Winter of 44 by Philip West. Fighter,
bomber, night-fighter, reconnaissance together with many other variants
made the P-38 Lightning one of the most adaptable and respected aircraft
of World War 2. The P-38 serving in Europe and the Mediterranean
theatre, earned it the German nickname The fork-tail devil. The total
production of the P-38 was 9,924.
The Persauders by Philip West.
Much
loved by its crews, the mighty delta winged Avro Vulcan was designed to
perform Britains nuclear deterrent bomber role during the Cold War. It
carried out this responsibility for more than a decade. The aircraft
then served as a low-level nuclear strike and maritime radar
reconnaissance platform, before finally being called to war action in
the Falklands conflict where it provided long-range bombing
capabilities, attacking surface targets and Stanley Airport.
Those Golden Moments by Philip
West. As the
sun slowly begins to rise this wintry morning over Thorpe Abbots,
Norfolk, ground crew prepare B-17G The All American Girl in an almost
surreal setting, for her 99th dangerous mission over enemy territory. On
10th January 1945, 19-year-old pilot, 1st Lt. John Dodrill and his crew
went missing on a combat sortie to Cologne. Like many other crews, they
made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom, with the Bloody
Hundredth Bombardment Group playing its full part with courage and
honour.
Flight Against the
Bismarck by Philip
West. The Royal
Navys week long chase of the formidable German battleship Bismarck
culminated in the foul evening weather of 26th May 1941. Despite the
deck of HMS Ark Royal pitching through 55 feet, S/Lt John Moffat was one
of fifteen Swordfish pilots who took off to attack Bismarck. After 90
minutes of arduous and turbulent flying the Swordfish found their quarry
and dived through the intense anti-aircraft fire to drop their
torpedoes. One of these hit and jammed Bismarcks rudder and condemned
the battleship to sail in slow circles. The Royal Navys own capital
ships then closed in and pounded Bismarck into a burning wreck.
First Light - Battle of
Britain, July 1940 by Philip
West. Another busy start to the day at Biggin Hill in the summer of 1940.
The Battle of Britain is at its height and 92 Squadron Spitfires with
Geoffrey Wellum in G for George, depart under early morning sunlight to
engage a mass of incoming enemy aircraft over the southeast coast. By
the end of 1940 the Squadron was credited with having destroyed 127
German aircraft.
Winter of 41 by Philip
West. Heavy
snow during the winter of 1941 often kept pilots and their aircraft
grounded, despite the best efforts of the ground crew. Spitfire G George
- based at RAF Manston and assigned to Flt. Lt. Geoffrey Wellum, could
only resume combat sweeps over northern Europe once the storm had passed
and they were all satisfied the aircraft was safe to fly. Signed by Flt Lt Geoffrey Wellum
DFC
Full Throttle (B1-B
Lancer) by Philip
West This remarkable aircraft first entered combat service in 1986.
Reaching speeds of Mach 1.2 at sea level the B1-B is not only the
fastest bomber in American service, it also carries the largest payload
of any current bomber.
Jaguar Patrol by Philip
West Originally built as a joint effort between Great Britain and France,
the SEPECAT Jaguar has over the years of service, more than lived up to
its powerful feline name, providing the RAF with a supersonic ground
attack and reconnaissance platform. During combat and support missions
the Big Cat has proven to be a very reliable and potent asset.
Tornado Strike by Philip
West Todays
RAF Tornados and the aircrew that fly them offer a world-class
interdiction/ground attack and reconnaissance package that is second to
none. The Tornado GR4 is capable of supersonic speeds and flight at
low-level, making it one of the most potent attack aircraft in the world
today. New systems and weapons upgrades will ensure that the Tornado
remains a versatile, effective and vital platform for many years to
come.
Queen of the Skies by Philip West Concorde looking her most majestic as she heads off into the sunset
over the Atlantic Ocean. With the afterburners having just been
switched on, Concorde will quickly gain speed and height until finally
reaching a maximum altitude of 60,000 feet, where, on clear day,
passengers could see the curvature of the earth.
Above and Beyond by Philip West The SR-71 Blackbird is the worlds fastest and highest flying jet
aircraft. For over 23 years, the SR-71s gathered highly classified
intelligence around the world for the United States, the Central
Intelligence Agency, the Pentagon and other governmental agencies,
allowing them to make crucial decisions during the Cold War.
