Climb to Attack and Air Combat Paintings Volume VII by Robert Taylor

To coincide with the publication of Robert Taylor's Air Combat Paintings Volume VII, a very limited number of RAF & Commonwealth cover special edition books have been set aside to be issued with a matching-numbered copy of the print Climb to Attack.

Completed by Robert in 2023 he expertly shows Hawker Hurricanes from 501 Squadron as they re-form and climb hard to re-engage the enemy at the height of the Battle of Britain, summer 1940. Just moments earlier they have made a successful pass diving through a formation of Luftwaffe bombers heading up the Thames Estuary.

Every print is personally signed by Robert and embossed with the logo of The Robert Taylor Trust, a body established to preserve Robert's legacy and safeguard the future copyright of his work in years to come.

Signatures (including the bookplates) are only on the Veteran's Edition, Artist's Proof & Remarque Editions (The 50 "Limited Editions" are signed by Robert Taylor only.)

Mounted With Print:

Group Captain PETER TOWNSEND CVO DSO DFC* - Hurricane pilot with 85 Squadron during the battle and finished the war with 11 victories

Squadron Leader TONY PICKERING AFC - Flew Hurricanes with 32 & 501 Squadrons during the battle, scoring 1 victory

Signed Bookplate: Displayed in a luxury presentation case, each matching-numbered USAAF copy of Air Combat Paintings, Volume VII contains an astonishing bookplate which has been personally signed by Robert along with at least eleven of the following legends of air combat during World War Two:

Colonel DON BLAKESLEE DSC SS LoM DFC AM - Fighter pilot with the RCAF, RAF and USAAF, he ended the war with 15.5 victories having flown more missions against the Luftwaffe than any other American pilot

Air Commodore ALAN DEERE DSO OBE DFC* - Spitfire pilot credited with 17 victories ranking him the second highest-scoring New Zealand fighter Ace of the Second World War

Generalleutnant ADOLF GALLAND Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds - Luftwaffe fighter Ace credited with 104 aerial victories who later became the youngest General in the entire German armed forces

Oberst ERICH HARTMANN Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords & Diamonds - Luftwaffe pilot and the highest-scoring fighter Ace in the history or aerial warfare with 352 victories

Warrant Officer NORMAN JACKSON VC - Flight Engineer on RAF Lancasters with 106 Squadron and recipient of the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest award for Gallantry

Air Vice-Marshal JOHNNIE JOHNSON CB CBE DSO** DFC* - With 38 victories he was the highest-scoring Spitfire Ace of the war and the most prolific RAF pilot against the Luftwaffe

General LEON JOHNSON MoH AFDSM SS LoM DFC AM - Bomber pilot on B-24 Consolidated Liberators in the USAAF, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading the attack on the Ploesti oil fields

Wing Commander DON KINGABY DSO AFC DFM** - RAF Spitfire Ace with 21 aerial victories and the only pilot to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal three times

Colonel BOB MORGAN DFC AM - Captain in the 91st BG, USAAF, piloting the famous B-17 Flying Fortress 'Memphis Belle'

Generalleutnant GÜNTHER RALL Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves & Swords - Luftwaffe fighter pilot credited with 275 aerial victories ranking him the third most successful Ace in aviation history

Flight Lieutenant BILL REID VC - RAF Lancaster pilot with 61 & 617 Squadrons, he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration in the British decorations system

Colonel HUB ZEMKE DSC SS DFC PH AM - One of the leading USAAF pilots and subsequent fighter leaders in the European Theatre who was credited with 19.5 aerial victories