THE ANNIVERSARY EVENT AT THE UK GALLERY – 12th & 13th DECEMBER
A weekend not to be missed at the Wendover Gallery! We are delighted to announce that we’ll be joined by two USAAF Fighter Pilots who served with one of the most famous fighter units of WWII. We’ll also be hosting some amazing Battle of Britain veterans as we commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the battle AND veterans who served with RAF Bomber Command during WWII. Please be aware – the line-up of guests varies on each day.
THE WOLFPACK
Commanded by the legendary ‘Hub’ Zemke, the 56th Fighter Group became the first fighter group to fly the P-47 Thunderbolt in combat. It soon became known as ‘Zemke’s Wolfpack’ as this formidable unit roared over Western Europe before and during the Allied invasion. The 56th finished the war with more air-to-air victories than any other fighter group in the Eighth Air Force, was the top scoring P-47 group of the war, and recorded the second-highest number of air-to-air victories of any fighter group in the entire USAAF.
It is a great honour to be hosting two members of this famous unit, including one of the oldest surviving Aces of the USAAF.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
The Battle of Britain changed the course of the war in Europe as Churchill's famous 'FEW' - the valiant young men of RAF Fighter Command - valiantly defended the nation from the might of Hitler’s war machine during the summer of 1940. In this very special 75th Anniversary year, the number of veterans who took part in this epic battle has sadly dwindled, however we are delighted to be joined by some of these legendary veterans.
RAF BOMBER COMMAND
During WWII RAF Bomber Command suffered the worst casualty rates of all the Allied Forces. 125,000 men joined Bomber Command and, of these, 55,573 were killed in action. A further 10,999 were shot down and became Prisoners of War. A total of 364,514 operational sorties were flown, and 8,325 aircraft were lost. As a tribute to ‘The Many’ we are proud to be joined by highly-respected WWII aircrew of RAF Bomber Command.
SATURDAY 12th
THE WOLFPACK
Captain FRANK McCAULEY - originally joined the infantry at the outbreak of war before completing Pilot training and joining the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group flying P-47 Thunderbolts. He scored his first victory on the Schweinfurt-Regensburg raid on 17 August 1943 before becoming an Ace on 14 October. He finished the war with 5 ½ air-to-air victories.
Lieutenant WILLIAM HARTSHORN - joined the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group in August 1944 flying P-47 Thunderbolts as Wingman to Aces Donovan Smith, Paul Conger and Michael Glaydch. On his 26th mission, in support of Allied troops during Operation Market Garden on 18 September 1944, he was forced to bail out injured after his aircraft was struck by German ground fire.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
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 Match 1941 he joined 148 Sqn in Malta, and then 70 Sqn in Egypt. Returning to the UKhe completed another tour with 12 Sqn.
Wing Commander TOM NEIL DFC* AFC - one of the Battle of Britain’s most famous Aces, he flew Hurricanes with 249 Sqn gaining his first victory on 7 September flying from North Weald. He later served in Malta, and commanded 41 Sqn before joining the 9th US Air Force as a Flying Liaison Officer on Mustangs, flying in combat during the D-Day landings. He finished the war with 14 confirmed victories, later becoming a Test Pilot.
Flight Lieutenant TERRY CLARK DFM AE - served as a WOp/AG with 219 Sqn flying Blenheims during the Battle of Britian, in October 1940 the squadron converted to Beaufighters and he retrained to be a Radar Operator, assisting with 5 victories. He later joined 488 Sqn (RNZAF) as a Navigator on Mosquitos where he assisted with a further victory over a Me410, finishing the war with 6 victories.
BOMBER COMMAND
Warrant Officer FRANK TILLEY - after training as a Flight Engineer he volunteered for 617 Sqn taking part in all the raids against the Tirpitz, but at the end of 1944 was forced to crash landed in Lincolnshire on the return journey from Politz, East Germany after being badly shot up and injured on a mission.
Warrant Officer DEREK GURNEY - after joining the RAF and volunteering for Aircrew he completed his training as an Air Gunner in late 1944. Posted to 10 Sqn flying from RAF Melbourne he completed 9 Operations as a Gunner on Halifaxes on bombing missions over Germany.
Warrant Officer ROY BRIGGS - served as a Wireless Operator on Lancasters with 576 Sqn on operations over North West Europe including raids against Hitler’s Alpine home at Berchtesgaden.
SUNDAY 13th
THE WOLFPACK
Captain FRANK McCAULEY - originally joined the infantry at the outbreak of war before completing Pilot training and joining the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group flying P-47 Thunderbolts. He scored his first victory on the Schweinfurt-Regensburg raid on 17 August 1943 before becoming an Ace on 14 October. He finished the war with 5 ½ air-to-air victories.
Lieutenant WILLIAM HARTSHORN - joined the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group in August 1944 flying P-47 Thunderbolts as Wingman to Aces Donovan Smith, Paul Conger and Michael Glaydch. On his 26th mission, in support of Allied troops during Operation Market Garden on 18 September 1944, he was forced to bail out injured after his aircraft was struck by German ground fire.
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Wing Commander RICHARD ‘DICKIE’ SUMMERS AFM OBE - flew as an Observer on Blenheims with 219 Sqn throughout the Battle of Britain. In 1941 he was posted to West Africa where he was awarded the AFM for evading capture after crash-landing and after being commissioned in 1942, finished the war flying Hudsons with Coastal Command.
Flying Officer KEN WILKINSON - called up in September 1939, he flew Spitfires throughout the Battle of Britain, first with 611 Sqn then 616 Sqn at Kirton-in-Lindsey and finally with 19 Sqn at Fowlmere as part of the Duxford Big Wing. After a spell instructing he returned to operations, again on Spitfires, this time with 234 and 156 Sqns and finished the war with 53, 24 and 10 OTUs.
BOMBER COMMAND
Flight Lieutenant DENNIS EVANS MBE - after pilot training in South Africa he served with 170 Sqn and completed 19 Ops over Northern Europe. At the conclusion of the War he took part in Operation Manna and was awarded his MBE for his part in the Berlin Airlift.
Warrant Officer HARRY IRONS DFC AFC - joining the RAF at the age of 16 in 1940, he did 2 full tours as a Rear Gunner with 9 Squadron and took part in nearly all the famous raids of Bomber Command. He finished in 1945 at 158 Squadron flying Halifaxes.
Flight Lieutenant ALAN PAYNE DFC - after initially training as an Observer, he actually served as a Bomb Aimer on Lancasters with 630 and 57 Squadrons completing 29 Ops' and later transferring to 620 Squadron Transport Command in Palestine.
Our guests are happy to sign items for customers and entry is FREE but STRICTLY by ticket only. Bookings are now being taken and we look forward to welcoming new collectors to the Gallery as well as old friends.
We’ll also have on display a huge selection of original artwork and secondary market pieces so would like to invite you to come and meet some amazing veterans in a relaxed and informal setting whilst enjoying some festive cheer, a mince pie and a glass of mulled wine.
Bookings are now being taken and we expect spaces to fill up fast - RESERVE YOUR FREE TICKETS TODAY!
