Spitfires High Patrol

Description

Spitfires High Patrol

Overall size approx. (68 x 46 cms)

Spitfires High Patrol
A gathering section of 124 Squadron Spitfires led by Peter Ayerst climbs for height above the bomber stream and a lone Mosquito.
The Squadron, plus many others, was tasked with protecting the bombers over occupied Europe.
For these long range missions the Spitfires carry 90 Gallon slipper Tanks to extend the relatively short endurance of the aircraft.
In combat with enemy fighters they would jettison the tanks.
However, following a shortage, they were encouraged to bring them back if they possibly could.

The Limited Edition Prints are signed by the artist along with the following,
Wing Commander Peter Ayerst DFC

150 Prints in the Primary Edition
R.R.P £195.00
Special Offer £135.00

Wing Commander Peter Ayerst DFC. Few RAF pilots flew operationally from the beginning to the end of the Second World War.
Fewer still can claim to have experienced action from Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, El Alamein and the D-Day landings, to bomber escort duty in the closing days of the war in Europe.
Peter Ayerst is one such man.

Peter joined the RAF in 1938 on a short service commission and was despatched to France when war broke out.
After serving with legendary fighter ace Douglas Bader, Peter was posted to North Africa in 1942 where he was forced to crash-land his Hurricane in a minefield.

Peter flew Spitfires on intruder sorties over France before and during D-Day, on bomber escort duty against V-weapons sites and in support of mass daylight raids deep into Germany.
Awarded the DFC in December 1944, he also flew as fighter escort to King George VI’s Dakota. By the war’s end,
Peter had flown every mark of Spitfire and Hurricane in the RAF’s inventory.!
This stood him in good stead after the war when he worked with famous test pilot Alex Henshaw: he was part of the flight-test crew when Henshaw rolled a Lancaster.

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 breath-taking 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.
Spitfires High Patrol