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November 2006
Edition 3
Volume 2
Tel/Fax. 01225 444929
From Overseas
+ 44 + 1225 + 444929
www.swafineart.com
The Blackburn Skua had many remarkable “firsts” to its credit; the first all-metal monoplane built for the Fleet Air Arm (FAA); the first dive bomber in British air services; the first enemy
aircraft shot down in WW2 fell to a Skua; the first fighter ace in the FAA (Lt. Bill Lucy DSO) flew Skuas and the first warship (Konigsberg) destroyed by dive bombing was sunk by Skuas.
Skuas flew from HMS Ark Royal through much of the 1940 campaign off Norway, and one is seen getting airborne in typically grey North Sea weather.
by Philip E. West
Helpful information about
our Limited Edition Prints.
A Salute to the Blackburn Skua and All Those Brave Men
Who Flew In This Aircraft and Defended Our Country.
Images of the Skua in action.
PRIMARY EDITION: These prints are
always numbered (i.e. 25/500) and signed in
pencil by the artist. We use light fast inks on
350-gram high quality paper from a
renewable resource. (A few of our earlier
prints were published using 300-gram paper)
The pilots’ signatures are also in pencil (unlike
ink, pencil does not fade) and they have
signed every print.
Courtesy of The Fleet Air Arm Museum.
ARTIST PROOFS: A smaller quantity of the
same edition, often around 10% of the
edition size, personally inspected by the artist
before he signs each one and adds the words
“Artist Proof ” above his signature.
Artist Proofs sometimes have additional
aircrew signatures.
REMARQUES: These are very special! An
exclusive part of the edition taken from the
same main picture. A Remarque is a unique,
highly detailed pencil drawing added by the
artist to the lower white border of the print.
Delivery can take six weeks, but the drawings
are always superb and each one is unique to
you. We sometimes accept requests for specific
remarques. A Remarqued print is VERY
special and every one is different. Yours will
be unique to you! Please call us if you have
any questions.
The following photos are a small selection of those sent to us by the men who have signed the prints.
All our prints are accompanied by a signed
Certificate of Authenticity. When signed by
aircrew we include biographical details on
each person concerned.
To Contact Us or to
Place An Order
SWA Fine Art Publishers
PO Box 3915, Bath BA1 0BD
United Kingdom
Eric Bond
(Telegraphist Air Gunner)
Douglas Harcourt
(Pilot)
Derek Martin
(Pilot)
The following photos were sent ‘out of the blue’ to Lloyd Richards (Telegraphist Air Gunner) in 2005, over 60 years after he had been
shot down in Norway. He had initially been looked after by a farming family, whose young son, unknown to Lloyd, took these photos.
Left to right they show German soldiers posing on Lloyd’s downed Skua, and a photo of him at the farmhouse – a picture he never knew had
been taken, so it came as a big surprise to him in the post one day last year! Also, a photo taken of him in a POW camp.
Tel/Fax: 01225 444929
Mon – Sat inc. 8.30am – 6pm
International:
+ 44 + 1225 + 444929
(USA clients please note we are
EST +5 hours.)
The following photos depict five of the men signing the “Supreme Courage” prints on 27th October 2006 at the Fleet Air Arm
Museum, Yeovilton. Eric Brown and Doug Harcourt signed the prints at their homes two days earlier.
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.swafineart.com
Postage/Shipping: Please add UK £7,
Rest of Europe £10, Rest of World £12.
Print orders are normally dispatched within
24-hours. Please allow up to six weeks for
Remarque orders. All orders are shipped by
Recorded Delivery requiring them to be signed
for on receipt.
Arrival in perfect condition is guaranteed by
SWA Fine Art Publishers.
Heads down hard at work!
Derek Martin
Lloyd Richards
On the 27th October the museum held a special event to celebrate this historic gathering of Skua aircrew.
Here we see the men who signed the prints on this day.
