» The Height of the Battle «
by Geoff Nutkins, AGAvA
First Edition Battle of Britain print
First edition print from the 1980's, from an original painting by renowned aviation artist Geoff Nutkins.
This print pre-dates the better known Scenes of the Battle of Britain edition.
» Flight Lieutenant John C. Dundas and Pilot Officer Eugene 'Red' Tobin of No.609 Squadron
pursue a Dornier 17Z of 8/KG76 down the Darent Valley, Kent. September 15th, 1940. «
Signed by the artist.
About the scene:
The tremendous air battle fought between Fighter Command and the Luftwaffe on 15th September, 1940 represented the climax of the Battle of Britain, and it has been celebrated as Battle of Britain Day ever since.
The 8/KG 76 Dornier 17Z piloted by Feldwebel Heitsch was part of a force of about 100 German bombers which approached London over North Kent shortly before noon. The formation was intercepted simultaneously by nine RAF Squadrons. The battle developed into a series of individual fights. During one of these encounters, Heitsch's Dornier was attacked by Flight Lieutenant Dundas and Pilot Officer Tobin of No.609 Squadron. After a low-level chase, Heitsch was forced to bring his machine down in a field at Castle Farm, Shoreham, narrowly missing the high tension cables that ran over the field.
The Dornier's crew were taken prisoner by the local Home Guard. Heitsch and Feldwebel Pfeiffer, the observer, were uninjured. Feldwebel Sauter, the gunner, had been wounded in the ankle and was taken to Maidstone Hospital. Feldwebel Stephan Schmidt, the wireless operator, died of a chest wound before reaching hospital. One other casualty was a hop picker who had been shot in the leg by a bullet from one of the two low-flying Spitfires.
See photos of the Dornier after the forced landing here.
Flight Lieutenant Dundas went on to shoot down the German ace Major Helmut Wick on 28th November 1940.
Dundas was then immediately shot down and killed by Wick's wingman.
Pilot Officer Tobin was an American volunteer from Los Angeles. He saw service throughout the Battle of Britain, and was a core member of the first Eagle Squadron (No.71). He died during a fighter sweep over Boulogne on 7th September 1941.
(Close-up view of the print to show detail)
Image Size: 57cm x 38cm (approx)
Overall Size: 64.5cm x 49cm (approx)
All our prints are in excellent condition.
They have never been displayed and have been stored flat, out of direct light.
They will be despatched in large diameter, strong tubes.
Prints are not framed.
UK buyers - payments by Paypal, cheque or postal order.
(If you pay by cheque, prints will be despatched
after your cheque has cleared)
Non-UK buyers - payments by Paypal ONLY.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email.
Thanks for taking the time to look.
Buy with confidence!
The seller - Avibloke - is the artist Geoff Nutkins, backed up by his small team at Avi-Art.
You are buying an original print direct from the artist!
Got a question about this item? Send us an email:
www
aviartnutkins.com
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