Over ten years in the making, we believe this to be only the second and surely the last print depicting the aerial fighting of the Battle of France signed by pilots who were actually there.

This historic print release has the signatures of up to FIVE HURRICANE PILOTS AND ONE DEFIANT PILOT who fought in the skies over northern France as the British Expeditionary Force withdrew exhausted to the beaches of Dunkirk to be evacuated back to England.

The 19th of May 1940 was a day of hectic aerial fighting as the greatly outnumbered fighters of the R.A.F. battled to keep the Luftwaffe away from the retreating British Army. By the close of the day, courageous Hurricane pilots had claimed close to 100 enemy aircraft. In ‘THE ROAD TO DUNKIRK’, Nicolas Trudgian’s brilliantly evocative portrayal of war-torn French countryside in early summer 1940, Flying Officer Max Aitken, flying his Hurricane of 601 Squadron, attacks Ju87 Stukas of StG2 as they attempt to strafe and bomb a British Army column retreating from the Panzer spearheads near Arras.

Look out for the wonderful pencil companion prints that accompany ‘The Road To Dunkirk’ editions:

'AFTER THE LITTLE SHIPS HAD GONE' portrays the beach at Dunkirk in June 1940, strewn with wreckage left behind by the Allied troops rescued by the ‘little ships’. Overall companion print size 16½" x 11½".

'OPERATION DYNAMO' signed by the Artist and Defiant pilot Wing Commander Eric Barwell DFC*, portrays Defiants of No.264 Squadron over Dunkirk during the most successful day’s action of any R.A.F. squadron in history, 29th May 1940, recorded as “37 enemy destroyed for no loss”. Overall companion print size 16½" x 11½".

THE PILOTS:
Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC*

Joining the RAF in July 1936, he was posted to 1 Sqn. at Tangmere in May 1937. The squadron went to France in September 1939 where Drake had multiple victories before being shot down by Bf 110s on the 13th May. Bailing out wounded, he was hospitalised before being flown back to the UK, returning to operational duties with 213 Sqn. at Tangmere on the 2nd October. Three weeks later he was posted to 421 Flight as a Flight Commander, claiming several more victories. His final score was 19 victories.

Wing Commander Peter Ayerst DFC
Joining the RAF in 1938, he was sent as part of the advance air striking force to France at the beginning of September 1939. With several victories in the Battle of France he was also the first pilot to engage a BF109 in combat. Upon the fall of France he was recalled to England where he became an instructor. In 1942 he was posted to North Africa, returning to the UK in 1944 and taking part in the D-Day operations.

Flight Lieutenant Peter Hairs MBE

Hairs joined the RAF VR in October 1937. He converted to Hurricanes and was posted to 501 Sqn on 24th January 1940. He went with the Squadron to France on the 10th May and on the 15th he shared in the destruction of a DO17. On returning to the UK he fought with distinction throughout the Battle of Britain and destroyed a Bf 109 on September 5th. He was posted to 15 FTS on the 13th October 1940.

Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM

Joining the RAF VR in April 1938, Farnes converted to Hurricanes and on the 14th September 1939 he joined 501 Sqn. which flew to France on the 10th May 1940 where Farnes achieved several victories. Upon withdrawal from France, the Squadron moved to Gravesend on the 26th July. During the next three months Farnes fought with distinction in the Battle of Britain, scoring more victories. He was awarded the DFM on the 22nd October 1940. In November 1940 he was posted to 57 OTU. His final tally was 8 victories with many damaged.

Wing Commander Jack Rose GMC MBE DFC

Rose joined the RAF in October 1938. Converting to Hurricanes he joined 3 Sqn. at Biggin Hill. The Squadron was then posted to France where it was attached to 63 Wing, seeing action for 10 days in May 1940 when Rose destroyed 3 enemy aircraft. The Squadron was withdrawn from France and returned to the UK. Rose was posted to 232 Sqn. then 32 Sqn. on the 22nd August. On the 25th he was shot down over the Channel by Bf 109s, bailed out and was rescued from the sea.

Wing Commander Eric Barwell DFC* (Remarque and Artist Proof Edition only)
Joining the RAF VR in July 1938, Barwell was transferred to 264 Squadron, converting to Defiants in late December 1940. In May 1940 he had been heavily engaged in action over Dunkirk with several victories, until on the 31st his aircraft was damaged and ditched in the sea. During the Battle of Britain he continued to fly with 264 Sqn. and in 1942 the squadron converted to Beaufighters in which Barwell spent the rest of the war flying operationally.

ARTIST'S SPECIAL RESERVE EDITION
Limited to 90 worldwide
Signed by the Artist


HURRICANE EDITION
Limited to 130 worldwide
Signed by the Artist and
Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC
Wing Commander Peter Ayerst DFC
Wing Commander Peter Hairs MBE
Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM
Wing Commander Jack Rose CMG DFC MBE

PLUS matching numbered pencil print ‘After the Little Ships Had Gone‘, signed by the Artist.


HURRICANE REMARQUE EDITION
Limited to 40 worldwide
Each print has a unique original pencil drawing inscribed on it by the Artist and is signed by the Artist and
Group Captain Billy Drake DSO DFC
Wing Commander Peter Ayerst DFC
Wing Commander Peter Hairs MBE
Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM
Wing Commander Jack Rose CMG DFC MBE

PLUS two matching numbered pencil prints: ‘After the Little Ships Had Gone‘ signed by the Artist, and ‘Operation Dynamo’ signed by the Artist and Wing Commander Eric Barwell DFC*.

Drawing size approx. 6" x 2" and can be drawn to your own specifications. When placing your order please specify your drawing requirements or whether you would like Nicolas to design it for you. As this is a bespoke order please allow up to 4 weeks before shipping.