Exchange Rates: Due to the constant fluctuations in
exchange rates we are only able to quote an
approximate current exchange rate at the time of
publication (November 2006) of US$1.85 to £1.
Please call or email us if you have any questions.
We give a 100% guarantee of satisfaction
with our prints or your money, including
postage, will be refunded in full.
L-R: Blackburn, Richards, Bond, Martin, Skinner.
L-R: Eric Bond and Derek Martin holding
the original painting in front of a Skua cockpit.
SUPREME COURAGE
COURAGE by Philip E. West
SUPREME
Blackburn Skuas entered service
with the Fleet Air Arm in November
1938, as a successful update and
replacement for the Hawker Osprey
and Nimrod biplane fighter aircraft,
in service at the time.
Print size: 17 1/2” x 27 1/2” / approx. 46cms x 69cms.
Shooting down the first enemy
aircraft of World War II would be a
notable achievement for any
record, and this too can be claimed
by a Blackburn Skua. On 25th
September 1939, Lt. Cdr. B.S.
McEwan RN (803 Naval Air
Squadron) operating from H.M.S
Ark Royal, shot down a German
Dornier Do18 flying boat whilst on
air patrol off the Norwegian coast.
Blackburn Skuas were at the
forefront of the Norwegian
campaign, often operating at the
extreme limit of their range and
under gruelling North Sea
conditions. Despite these limiting
factors, Skuas of No. 800 and 803
NAS, managed to successfully dive
bomb and sink the German cruiser
Konigsberg, in Bergen Fjord,
Norway, on the 10th April 1940.
*Primary Edition (100): £125, *50 Artist Proofs: £150, **15 Commemorative Single Remarques: £ 275 and
**10 Commemorative Double Remarques: £425 The original painting has been sold.
*Signed by these four men ** Signed by all seven men, including Captain Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown. Please see below and opposite for more details.
**Sqn. Ldr. Douglas J.G. Harcourt (Pilot) joined the Navy in 1933. Flew Skuas,
Wellingtons, Walrus and Fairchild Amphibious aircraft
**Captain Eric Brown (Pilot) had a 31-year career with the Royal Navy and is the
Fleet Air Arm’s most decorated pilot. In his flying career he has flown a world
record 487 basic aircraft types and made a world record 2,407 aircraft carrier
landings in fixed wing aircraft.
**Ltd. Cdr. George R. Blackburn (Pilot) flew throughout the war in the UK,
Trinidad, Canada, Gibraltar/Mediterranean, North Africa and the Atlantic Convoys.
*Lt. Cdr. Derek T.R. Martin (Pilot) joined his first operational squadron of
Skuas on HMS Ark Royal for operations off Norway.
*CPO (A) Eric Bond (Telegraphist Air Gunner) served on aircraft carriers HMS
Furious, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious in the Mediterranean and
Atlantic.
*Naval Airman Lloyd Richards (Telegraphist Air Gunner) joined the Royal
Navy in 1934. Flying from HMS Ark Royal, in June 1940 Lloyd was shot down
during the attack by the “Sharnhorst”. He was taken prisoner and held in a
German POW camp.
*CPO Ron Skinner (Ships Writer) joined HMS Ark Royal in November 1938
and remained with her until November 1941. Ron saw action against the
Bismarck, the hunt for the “Graf Spee” and the Norwegian campaign.
THE COMMEMORATIVE REMARQUE EDITIONS
Philip West’s wonderfully detailed ‘Blackburn Skua’ Remarques
(pronounced ‘remarks’) are drawn in pencil with skill and passion.
A pilot as well as a professional artist, Philip is able to bring an
aviator’s feel as well as an artist’s eye for detail that is rarely
equalled in pencil drawings.
Each Remarque drawing is a work of art which always
complements the main picture. A Remarque is a finely detailed
pencil drawing in the white border below the picture, normally to
the right of the print caption; Double Remarques consist of a
drawing each side.
