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News from Aces High, June 09
publication date: Jun 25, 2009
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author/source: Aces High
 AN OUTSTANDING NEW GRAPHITE EDITION COMMEMORATING THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF OPERATION TONGA - THE TAKING OF PEGASUS BRIDGE OUT OF THE NIGHT
- THE FIRST TO GO IN - by Robert Taylor
 “The finest feat of airmanship of the entire war.”
Air Chief Marshal Leigh-Mallory on the capture of Pegasus Bridge
Silently
out of the night they came. With flaps deployed, three timber and
plywood Horsa gliders swept swiftly through the night skies, rapidly
closing with their objective – Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal. On
board, men of the British 6th Airborne Division braced themselves for
landing. They, and sappers from the Royal Engineers, were about to
become the first fighting force to land in France on D-Day. They were
about to make history.
In
his tribute to the men that fought on D-Day and the Normandy landings,
Robert Taylor’s impressive new master drawing portrays that decisive
moment when the Horsas are cast off by their Halifax tugs.
THE LIMITED EDITION Each
limited edition print has been signed by TWO of the veterans who fought
at Pegasus Bridge, along with the artist Robert Taylor. All editions
are individually hand numbered.
Private ALF WHITEBREAD
Private BILLY GRAY
300 signed and numbered prints UK £95 / US $135 THE D-DAY EDITION
In
addition to the signatures on the Limited Edition, the TEN signature
D-Day Editions have also been signed by the following veterans of
Pegasus Bridge, the D-Day landings, and one of the six RAF Halifax
legends who towed the gliders into action on that momentous night.
Private FRANK BOURLET
Sergeant PETER ‘ROCKY’ BRIGHT
Private STAN WATSON
Craftsman ROY BISHOP
Gunner ERNIE BREWER
Lance Corporal HARRY HOPKINS
Private FRANK SANKEY
Squadron Leader JOHN FISHER DFC (USA)
200 D-Day Edition prints UK £135 / US $190 25 D-Day Artist Proofs UK £175 / US $245
Please contact us for availability of the editions A SUPERB EVENT – SUNDAY 5th JULY We
have the great honour of hosting, all at the same event, a superb line
up of veterans who took part in two of the most historic battles of
WWII - the aerial conflict of the Battle of Britain during the summer
of 1940 and D-Day, 6th June 1944.
THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN
 In the words of Sir Winston Churchill; “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” We are joined by veterans who flew in combat during the Battle of Britain: Flt Lt RON BRAMLEY - as
a W.Op/Air Gunner with 22 Sqn he served on Bristol Beauforts between
June & December 1940 attacking Channel Ports and airfields on the
French Coast including Cambrai, completing over 220 Ops in his wartime
career.
Sqn Ldr PETER BROWN AFC - joining
611 Sqn in 1939 he flew early convoy patrols over Dunkirk and with 41
Sqn flew Spitfires throughout the Battle of Britain, scoring four
victories. He transferred to 61 Sqn OTU as an instructor in 1942.
Flt Lt ALBERT GREGORY DFC -
originally posted to 141 Sqn flying Blenheims before serving with 219
Sqn throughout the Battle of Britain on Beaufighters. He later spent
time with 23, 275 and 278 (ASR) Squadrons.
Gp Capt RON DUCKENFIELD AFC- he
spent time with 74 Sqn before joining 501 Sqn and saw constant action
on Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain. He later took command of
615 Sqn in the Far East, but was taken PoW by the Japanese.
Flt Lt BEN BENT DFC - flew
as a Radar /W.Op on Blenheims on night fighter duties throughout the
Battle of Britain and later a Navigator on Beaufighters and Mosquitoes
assisting in seven victories including the first enemy aircraft shot
down on D-Day.
THE NORMANDY INVASION
 The 6th June 1944 saw the beginning of possibly the most decisive turning point in modern history – D-day, the Allied invasion of occupied Europe. We are joined by veterans who took part in this historic event: Sgt ‘TICH’ RAYNER -
part of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, from the
6th Airborne Division, he landed as part of the Coup-de-Main operation
on Glider No 4 into Normandy during the early hours of D-Day 6th June
1944.
Pvt ALF WHITBREAD -
served with 17 Platoon of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light
Infantry. Landed as part of the Coup de Main operation on Glider No.6
into Pegasus bridge in the early hours of D-Day.
Pvt BILLY GRAY-
the first man out of Glider No. 1 into Pegasus Bridge as part of the
Coup de Main operation in the early hours of D-Day. He served with 25
Platoon of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
L/Bombardier BILL SPRING -
landing at Arromanches on D-Day +5 with the 323 Battery Field Regiment
Royal Artillery, he saw action around Caen, Hill 112 and the Falaise
Gap. By VE-Day in May 1945 he had fought right through to Germany.
Pvt BERT COOPER -
with the 5th Battalion East Yorks Regiment, 50 Division, he was among
the first wave to land on D-Day at Gold Beach and went on to see action
throughout the invasion including at Arnhem and in the Ardennes.
Craftsman DOUG AUSTIN -
having landed with the 3rd Battalion Scots Guards, 6th Guard Tank
Brigade, he fought from Caen with the advancing troops through Villers
Bocage and the Falaise Gap. He saw action all the way through to
Germany on VE-Day.
A/Seaman ‘TED’ OVERSTALL -
on D-Day he served on HMS Bellona situated just off Omaha Beach and
offered anti-aircraft protection for the US Battleships Texas and
Nevada who were bombarding the beach to aide the advancing US troops.
W/Bombardier LES SPRING MM
- landed at Gold Beach on D-Day with the Highland Field Regiment, Royal
Artillery as a Forward Observer directing Naval gunfire and, when the
village of Ranville was counter-attacked by Germans, he remained to
direct gunfire for which he was awarded the Military Medal. He also
took part in the Rhine crossing before sustaining a serious injury.
Entry to our events is free but strictly by ticket only so please contact us now for further details or to secure your place - we look forward to hearing from you. To E mail us click on the link belowAces High Aviation GalleryUK: Tel +44 (0)1296 625681
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