Buccaneer Strike Force by Philip West. The
Blackburn Buccaneer first entered service with the Royal Navy in July
1962. Designed specifically to operate from the Royal Navy's
aircraft carriers, with the ability to fly low and fats, the Buccaneer
was also able to carry nuclear weapons for use against soviet naval
targets. Capable of flying 646mph at 200 feet the Buccaneer was a
formidable low-level strike aircraft which quickly attracted
admirers. amongst them were the RAF and the South African Air
Force, both of whom adopted the Blackburn Buccaneer for their land based
operations. just as the Buccaneer was facing retirement it was
called into action again to play a vital role in Kuwait and Iraq during
the 1991 Gulf War.
Farewell Concorde by Philip West. As Concorde
G-BOAF accelerates into the setting sun her speed will soon
outpace the earth's rotation. The 100 passengers will now have the
unforgettable experience of watching the sun rising from the west.
At 50,000 feet, the cruising speed of Mach 2 (1,320mph) is reached; but
the climb gently continues towards 60,000 feet. Here, on the
threshold of space, the passengers will dine. Three and a half hours
after take off from London, Concorde reaches New York. On 26th
November 2003 this aircraft returned to its first home, Filton, Bristol -
probably never to fly again.
The Untouchable by Philip West. The SR-71 Blackbird is the world's fastest and highest flying jet
aircraft. For over 23 years, the SR-71s gathered highly classified
intelligence around the world for the President of the United States, the
Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, the Pentagon
and other governmental agencies, allowing them to make crucil political
and military decisions during the Cold War. At Mach 3 + cruising
speed, the SR-71's leading edges heat up to over 600 degrees F, where the
outside air temperature is already at -60 degrees F. In September
1975 the SR-71 set a world speed record from New York City to London in
one hour, 55 minutes. When the SR-71 was delivered to the National
Air & Space Museum in 1990, it set a coast-to-coast record, flying
from Los Angeles, California to Washington, D.C., in 64 minutes, 20
seconds.
Right Here, Right Now by Philip West. The Apache is the world's premier Attack helicopter. Its early history
was crowned during 'Operation Desert Storm' setting a combat record second
to none, dispelling any doubts about the Apache's supremacy. The 'Longbow'
offers even greater missionMj Nick Wharmby, Cpt Tim Peake, Mj Bill O'Brien, Cpt Chris Hearn, Mj
Howard Floyd, signed by Major Bloo Anderson, Cpt Jan Ferraro, Cpt Jeff
DeCarlo, Mj Al
Whittle, Cpt Bill McPhee, Mj Mark Torpy. capability and provides a significant
contribution to any battlefield arena, anywhere in the world.
Delta Lady by Philip West. Moments after take off, the mighty Avro Vulcan XH558 bomber begins her
majestic climb through storm clouds, out over the British countryside
towards the North Sea. A masterpiece of British engineering 'excellence',
she acted as a nuclear deterrent throughout the Cold War until the arrival
of Polaris. Prior to her retirement in 1993 she had thrilled many in air
displays nationwide. XH558 has been restored to fly in display flight in 2002 to celebrate the
50th anniversary of the first flight of the Vulcan. Signatories: Sqn Ldr David Thomas, Wg Cdr Mike Pollitt, Sqn Ldr Andy
Marson, Sqn Ldr Barry Masefield.
Combat Rescue by Philip West.
Once downed by enemy fire in North Vietnam, surviving US pilots were
largely dependent on brave Skyraider FAC and HH-53 Super Jolly helicopter
crews to save them. On this occasion the crewman on the ground has just
broken cover and is about to be winched to safety by the Super Jolly
helicopter crew under the protective cover of the Douglas A-1 Skyraiders.
Attack on the Yalu Bridges by Philip West.
F-4U Corsair during the Korean War attacking Yalu bridges
Chippy Ho by Philip West. One of the most potent multi-mission fighters ever built, the rugged
McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet has been a mainstay of the US Navy and
Marine Corps during the last two decades. Philip has made a classic study of an F/A-18C Hornet from VFA-195,
tactical call sign Chippies, flying a fully armed mission exercise near
Mount Fuji while detached to Kadena AB, Okinawa. The colourfully painted
squadron CAG bird Chippy Ho, strikes a menacing pose, equipped with AGM-88
missiles, AIM-9L Sidewinders, drop-tanks and sensor pods. The F-18 demonstrated its effectiveness and versatility during the Gulf
War when, on a strike mission and loaded with 2,000 lb bombs, two Hornets
from VFA-81 dispatched two Iraqi MiG-21s with Sidewinder and Sparrow
missiles, before continuing to complete their bombing mission.
Eagle Intercept by Philip West.
