No Turning Back

No Turning Back
by
Robert Taylor
On the night of November 3rd, 1943 Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid took his No.61 Squadron Lancaster off to join a force detailed to attack Dusseldorf, deep in the heart of Germany. Right after crossing the coast of Holland they were attacked by an Me110 night fighter, its gunfire shattering the Lancaster's windscreen and damaging the elevator, making the aircraft difficult to handle. Though wounded in the head, shoulders and hands, after ascertaining his crew were unscathed, mentioning nothing of his injuries, Bill Reid continued towards the target, still over an hour ahead of him.
Closer to the target his Lancaster was again attacked, this time by a Focke Wulf 190 which raked the bomber from stem to stern. His navigator was killed, his wireless operator fatally injured, and Bill was again wounded in the attack. Though communications within the aircraft were severed, heating had failed, and only the rear turret remained operative, Bill Reid flew his bucking Lancaster steadily of towards Dusseldorf. Having memorized his course he brought the bomber right over the target with such accuracy the bomb-aimer knew nothing of his captain's injuries or casualties to his comrades. Photographs confirmed the bombs were released right on target.
Growing weak from loss of blood and lapsing into periods of unconsciousness, with the aid of the flight engineer and bomb-aimer, Bill steered the Lancaster towards home navigating by the pole star and moon. Despite the intense cold, they survived a barrage of AA gunfire as they passed over the Dutch coast. As they approached England the captain was revived, took control, and landed safely even though the runway lights were partially obscured by mist, one leg of the damaged undercarriage collapsing as the weight came on. For his tenacity and devotion to duty Dill Reid was decorated with Britain's highest award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross.
Robert Taylor's dramatic reconstruction shows a split-second during Bill Reid's epic flight as the Fw190 flashes past the port side of the mighty Lancaster. His aircraft now crippled and almost defenseless, illuminated by search lights and fires from below, thunders on through the hostile night sky over Germany. As a reminder of the heroics of, and a tribute to all the RAF Bomber crews who flew the torturous night raids against Germany during World War II, a group of distinguished RAF World War II bomber crews have joined Bill Reid VC in signing this superb collector edition.

Print Size: 31 3/4" x 23 3/4" Image size: 25" x 16"
Aircrew Edition: 600 S/N prints, 25 Artists Proofs and 25 Remarques
Bomber Command Edition 200 S/N, 65 Publisher's Proofs and 25 PP Remarques VC Portfolios

No Turning Back The Aircrew Edition With Four Signatures
Flight Lieutenant Bill Reid VC	Volunteering for RAF aircrew in 1940, Bill Reid learned to fly in California, training on the Stearman, Vultee and Harvard. After gaining his pilots wings back in England he flew Wellingtons before moving on to Lancasters in 1943. On the night of 3 Nov. 1943, his Lancaster suffered two severe attacks from Luftwaffe night fighters, badly wounding Reid, killing his navigator and radio operator, and severely damaging the aircraft. Bill flew on 200 miles to accurately bomb the target and get his aircraft home. For this act of outstanding courage and determination he was awarded the Victoria Cross. After recovering from his injuries he flew Lancasters with the famous 617 Sqn., taking part in the D-Day operations. His flying career ended when his Lancaster was hit by a stick of bombs from another aircraft; only he and his radio operator survived. After parachuting he was taken prisoner by the Germans.
Air Commodore Wilf Burnett DSO, OBE, DFC, AFC	Canadian Wilf Burnett joined the RAF before the war and at the outbreak of hostilities was flying Hampdens. He completed his first tour of 30 operations in September 1940, flying with 49 Sqn. at Scampton. His crew had bombed invasion barges in the Channel ports, mined enemy waters, operated against the Ruhr, and taken part in the first raids against Berlin. In July 1941 he was posted to 408 (Goose) Sqn. RCAF, at Tempsford who were engaged in dropping agents and supplies to the Resistance in occupied countries flying Halifaxes, later Stirlings.
Air Marshal Sir Ivor Broom KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC**, AFC	Ivor Broom flew Bristol Blenheims with 114 Sqn. before being posted to the beleaguered island of Malt, still flying Blenheims, which were by now obsolete, in highly dangerous, low-level shipping strikes where squadron losses were high. In 1943 he become one of the very first Pathfinder Mosquito instructors before moving into the Late Night Striking Force with 571 Sqn. He later was tasked with forming 163 Sqn. Ivor Broom completed 103 bombing strike missions, including 22 separate attacks on Berlin. He also flew in the Ardennes offensive. Throughout his time on Mosquitoes his navigator was Tommy Broom (no relation), together the "Flying Brooms" were an inseparable combination.
Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC, AE	Tony Iveson's first tour of duty was with RAF Fighter Command, joining 616 Sqn. as a sergeant pilot at Kenley of 2 September 1940 during the Battle of Britain. Commissioned in 1942, Tony did his second tour with RAF Bomber Command, flying Lancasters with the famous 617 Sqn. where he was to become one of that squadron's most prominent and will-respected pilots. He took part in most of 617 Squadron's operations, including all three operations against the German battleship Tirpitz, and other high precision attacks.
S/N Price: $295.00 [Order] [Checkout] Artists Proof Price: $500.00 [Order] [Checkout] Remarques Price: $750.00 [Order] [Checkout]

