Valiant Response by Robert Taylor

For six days the Luftwaffe attacks on RAF Fighter Command airfields and radar stations in southern England had reached epic proportions, culminating in the ‘Hardest Day’ of them all – Sunday 18 August 1940.

Robert Taylor has chosen to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain by choosing this crucial day for his new, much acclaimed, Hardest Days Trilogy. Valiant Response is the third and final edition in the series and he has skilfully portrayed the scene as the ‘hardest day’ reaches its climax in the late afternoon. The Spitfires of 54 Squadron, quickly scrambled from nearby Hornchurch, clash with an escort force of Me109s from 1./JG51 over Kent. Below, a formation of Me110s from KPRG210 are about to receive unwelcome attention as the rest of the Spitfires hurtle down upon them; one is already smoking. In the distance, a group of Hurricanes rip through a dense formation of Do17s from KG76 as they also try to struggle back towards France. What clouds there are will be unlikely to give much sanctuary and, for the onlookers on the ground far below, the skies will soon be filled with weaving trails of smoke and debris.

The Battle of Britain isn’t won yet, but the tide has begun to turn. Within a month it will effectively be over and the invasion of Britain postponed for ever. Goering, having failed in his much-vaunted boast to bring Britain to heel, will slink back to Berlin.

Prints of Valiant Response are signed by veterans who bravely flew and fought in those crucial days of the Battle of Britain. And, in this the 70th Anniversary year of one of the most pivotal battles ever fought, a fantastic opportunity to acquire one of Robert Taylor’s great aviation masterpieces.

Signatures:

Limited Edition

Flight Lieutenant RICHARD C. JONES

Squadron Leader DOUG NICHOLLS DFC

Flying Officer KEN WILKINSON

Anniversary Edition includes the three above plus:

Flight Lieutenant BENJAMIN BENT

Group Captain BYRON DUCKENFIELD AFC

Flight Lieutenant WILLIAM J. CORBIN DFC

Wing Commander JOHN ‘TIM’ ELKINGTON

Flight Lieutenant TREVOR GRAY

Squadron Leader KEITH LAWRENCE DFC

Flight Lieutenant ROBIN LUCAS

Oberleutnant GÜNTHER SEEGER

General JOHANNES STEINHOFF

Valiant Response Tribute Edition includes all above plus:

Flight Lieutenant MICHAEL CROSKELL

Warrant Officer DAVID DENCHFIELD

Squadron Leader JAMES ‘GINGER’ LACEY DFM* (matted)

Major HEINZ LANGE (matted)

Major FRITZ LOSIGKEIT (matted)

Hauptmann ERNST-WILHEM REINERT (matted)

Major GERHARD SCHÖPFEL (matted)

Generalleutnant HANNES TRAUTLOFT (matted)

Major HELMUT WICK (matted)