CAUGHT ON THE SURFACE

by Robert Taylor

Editions Edition Size US($) QTY
Limited edition 500 Limited Availability Contact Us
Artist proofs 50 Limited Availability Contact Us
Victoria cross edition 65 Limited Availability Contact Us
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The Battle of the Atlantic was fought by the Royal Navy and RAF Coastal Command against the U-boats. It was a long, deadly struggle in which Hitler’s prized U-boat fleet attempted to starve Britain of food, fuel and the materials of war by destroying the convoys that kept it supplied. The effective use of depth charges by Allied aircraft demanded an attack from extremely low level, but as each submarine was armed with 10 cannons, the dangers to the aircrews was immense.

The hunter becomes the hunted in a remarkable true encounter between Sunderland ‘U’of 461 Sqn and U-Boat U-461 during the Battle of the Atlantic.

On 30 July 1943 Short Sunderland flying boat ‘U’ of 461 Sqn RAAF attacked and sank one of three German submarines caught on the surface in the Bay of Biscay. In an ironic twist of fate the submarine was also U-461.

Robert Taylor’s dramatic and powerful painting depicts Sunderland ‘U’ at extremely low-level, enduring a barrage of gunfire after delivering a successful attack to sink U-461. In an instinctive act of compassion the Sunderland pilot circled the scene to drop a dingy to the U-boat survivors.

The Limited Edition

Each print is signed by FOUR crew of Sutherland 'U' and FOUR crew of U-461.

  • Able Seaman Gerhard Korbjuhn
  • Medical Orderly Wilhelm Hoffken
  • Able Seaman Helmut Roschinski
  • Leading Seaman Alois Momper
  • Warrant Officer Horrie Morgan
  • Flight Lieutenant Peter Jensen
  • Flight Lieutenant John Rolland
  • Flight Lieutenant Dudley Marrows

The Victoria Cross Edition

Each Victoria Cross edition printed is also signed by additional Sutherland 'U' veterans as well as three highly decorated Catalina pilots. With companion print SURFACE ACTION.

  • Flight Lieutenant John Alexander Cruickshank VC
  • Air Commodore Leonard Birchall
  • Air Commodore Edward Hale DFC CD
  • Flight Lieutenant Gerald Watson
  • Flying Officer Robert Webster
Media:
Lithograph
Size:
25 x 16 inches
Release Date:
10/2000

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