No Turning Back The Bomber Command Edition With Twelve Signatures
Flight Sergeant Stan Bradford DFM	Lancaster air gunner Stan Bradford of 57 Squadron was an Ace, shooting down 6 enemy aircraft - the first, an Fw190, on his first operation.
Group Captain Dudley Burnside DFC*	Pilot Dudley Burnside flew Halifaxes with 427 (Lion) Squadron RCAF and later served with 195 Squadron flying Lancasters.
Squadron Leader Lawrence Curtis DFC*	Wireless Operator Lawrence Curtis served with 149, 99 and 158 Squadrons before transferring to the Lancasters of 617 Squadron.
Group Captain William Farquharson DFC*	William Farquharson was a pilot with 115 Squadron and flew Lancasters with 195 Squadron.
Flight Lieutenant Robert Knights DSO, DFC	Pilot Bob Knights joined 619 Sqn. in 1943. Flying Lancasters, in Jan 1944 he was posted to join 617 Sqn. with Leonard Cheshire. He completed a total of 70 ops.
Flight Lieutenant Douglas Newham LVO, DFC	Douglas Newham was a navigator with 156 and 150 Squadrons before transferring to the Lancasters of 10 Squadron.
Flight Lieutenant Kenneth Wolstenholme DFC*	Den Wolstenholme was a pilot first with 107 Sqn. flying Blenheims before joining 8 Group Pathfinders flying Mosquitos. He completed 100 ops. After the war he became a famous sports broadcaster with the BBC.
Flight Lieutenant Dennis Woolley DFC, DFM	Pilot Dennis Woolley flew Lancasters, firstly with 106 Squadron and then later with 83 Squadron.
Crossing the Coast The companion print initialled by Robert Taylor An evocative moment captured in a superb oil sketch of a Lancaster from 44 Sqn. Crossing the English coast, following a raid on Germany. Overall print size: 17 1/2" x 12" The original canvas was signed by RAF Bomber Command's wartime Commander in Chief, Sir Arthur Harris, and this can be clearly seen on the print. Each of these companion prints is initialled in pencil by the artist Robert Taylor, and not available individually.
Bomber Command S/N Edition Price: $450.00 [Order] [Checkout]

No Turning Back The Bomber Command Edition Publisher's Proof With Thirteen Signatures
Just 65 copies of the Bomber command Edition are issued as exclusive Publishers proofs. This valuable collector package comprises a copy of No Turning Back signed by 12 Aircrew, Robert's superb Companion print Crossing the Coast, and a copy of Two minutes to target.	Two Minutes to Target Overall print size 20 1/4" x 16" A wonderfull signed pencil drawing showing Hampden bombers of 49 Squadron dodging the searchlights as they approach the target during one of the early raids of World War II Each pencil print is individually signed by the artist and highly decorated Hampden pilot Sir Lewis Hodges.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Lewis Hodges KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC	Lewis Hodges flew with 49 Sqn. from June 1940 until he was shot down over occupied France in Sept 1940 and taken prisoner by the Vichy French. He managed to escape and made his way back to England, rejoining 49 Sqn. He took part in the attacks against the German Channel Dash operation in Feb 1942. In Nov. of that year he joined 161 (Special Duties) Sqn, flying Halifaxes, Lysanders and Hudsons landing and parachuting agents into German occupied territory. He became Air Chief Marshal in 1970.
Bomber Command Publisher's Proof Price: $695.00 [Order] [Checkout]

No Turning Back The Bomber Command Edition Publisher's Proof Remarque Victoria Cross Portfolio With Fourteen Signatures
Over the Dortmund - EMS Canal Overall mat size 12" x 10" A dramatic rendition showing Roderick Learoyd's No. 49 Squadron Hampden bomber attacking a viaduct on the Dortmund - Ems Canal on the night of August 12, 1940. In the face of ferocious gunfire, with his aircraft repeatedly hit, he pressed home his attack to destroy the target. Rod Learoyd was awarded the Victoria Cross.	Just 25 copies of Robert Taylor's superlative artist initialled pencil drawing are mounted ready for framing with a replica miniature Victoria Cross medal, and Roderick Learoyd's original signature. This rare and valuable collector piece is supplied with a 12 signature remarque copy of No Turning Back, together with matching numbered copies of Companion print Crossing the Coast and Publisher's Proof Two Minutes to Target.
	Each remarqued print has a unique, different original pencil drawing by Robert Taylor similar to the drawing shown left
Wing Commander Roderick Learoyd VC	On the day that war was declared Rod Learoyd was on patrol flying Hampdens with 49 Sqn. Continually involved with low-level bombing, on the night of 12 August 1940, he and four other aircraft attempted to breach the heavily defended Dortmund - EMS Canal. For his supreme courage that night he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He later joined 44 Sqn. with the first Lancasters, and then commanded 83 Sqn.
Bomber Command Publisher's Proof Remarque VC Portfolios Price: Sold Out