat painting MOONLIGHT STRIKE,
a Mosquito of 264 Squadron, RAF, has been vectored toward an enemy
raider, and the on-board radar operator has directed the pilot upon the
unsuspecting aircraft. The FW190 carries a 500kg bomb that will not
find a target on British soil tonight. Instead, the Lufwaffe pilot will be
lucky to survive the bale out from his airplane that is engulfed in flame
after suffering the blistering fire from the attacking Mosquito's 20mm
fusillade.
The successful missions which the Mosquitos completed have become
legend, just as the crews who flew them.