Band of Brothers by Robert Taylor

The first edition in Robert Taylor's New BAND OF BROTHERS Portfolio commemorating the Great Air Commands of World War Two. Part 1: Royal Air Force Bomber Command 1939-1945.

The mighty Lancaster, the mainstay of RAF Bomber Command, crewed by volunteers from Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Rhodesia, South Africa, and many other nations opposed to Nazi rule, flew day and night sorties whenever there was a chance of reaching the target. Their unflinching courage, and selfless devotion to duty paved the way for the D-Day invasion, and the ultimate liberation of Nazi occupied Europe. Embellished with Goering's infamous quotation "No Enemy Plane Will Fly Over The Reich Territory", S for Sugar took her bombs to Berlin, Hamburg, Schweinfurt, Bremen, Hanover, Wurzburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and other prime targets, flying the second greatest number of operational sorties of any bomber in the Command. Time and again Sugar brought her crew home, often limping back riddled with flak and bullet holes, occasionally on three engines, and once all the way back from the German capital with a badly damaged wing following a mid-air collision over the target. Robert Taylor's emotive new painting shows S for Sugar on the morning of 27th April, 1944 after her 95th sortie - a raid on the ball-bearing factory at Schweinfurt. As the battle-scarred bomber taxies in at RAF Waddington, other 467 Squadron Lancasters follow, heading for their dispersal points. Already the weary crews begin their informal debriefing. By the war's end this trusty bomber had completed no fewer than 137 operations over enemy territory, bringing her crew home every time. Now magnificently restored to her former glory, S for Sugar resides in the RAF Museum at Hendon, providing a lasting tribute to the gallant men of RAF Bomber Command. The famous aircraft was typical of, and ultimately came to symbolize the men and machines of Royal Air Force Bomber Command. Flying initially with 83 Squadron Pathfinder Force, then 467 Squadron RAAF, Avro Lancaster serial number R5868, call sign S for Sugar, took part in almost every major attack on Germany between the summer of 1942 and the end of hostilities. With the life expectancy of a new Lancaster being just a few months, it was a miracle she survived the war.

RAF AIRCREW EDITION Signed by FOUR distinguished pilots who flew with RAF Bomber Command during World War II. RAAF EDITION Signed by TWELVE Pilots and crew who flew "S" for Sugar with 467 Squadron RAAF. RAF BOMBER COMMAND EDITION Signed by a total of TEN Pilots and crew from RAF Bomber Command 1939- 45.

Signatures:

RAF Aircrew Edition:

Marshal of the Royal Air Force SIR MICHAEL BEETHAM

Squadron Leader TONY IVESON

Fl Lieutenant HARRY HUGHES

Fl Lieutenant JOHN PETRIE-ANDREWS

RAAF Edition:

Flying Officer LAWRENCE BAKER

Fl Lieutenant ALBERT BOYS

Fl Lieutenant JOHN COLPUS

Fl Lieutenant MAXWELL JOHNSON

Fl Lieutenant WILLIAM KYNOCH

Warrant Officer DAVID MORLAND

Flying Officer NEVILLE MORRISON

Flying Officer JOHN NEDWICH

Flying Officer ROY PEGLER

Warrant Officer RAYMOND SAYER

Sqdn Leader THOMAS SCHOLEFIELD

Flying Officer ALBERT WALLACE

RAF Bomber Command Edition (in addition to RAF Aircrew Edition Signatures):

Air Marshal SIR JOHN CURTISS

Sqdn Leader E. GRAY WARD

Sqdn Leader "MAC" HAMILTON

Sqdn Leader REG LEWIS

The Lord MACKIE of BENSHIE

Sqdn Leadrer HARRY WRIGHT