The Dambusters over Abberton Reservoir, Essex

The Dambusters Raid may well be the most famous bombing raid ever carried out. Nineteen specially-modified Lancaster Bombers of No. 617 Squadron RAF, led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson, set off on a daring raid to destroy a number of German dams, using the innovative 'bouncing bomb' designed by Barnes Wallis.

Ahead of this famous raid, the 'Dambusters' used a number of reservoirs across England for their 'dress rehearsal', including Essex's own Abberton Reservoir (named "Colchester Lake" in Guy Gibson's notes).

Our illustration of the Dambusters over Abberton shows Guy Gibson's aircraft, AJ-G, as well as those of Flight Lieutenant John Hopgood and Flight Lieutenant Harold Martin

Dambusters over Abberton Art Print

RAF Hornchurch, Essex

RAF Hornchurch, now part of London but traditionally part of Essex, has a history stretching back to the First World War. Opened as Sutton's Farm Aerodrome, pilots from Hornchurch defended against zeppelin bombers. One such pilot, William Leefe Robinson, became the first person to earn a Victoria Cross for action over Britain.

By the start of the Second World War, Sutton's Farm had become RAF Hornchurch. It played host to RAF Fighter Command's 11 Group throughout the Battle of Britain, and as such was a major target for German bombers.

Our illustration of RAF Hornchurch depicts Spitfire P7666, which was flown from RAF Hornchurch by Olympic hurdler Don Finlay.

RAF Hornchurch, Essex Art Print

RAF Rivenhall, Essex

RAF Rivenhall, near Silver End, was opened in 1942 for use by the United States Army Air Forces, one of a number of such airfields in Essex (others included RAF Boxted and RAF Birch). Throughout the war years it was also used by the Royal Air Force.

Our illustration of RAF Rivenhall depicts a moment from 24 March 1945, when Operation Varsity - the largest airborne operation in history - was launched from RAF Rivenhall, alongside a number of other airfields. In total, aircraft from Rivenhall towed sixty gliders over the Rhine, striking into the heart of Germany.

Little today remains of RAF Rivenhall, but a number of buildings can still be found on the former site with a bit of determination.

RAF Rivenhall, Essex Art Print

No. 488 Squadron's Defence of Chelmsford, Essex

On the evening of 21st March 1944, German bombers set off for the Marconi factories in Chelmsford, Essex. Flying in Chelmsford's defence were the de Havilland Mosquito night fighters of No. 488 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), based at RAF Bradwell Bay.

The Mosquitoes clashed with the attacking Junkers bombers in the early hours of the morning on the 22nd. In what the squadron later called "the most successful night in [their] history," they shot down all five of the Junkers in the German pathfinding force.

Our illustration of this battle depicts Mosquito HK365, ME-T, which claimed two kills that night. It was piloted by a Dutchman, Christiaan Vlotman, and co-piloted by Englishman John Woods.

No. 488 Squadron Mosquito Art Print

The loss of 'Little Zippie' near Clacton, Essex

On the 13th January 1945, F/O Raymond King, a USAAF pilot from Pennsylvania, was piloting his P-51D Mustang off the coast of Essex when he developed engine troubles. He had to put the aircraft down in the sea a mile or so short of the Clacton-on-Sea coastline and await rescue in the water. Tragically, the rescue boat was too slow to save him from the icy North Sea waters, and he lost his life.

A large piece of the aircraft, including the bulk of the cockpit section forward, was recovered in 1987 only 400m out to sea. Today the Mustang, along with many of King's personal belongings, can be seen at the East Essex Aviation Society Museum, housed in the Martello tower at Point Clear, not far from Clacton.

'Little Zippie' Art Print

A Polish pilot at Hornchurch, Essex

Ludwik Martel of No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron, flying from RAF Hornchurch in the south-west corner of Essex, was the youngest Polish pilot to score a victory in the Battle of Britain; he was just twenty years old at the time.

Our illustration celebrates his role in the Battle of Britain, depicting his Spitfire engaged in battle above the famous white cliffs of Dover, Kent. In one such battle Martel was shot down, but recovered and served throughout the war, after which he settled in Britain and lived until the ripe old age of 91.

Battle of Britain Art Print

Presentation Spitfires of Essex

'Presentation Spitfires' were Spitfires funded, not by the Air Ministry, but by private donors and fundraising campaigns. Funds for a number of these Presentation Spitfires were raised throughout the county of Essex. This collection of Presentation Spitfire art prints commemorates those aircraft, in tribute to the people who pulled together to pay for them in the most difficult of times.

So far, we have illustrated presentation Spitfires funded by the people of Colchester & District, by the people of Chelmsford (who funded two, "Chelmsford" and "Galleywood"), by the people of Brentwood, and by the Royal Observer Corps.

Presentation Spitfires of Essex Art Prints

P-47 Thunderbolts over Essex

Nicknamed the 'Jug' due to its distinctive appearance, the P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the most successful American aircraft of the Second World War, and a number of them flew from airfields in Essex.

Our illustration of the P-47 Thunderbolt features 'Hairless Joe', the aircraft of Kansas-born fighter ace David C. Schilling. During his time in England, Schilling flew from two Essex airfields, RAF Boxted and RAF Little Walden; while flying from the latter, he became an "Ace-in-a-Day" by shooting down five German aircraft on 23 December 1944.

Schilling survived the war and served with the USAAF in England until his untimely death in a car crash in 1956.

P-47 Thunderbolt Art Print

RAF Bradwell Bay, Essex

Built during the Second World War, Bradwell Bay operated as an airfield through to 1946, playing host to a range of Royal Air Force squadrons throughout its lifetime. Uniquely for a fighter airfield, it used the 'Fog Investigation and Dispersal Operation' system to aid pilots landing in foggy conditions.

Our illustration of RAF Bradwell Bay features HK204, a De Havilland Mosquito Mk XII of No. 488 Squadron Royal New Zealand Air Force, based at RAF Bradwell Bay for a time. We have estimated HK204's squadron code as ME-W; records do not reveal HK204's letter, however its replacement took the letter W. Tragically, HK204 crashed near Tolleshunt Knights, with both pilot Edward 'Cecil' Ball and copilot William Kemp losing their lives.

RAF Bradwell Bay, Essex Art Print

B-17 Flying Fortresses over Essex

The Combined Bomber Offensive saw thousands of British and American bombers flying over Germany, and perhaps none more iconic than the B-17 "Flying Fortress." Given Essex's position in the south-east, its airfields naturally had a part to play in hosting these iconic war machines.

Our illustration of the B-17 Flying Fortress features "Lucky Strike," an aircraft of the 532nd Bomb Squadron based at RAF Ridgewell in the north-west of Essex.

"Lucky Strike" featured in a Boston Daily Globe article for its part in a raid on Oschersleben; intriguingly, many of the details in the article do not line up with other sources - perhaps being changed for wartime publication, so as not to give away information to the enemy?

Flying Fortress Art Print
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    Our studio, where our art prints are planned, illustrated, and printed, uses a green energy tariff. Every watt of energy that goes into our art prints is 100% renewable.

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