You can either choose to have an aircraft of your preference drawn
as a Remarque or, you can leave it to Philip to draw one which he
feels will look the best for you. Philip’s Remarqued pictures are
always highly sought after by collectors throughout the world.
With only 25 in this edition, please remember to call and reserve
your copy today.
EXCLUSIVE TO
SWA FINE ART
The first 15 customers to order a
Remarqued copy of “Supreme
Courage” will receive free of charge
a signed and matching numbered
copy of “Wings on my Sleeve”,
Eric Brown’s newly revised and
republished biography. A one-off,
chance in a lifetime offer, which is
certain to be oversubscribed;
please do not delay ordering.
ES
EXAMPL
Y
L
ON
ORIGINAL OIL PAINTINGS
These evocative paintings have been personally selected by Philip E. West
as amongst the finest examples of his work available to buy today.
Original Paintings have always enjoyed a reputation and status as a luxury item beyond the reach of most people to own. In recent times, with
artists of the calibre of Philip offering their superb ‘works of art’ at affordable prices, many more discerning customers have begun their own
collections and are already enjoying the pleasure that owning an oil painting by their favourite artist brings to their home.
® Eye
of the Storm -The Dambusters £4995.00
Wing Commander Gibson’s aircraft in the foreground and Flt. Lt. Martin’s in the
distance, both draw flak away from Sqn. Ldr. Young’s Lancaster after it has
dropped its ‘Bouncing Bomb’ and makes its escape over the Mohne Dam.
Overall canvas size: 24” x 38” 61cms x 96cms
Lead by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, 19 Lancasters departed their home base
in three waves, each aircraft armed with a single bouncing bomb developed by
Barnes Wallis. The targets were German dams in the heart of the industrial Ruhr.
The resulting attacks breached the Mohne and Eder Dams with attempts also on
the Sorpe and Schwelme Dams. For his leadership and courage, Gibson was
awarded the Victoria Cross. 34 other men also received decorations.
STOP PRESS: At the time of this brochure going to print, this painting is due to be
signed on the back of the canvas by two aircrew who actually flew on the
Dambuster raids. Imagine such a painting in your home!
Almost Home £3450.00
®
Overall canvas size: 18”h x 30”w 46cms x 76cms
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.
The painting is signed on the back by
Flt. Lt. ‘Rusty’ Waughman DFC
Overall canvas size: 12” x 24” 31cms x 61cms
®
Messerschmitt Me 262. With a sleek shark-like fuselage, revolutionary swept
back wings and Jumo turbine engines, it must have been a sight to see one
autumn day in 1944 when seen for the first time. The 262 represented the
Luftwaffe’s most potent air weapon during World War 2; however, not
enough were produced in time to make a decisive difference to the outcome.
This painting has been signed on the back of the canvas by three top German fighter pilots. A
chance in a lifetime to own a
part of history that is unique.
General Gunther Rall who
flew Me109s throughout the
Battle of Britain. He finished
the war with 275 victories,
making him the third highest
scoring pilot in history. Major
Hans-Ekkeehard Bob who
also flew Me109s in the Battle
of Britain as well as the Polish and French campaigns. He also flew Fw 190s and Me262s in over
700 combat missions during which he achieved 59 victories. Feldwebel Adolf Denz has also
signed the paintings. He flew Me 110s, Me 210s and later Me109s on the Russian front.
Overall canvas size: 20”h x 40”w 51cms x 104cms
®
Frames shown are for illustration purposes only.
Guardians of the Reich £1750.00
Legends of the Air £4995.00
Signed on the reverse by three former 617 Squadron pilots, including the
legendary Commanding Officer Group Captain James Tait DSO & Bar,
DFC, ADC. Probably the most famous RAF Squadron in history, mainly
due to the audacious
Dambuster raid in 1943.
Through their skill and
bravery 617 crews
received many high
honours including V.Cs
for Wing Commander
Guy Gibson and Wing
Commander Leonard
Cheshire.