NOVEMBER 19th & 20th - OUR BIGGEST GALLERY EVENT OF THE YEAR!
Our annual event at the UK gallery promises to be one of our best ever with some superb veterans lined up.
We are constantly updating this page as soon as more information becomes available. Below are the special guests currently confirmed:
USAAF VETERANS OF THE MIGHTY EIGHTH AIR FORCE
Attending both days:
First Lieutenant ‘DENNY’ THOMPSON - upon completing Pilot training he joined the 487th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, based at Lavenham in Suffolk, England. His first mission on 7 May 1944 was a strategic raid on rail yards in Liege, Belgium and he took part on 3 missions on D-Day to aid the Allied landings and also attack a German HQ in Lesue, France. He completed a total of 30 missions in B-24s and B-17s, was wounded twice and awarded 13 Air Medals, 4 Bronze Stars and a French Freedom Medal.
First Lieutenant JAMES RASMUSSEN - after qualifying as a Navigator he was posted to the 8th Air Force flying with the 100th Bomb Group from Thorpe Abbotts in East Anglia, England. Flying B-17s with the 349th Bomb Squadron his first mission was on 5 January 1945 when his crew made an emergency landing at an Allied fighter base in France on their way home. He went on to complete 33 daytime missions over occupied Europe including raids to Berlin, Nuremberg and Kiel and was awarded 7 Air Medals.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN AND RAF FIGHTER COMMAND VETERANS
Saturday only:
Wing Commander TIM ELKINGTON - serving with 1 Sqn on Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain, he scored a victory over a Bf109 before being shot down whilst intercepting a raid on Tangmere. After a spell with 601 Sqn, he joined 134 Sqn flying Hurricanes in Russia, being awarded the Ushanov Medal. After a time with MSFU, he flew with 1 and 197 Sqns on Typhoons, and 67 Sqn on Hurricanes in India. He also shared the destruction of a Do215 and two Ju88s and was awarded the Burma Star.
Flight Lieutenant BOB HUGHES DFC AE - flew throughout the Battle of Britain as a WOp/AG on Blenheims with 23 Sqn, before moving to 149 Sqn on Wellingtons in November 1940. In March 1941 he joined 148 Sqn in Malta, and then 70 Sqn in Egypt. Returning to the UK, he completed another tour with 12 Sqn.
Warrant Officer PETER ‘PERCY’ PROCTOR - joined the RAF at just 19 years old in 1942 and upon completing Pilot training served with 11 and 41 Sqns on both Hurricanes and Spitfires. He flew in Burma on ground attack roles supporting the 14th Army before moving to India. He was awarded the Burma Star.
Warrant Officer GEOFF HULETT - volunteered for the RAF in late 1941 aged 18 and completed pilot training before joining 225 Group in India as a ferry pilot delivering aircraft in support of the Allied air attacks against the Japanese. He flew many types of aircraft including Spitfires, Hurricanes and P-47 Thunderbolts. He was awarded the Burma Star.
Squadron Leader ALLAN SCOTT DFM - joined 124 Sqn at Biggin Hill in 1941 flying Spitfires before serving in Malta with both 603 and 1435 Sqns, again on Spitfires. Here he was credited with at least 5 victories and 2 probables before returning to the UK and joined 122 Sqn flying P-51 Mustangs over Europe. His final tally was 6 victories.
RAF BOMBER COMMAND VETERANS FROM THE FAMOUS 617 SQN
Sunday only:
Squadron Leader GEORGE ‘JOHNNY’ JOHNSON DFM - previously with 97 Sqn, he joined 617 Sqn as Bomb Aimer on Lancaster AJ-T which attacked the earth Sorpe Dam. Forced to use a reserve aircraft which had not been fitted with the twin spotlights for gauging accurate height, it was on their tenth attempt that George finally released his bomb, scoring a direct hit.
Wing Commander JOHN BELL MBE DFC Ld’H - after training as an Observer, he flew his first tour as a Bomb Aimer with 619 Sqn. He volunteered for a second tour with 617 Sqn, completing 50 Ops’ of which 29 were flown on special operations with 617 Sqn.
Squadron Leader BENNY GOODMAN - flew Lancasters with 617 Sqn where he completed a full tour of 30 Ops’ including missions over Germany, Holland and France as well as taking part in all of the raids against the German Battleship Tirpitz.
Warrant Officer FRANK TILLEY - after training as a Flight Engineer he volunteered for 617 Sqn and took part in all the raids against the Tirpitz. At the end of 1944 he was forced to crash land in Lincolnshire returning from Politz, East Germany after being badly shot up and injured.
Leading Aircraftman BERNARD MABEY - joined the RAF in 1943 and trained as Ground Crew working on Halifaxes with 640 Sqn at RAF Leconfield, Yorkshire. In 1945 he transferred to RAF Waddington as part of ‘Tiger Force’ working on Lancasters with both 617 and 9 Sqns.
Unfortunately Mary Stopes-Roe is unable to attend but looks forward to coming back soon!
LEADING AVIATION ARTISTS ROBERT TAYLOR AND RICHARD TAYLOR
Robert will be joining us on Saturday and Richard on Sunday.
And dont miss...
ORIGINAL ARTWORK AND SECONDARY MARKET PIECES
We’ll have a huge selection on display but be warned – they may not be around for long!
OUR EXPERT FRAMING TEAM
A dedicated room in the Gallery will be set aside to discuss your bespoke framing requirements and handle all completed collections.
FREE REFRESHMENTS
Available throughout the weekend!
As always entry is free but STRICTLY by ticket only and the event is already filling up. Bookings are now being taken so CONTACT US now to reserve your place and don't miss out!
Please be aware - the UK Gallery will be closed on Friday 18 November as we prepare for this exciting event.
