Nicolas Trudgian range of Dornier 17 aircraft aviation
signed art prints. These pages are dedicated to the artwork of aviation
artist Nicolas Trudgian, including the full range of aviation prints
published by the Military Gallery of which Cranston Fine Arts have purchased the
last remaining prints. These include many rare items. Many of Nicolas
Trudgian prints have been signed by many of the top fighter and bomber pilots
of World War Two over the past decade and many of these great pilots are no
longer with us. This could be the last chance to own a piece of history which
will soon be no longer available except on the more expensive secondary
market.
The Dornior 17 first saw action during the
Spanish Civil war (1936-39) where it was faster than the enemies fighters and
was nicknamed by the Spanish as Bacalaos which means Cod Fish. Full production
started in March 1937 with a varieties of variants including DO 17E and DO 17F
fir use as fast reconnaissance aircraft. During the opening months of World
war two the Dornior 17 along with the older He 111 was the main Bomber for the
Luftwaffe. with three of the Bomber groups operating Dornior 17's KG2, KG3 and
KG76. At the outbreak of the war a total of 533 Dornior was in frontline
service. Te aircraft did well during the Polish campaign. with a speed of 265
mph which was faster than the Polish defenders fighters. But during the Battle
fo Britian, when faced with the fast Royal Air Force fighters. the
Dornior with its light armament was no match. In1940 with the new
JU 88 being produced the Dornior was gradually replaced. and production
of the Do 17 ended in 1940
Holding the Line - The Battle of Britain by Nicolas Trudgian.
They came across the English Channel at wave top height, their propeller slipstreams leaving wakes on the surface of the water. Nine Dornier Do17Z bombers of 9th Staffel, KG76, detailed to attack the RAF airfield at Kenley as part of Reichsmarshal Gorings prelude to Operation Sealion - the invasion of Britain. Hitler knew that RAF Fighter Command had to be destroyed in the airand on the ground if his plans were to succeed, but the German High Command failed to take into account the resilience of the young Hurricane and Spitfire pilots, and their determination to hold this last vital line of defence. The Dorniers were spotted as they approached the English coast, and Hurricanes were scrambled to intercept. The German bombers cleared the North Downs with feet to spare and spread out into attack formation as they lined up on the hangars at Kenley. As they came in over the airfield Hurricanes of 111 Squadron came diving upon them. Suddenly all hell broke loose. Bombs rained down on.........
