Almost Home

by Philip E. West

Overall print size 20” x 28” / 51cm x 71cm

After another long, hard night’s mission over Germany, Flt. Lt. ‘Rusty’ Waughman of 101 ‘Special Duties’ Squadron, once again brings his aircraft and trusting crew back across the English Channel, heading for their home base of Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire.

Many of the 101 Squadron Lancasters flew with an extra, German speaking, crew member, whose job it was to use onboard transmitters to jam the radio frequencies of German night-fighters.

All the prints are signed by pilot Flt. Lt. ‘Rusty’ Waughman DFC AFC and the artist.

Please see below for details of the signatories of this edition.
As with all our prints, this edition was signed in the presence
of Sean Whyte, owner and publisher of SWA Fine Art Limited.

Primary Edition: 250 - £125
25 Artist Proofs - signed by two 101 Sqn. pilots - £150
25 Remarques - signed by two pilots - £275

Philip West is recognised as one of the world’s finest aviation artists. Collectors of his original oil paintings span the globe, many waiting patiently for his next breathtaking canvas to appear. Self taught, Philip has won many accolades for his paintings, not the least of which was the prestigious Duane Whitney Award for Excellence at the 1997 American Society of Aviation Artists Exhibition.

Flt Lt Russell (Rusty) Waughman DFC, AFC, (Pilot) volunteered for the RAF in 1941. After training in Canada, he qualified as a heavy bomber pilot. In November 1943 he was posted to No 101(Special Duties) Squadron at Ludford Magna. He completed a tour of operations, which began during the ‘Battle of Berlin’, where they did several operations. Surviving a mid-air collision, only to write the aircraft off on landing, ‘Rusty’ and his crew on a subsequent flight had a miraculous escape when their aircraft was blown upside down, over the target, at Mailly-le-Camp; they also survived the Nuremberg raid on 30th March 1944, when 97 aircraft were lost – including about one quarter of 101 sqn strength that night.

The following 101 Squadron pilot has also signed the Artist Proof and Remarque editions:

Flt. Lt. Ronald Homes DFC (Pilot) joined the RAF in March 1942 and after initial training, went to Terrell, Texas, USA for his flying training, where he gained his wings in May 1943. He returned to the UK and joined No. 101 Sqdn. in May 1944, going on to complete 32 Ops. over Europe. After his bombing tour he converted onto Dakotas, joined No. 238 Sqdn. and flew out to India and Burma, then on to Australia and the South Pacific. After the Japanese surrender he joined 1315 Flight and flew up to Japan with the occupation forces.

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