The Dambusters - Last Moments of the Möhne Dam by Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor’s sensational new painting The Last Moments of the Möhne Dam portrays the unfolding drama played out in those early hours of 17 May 1943. Guy Gibson and Mick Martin have both made successful runs, and ‘Hoppy’ Hopgood, hit by the flak, has crashed in flames. The dam wall, however, has held firm. Now it was the turn of Melvin ‘Dinghy’ Young in Lancaster AJ-A. In this vividly accurate scene, Gibson and Martin help draw the enemy’s fire as ‘Dinghy’ Young clears the dam’s parapet seconds after releasing his bomb. A few moments later Young’s bomb successfully detonated against the dam and deep groans rumbled through the granite wall as the shock ripped through it; under such stress the mighty blocks were imperceptibly shifting. The dam was mortally wounded.

Planned and created some years ago, this truly historic limited edition was personally signed by all of the living survivors of the Dambuster raid in preparation for the 70th Anniversary of Operation Chastise. Sadly some have passed away since signing the edition giving even greater meaning to this commemorative release. Together with the Tribute Edition this is the last time that many of these heroic veterans’ signatures will be found together on such a magnificent example of aviation art, providing connoisseurs with a historic and valuable future collectors’ piece.

Signatures:

The Limited Edition:

Squadron Leader GEORGE L. JOHNSON DFM RAF

Corporal KENNETH LUCAS RAF

Sergeant FREDERICK E. SUTHERLAND RCAF

The Collector's Editions:
Include all of the signatures in The Limited Edition plus:

Flight Sergeant GRANT S. McDONALD RCAF

Squadron Leader LES MUNRO DSO DFC RNZAF

The Chastise Tribute Edition:
Contains all the components of the Collectors Editions plus:

Flight Lieutenant GEORGE CHALMERS DFC DFM RAF (pencil drawing)

Sergeant RAY GRAYSTON RAF (pencil drawing)

Sergeant FREDERICK E. SUTHERLAND RCAF (pencil drawing)

The matted signatures: Each drawing is beautifully matted to conservation standards to include museum quality reproduction Aircrew Europe Medal and RAF Wings together with the original pencil signatures of a further six iconic Dambusters, including the only American to fly on the Raid:

Sergeant DUDLEY HEAL DFM

Flying Officer DAVE RODGER DFC RCAF

Flight Lieutenant EDWARD JOHNSON DFC RAF

Flight Lieutenant BILL TOWNSEND CGM DFM RAF

Wing Commander JOSEPH McCARTHY DSO DFC* RCAF

Sergeant DOUGLAS WEBB DFM RAF