'RANGERS ON THE RAMPAGE' By Robert Taylor
SPECIAL MULTI-SIGNED ARTISTS PROOF COPY
The De Havilland Mosquito is one of the most legendary RAF aircraft of WW2. It came from an Air Ministry requirement for the design of a Fast twin-engined bomber, initially finding very little enthusiasm from officialdom. The 'Mosquito' was unusual in that it was largely constructed from wood (thus saving valuable strategic war materials. This offered a very light weight and - when combined with two Rolls Royce Merlin engines - the result was spectacular! The 'wooden wonder' was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the world when it entered service in 1941.
As the war progressed, the ever adaptable 'Mosquito' turned it's hand to whichever task was required - unarmed bomber, night fighter, Pathfinder, intruder and even shipping strike aircraft. Much like it's enemy counterpart - the Ju88 - it took on any role with aplomb. And the exploits of the Mosquito Squadrons soon became the stuff of legend - 'Operation Jericho' the prison break from Amiens, the low-level attack on the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen - gave the 'wooden wonder' front page news!
Robert Taylor's 1994 release 'Ranger's on the Rampage' depicts the Mosquito in just one of it's many roles. As part of the preparations for 'D-Day' Mosquito squadrons flew 'Day Ranger' operations - precision low-level attacks against enemy targets in daylight. These 'Ranger' Missions were extremely dangerous in the face of enemy Flak and fighters. Robert taylor shows a pair of Mosquitos that have just attacked a German airfield with bombs and cannon fire. Before the defences can fully respond, the two 'Mossies' are away at full speed, leaving chaos in their wake.
This Special multi-signed 'Artist Proof' Copy is Signed by the following veterans who flew the 'wooden wonder' in combat during WW2:-
AIR COMMODORE E. B. 'TED' SISMORE - 105/139 Squadrons
Ted Sismore was a navigator on one of three 105 Squadron Mosquitos that bombed Berlin for the first time on 31st January 1943, totally disrupting a planned speech by Hermann Goring! In 1945 he was the navigator on the lead Mosquito for the famous attack on the Gestapo HQ in Copenhagen!
AIR MARSHALL SIR IVOR BROOM - 571/163 Squadrons
Ivor Broom flew Mosquito XVI with 571 Squadron, part of the LNSF, where he teamed up with his navigator - 'Tommy' Broom. He later commanded 163 Squadron flying raids to Berlin.
SQUADRON LEADER T.J. 'TOMMY' BROOM - 163 Squadron
Part of the 'Flying Brooms', Tommy Broom became the Navigator of choice for Ivor Broom at 571 Squadron and later joined 163 Squadron to team up again with Ivor!
SQUADRON LEADER RICHARD 'TERRY' KEARNS - 617 Squadron
New Zealander Richard 'Terry' Kearns joined the famous 617 'Dam busters' Squadron flying the Mosquito on low-level marking led by Leonard Cheshire.
SQUADRON LEADER CHARLES PATTERSON - 105 Squadron
Patterson flew the dangerous 'Ranger' daylight operations with the FBVI variant with 105 Squadron. He also flew with the 'Mosquito Film Unit' and actually filmed over the D-Day beaches!
Flight Lt JOHN BULMER - 613 Squadron
Bulmer flew night and day 'Intruder' sorties before and after the Normandy landings with the Moquito FBVI.
Sergeant TED BARFF - 141 Squadron
Ted Barff flew night interceptor operations with the Mosquito NFII and later 'intruder' missions with the FBVI.
FLIGHT LT TED DUNFORD - 608 Squadron
Ted Dunford flew the Mosquito XX with 608 Squadron flying high-level raids against Berlin and other high priority targets. Dunford flew 55 Missions during WW2.
SQUADRON LEADER TOM BENNETT - 617 Squadron
Tom Bennett joined 617 Squadron to fly with CO Leonard Cheshire in the Squadron's four Mosquito aircraft dedicated to marking targets at low level. He flew 26 dangerous sorties in the 'Mossie' after which he reverted to the Lancaster.
GEORGE BURNS - 29 SQUADRON
Burns flew night fighter missions with various Mosquito models with 29 Squadron.
Flight Lt. DES CURTIS - 248/618 SQUADRONS
Curtis flew initially with 618 Squadron and then moved to 248 Squadron, part of the famous 'Banff Strike Wing' which was dedicated to sinking enemy shipping. Curtis flew the Mosquito XVIII 'Tsetse' with a massive 57mm Molins gun for engaging enemy ships and U-Boats. On 25th March 1944 he, along with other 248 Squadron Mosquitos, attacked and sank U-976 with the sid of the 57mm Gun!