At the height of the Cold War the Russian Tupolev Tu-95 Bear long-range
bombers roamed the world's skies. On constant alert, the interceptors of
the First Air Force were tasked with the air defence of continental United
States. Depicted in a magnificent cloudscape, a pair of F-15A Eagles of 125th
Fighter Wing based at Jacksonville IAP, Florida, intercept a Russian
Tupolev Tu-95 Bear en route non-stop from Moscow to Havana, Cuba. High
over the Atlantic, the F-15 pilots give the Russian crew a reminder of
what to expect if push comes to shove. F-15 Eagles proved their superiority whenever put to the test,
recording a 60:1 kill ratio against Syrian flown Soviet built fighters
over the Lebanon, and again during the Gulf War claiming 33 Iraqi aircraft
destroyed.
Habu 972 at Mach 3.0 by Philip West.
Richard Graham and RSO Don Emmons cruising their SR-71 in after-burner,
gathering intelligence over the Soviet nuclear facility at Kamchatka,
December 15, 1976.
At 80,000ft Rich Graham's SR-71 Blackbird is all but invisible to the
three MiG fighters seen contrailing at 45,000 ft below. Under radar
control, the MiGs make a futile attempt to intercept, but with the SR-71
travelling at three times the speed of sound along the edge of the
stratosphere, there is nothing they can do. At this great height the crew
of Habu 972 can clearly see the pronounced curvature of the earth and, in
broad daylight above them, the brightest stars shining in the heavens. The
SR-71 Habu 972, now resides in the National Air & Space Museum,
Washington DC.
Lone Star Lady by Philip West. Led by the Lone Star Lady, B52 Stratofortresses based at Anderson Air
Force Base on the island of Guam, head for Hanoi, North Vietnam, during
the Strategic Air Command's Operation Linebacker II during the winter of
1972. By the end of December 1972, after 729 operational sorties during
eleven days of continual air strikes on Hanoi and Haiphong, the B52
bombers of Strategic Air Command finally brought North Vietnam to its
knees. They had fired off well over 1200 surface to air missiles,
virtually exhausting their ground defenses, and it became clear that any
renewal of air strikes would devastate the country. The North Vietnamese
were at last ready for peace.
Honor the Brave by Philip West.
One of the last aircraft to come aboard following the day's combat
actions was the (photo-bird) RF-8G Crusader. Unarmed apart from cameras
and film, the eyes of the fleet pilots roamed far and wide throughout
Vietnam to bring back vital post-strike photographs and reconnaissance
information. The USS Coral Sea represented one of 21 attack and
anti-submarine carriers deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin. Their crews
displayed courage, duty, sacrifice and service.
Return of the Bounty Hunter by Philip West. A pair of F-14 Tomcats of VF-2 Bounty Hunters return to the
USS Constellation from a CAP mission in the Indian Ocean, 1997. Two F-14D Tomcats, with tail hooks lowered, prepare to recover aboard
the USS Constellation at the end of a mission during a deployment that
took the carrier to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea in
1997. Generally accepted as the world's finest long range interceptor, the
Tomcat has celebrated 25 years of F-14 front-line service.
Ark Royal by Philip West. HMS Ark Royal IV - Flagship of the Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers - a
mobile airfield and a most impressive sight as she launches a Phantom from
one of her catapults. She had a standard displacement of 43,000
tons, a beam of 168 feet, and was 846 feet long. Ships company
numbered 2,570 and her Air Group consisted of Phantom Interceptors,
Buccaneer strike and Gannet AEW aircraft together with Wessex SAR and Sea
King ASW helicopters. She served her Nation and the Royal Navy for
23 years and sailed 900,000 miles of valuable service, finally being
decommissioned in 1979.
Auf Wiedersehen by Philip West.
After thirty years of
thrilling displays around Europe, the Hawker Hunters of the Patrouille
Suisse performed their last public display at Nancy in France on 25th
September 1944. Considered by many to be the most beautiful jet fighter
ever to grace the skies the Swiss machines, with their striking paint
scheme, enabled the Patrouille Suisse to bring an exceptional element of
grace and elegance to the dynamic type of aerobatic display performed by
most jet aerobatic display teams. Even more remarkable in their performance
is the fact that the team members were all regular pilots with the
Surveillance Wing of the Swiss Air Force and as such were able to practice
just once per month when normal duties allowed. Their appearances were comparatively rare
as they performed only about 6-10 public displays per year but their
professionalism was legendary amongst aerobatic teams, one of the most
memorable moments being at Fairford, England in 1993 when they flew an
outstanding display immediately after the mid-air collision by Russian
MiGs. Individually autographed by the six team
members who flew the final display, and is dedicated to the Patrouille
Suisse and their Hunters - truly a piece of aviation history.
