TANGMERE HURRICANES
By Nicolas Trudgian
1000 Signed and Numbered prints

August 31, 1940  "As the wheels of my Hurricane raised, the engine cut, spluttered, then recovered: caused by the blast from bombs exploding behind, where the rest of my squadron somehow got airborne.  Above were Dorniers, escorted by Me110s and Me109s.   I climbed at full boost and reached the Me110s first.  As I attacked, Me109s fell upon me spraying tracer from behind.  An Me109 turned in front, I hit him and he streamed vapour.  Then another, I hit him too and he rolled over smoking.  A third just below - I could easily see the pilot, but while manoeuvring to shoot an Me110 came at me, firing head-on.  My Hurricane was badly hit in windscreen and self-sealing fuel tank but mercifully there was no fire.  I was wounded and momentarily lost control.  I baled out low down just missing some large oaks, and landed among fir saplings.  After convincing the Home Guard and a policeman of my nationality, we all adjourned to the Royal Oak, Hawkhurst for drinks all round and a wonderfully friendly crowd waved me off to hospital".   Group Captain Peter Townsend's graphic personal account of a single Battle of Britain combat mission typfies the action and the spirit of the fighter pilots who fought the most decisive air battle in history.  Nick captures that spirit and atmosphere in his painting TANGMERE HURRICANES.   Refuelled and rearmed,  Hurricanes of 601 Squadron - known as the Millionaire's Squadron for the number of wealthy and aristocratic pilots that made up its numbers- climbing out over a Sussex village railway station to rejoin the ever-changing patterns of white vapour trails and tiny specks glinting like diamonds high above.  An outstanding example of top quality aviation art, enhanced by the signatures of four legendary Battle of Britain Hurricane Aces:  Peter Townsend, Geoffrey Page - Rolnd Beamont - H. A. C.  Bird-Wilson.

Size: 33 1/2"  x  24 1/2"