"Supreme Courage"

by Philip E West

Overall print size: 17¾ x 27¾ (approx. 45cms x 70cms.)

Limited Primary Edition of 100



Supreme Courage

Overall print size: 17¾ x 27¾ (approx. 45cms x 70cms.)

From the studio of Philip West and another ‘must have’ Limited Edition Print. A small edition, signed by men who fought courageously for ‘King and country’ 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.

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.

The Primary Edition is signed by Lt. Cdr. Derek T.R. Martin (pilot), Eric Bond and Lloyd Richards (Telegraphist Air Gunners) and CPO Ron Skinner, HMS Ark Royal’s Ships Writer (duties included counting the aircraft out and those who returned safely) to HMS Ark Royal. (Four signatures)