Flight Lt. KEN HILLINGS - 613/109 SQUADRONS
Hillings flew Missions with 109 Squadron (PFF) and also night intruder missions with 613 Squadron.
Flight Lt. KEN TEMPEST - 139 Squadron (PFF)
Tempest flew 43 Night missions as part of 139 Squadron (PFF). He also participated in the very last Bomber operation of WW2 - on 2nd May 1945 - at Kiel.
Flight Lt. TERRY CLARK - 488 Squadron
William Terence 'Terry' Clark flew during the Battle of Britain as an Air Gunner on Blenheims with 219 Squadron. In 1941 he was now in Beaufighters were he participated in several night victories. Clark was posted to 488 (NZ) Squadron in May 1943 and in December 1943 intercepted and shot down an Me410. In July 1944 on a patrol over the Normandy beaches he intercepted and destroyed a Ju188.
Flight Lt. DOUG HADLAND - 162/692 Squadrons
Hadland flew Pathfinder operations with 162 Squadron before joining 692 Squadron (LNSF).
Flight Lt. GEORGE CASH - 139 Squadron (PFF)
Cash flew as Navigator for Joe Patient in 139 Squadron (PFF) and completed a full tour. While on his second tour his Mosquito was hit by a German nightfighter and set on fire. Cash had to escape by exiting through the canopy above and then 'rolling' once or twice along the wing before falling away and opening his parachute!
GEORGE MAHONY - 82 Squadron
Mahony flew in Mosquitos with 82 Squadron in India against the Japanese. The Squadron had dreadful problems with the wooden airframes because of the different climate!
Flight Sgt W.R GREEN - 305 Squadron
Ron Green flew Mosquito FBVI Fighter Bomber sorties with 305 Squadron.
Flight Lt. REG DAVEY - 139 Squadron (PFF)
Davey originally flew as a Navigator on Blenheims before joining 139 Squadron (PFF) flying Pathfinder operations with the Mosquito.
Flying Officer REG NEGUS - 305 SQUADRON
Negus was a navigator on Mosquitos with 305 Squadron.
Flight Lt. BRIAN COOPER - 219/176 SQUADRONS
Flew Mosquitos with 219 Squadron in Europe before joining 176 Squadron in the Far East.
Air Commodore JOHN ELLACOMBE - 487 (NZ) SQUADRON
Ellacombe served during the Battle of Britain, flying the Hurricane with 151 Squadron. He flew the Mosquito with 487 Squadron, 2nd TAF, flying the FBVI over Normandy.
Flying Officer KEN OATLEY - 627 SQUADRON (PFF)
Oatley flew as a Navigator with 627 Squadron (PFF) and logged over 40 missions, including as lead 'Marker' aircraft for the Dresden raid in 1945.
Flight Lt. JULIAN ALDERTON - 45 SQUADRON
Flew the Mosquito in the Far East with 45 Squadron.
Flight Lt. DOUG GREGORY - 141 SQUADRON
Douglas Gregory joined 141 Squadron, flying Beaufighters. In 1943, 141 Squadron was integrated into 100 (Bomber Support) Group and re-equipped with 'Serrate' Mosquitos - night fighters that would home-in on Luftwaffe Night Fighter radar emissions. Gregory flew 69 sorties and claimed two Ju88's.
JOHN McCLUSKEY -
Flying Officer BRIAN HARRIS - 627 SQUADRON (PFF)
Harris flew as a Navigator with 627 Squadron (PFF) engaged in Pathfinder operations, which involved marking heavily defended targets for the main Bomber Force.
Sgt GEOFF HEWES - 264 SQUADRON
Hewes flew in Mosquito XIII's in night intruder operations and flew in defence of the Normandy beachheads in June 1944.
DOUG CHAPMAN - 487 SQUADRON
Flight Lt. REG LEVY - 105 SQUADRON
Levy flew Mosquito Bombers with 105 Squadron.
Warrant Officer DICK MAYWOOD - 608 SQUADRON
Maywood flew as a Navigator on Mosquitos with 608 Squadron PFF (LNSF)
A stunning and unique tribute to the 'wooden wonder' and it's courageous aircrew.
The Print measures 32 X 23 Inches and comes with the Original CoA.
*** SOLD ***
