The prints are countersigned by:-
- Flt/Lt H.W. Catlin BA, DFC, 51Sqdn, RAF
(At 04:00 on June 6th 1944 Flt/Lt Catlin was navigator on Halifax 'Q' - Queeny'
bombing the German coastal defences at Mon Fleurier)
- Trooper Joe Ekins 1st Regt. Northamptonshire Yeomanry
(Trooper Joe Ekins landed on Gold beach, Normandy on D-Day +6)
- Sgt. Les Fiander 1st Regt. Northamptonshire Yeomanry
(Sergeant Les Fiander landed on Gold beach, Normandy on D-Day +6)
- CPO Joe Pearson USN (Ret)
(On June 6th 1944 Chief Petty Officer Joe Pearson was aboard LST-306 landing
tanks, troops and equipment on Omaha beach, Normandy)
- AB. Reg Taylor HMS Warspite, Royal Navy
(On June 6th 1944 Able Seaman Reg Taylor was a gunner on HMS Warspite
supporting the D-Day landings)
Click here to view more details on the careers & biographies of the above.
During the early part June 1944 the battleship USS Nevada is shown off the Normandy
beachhead. Flying overhead is a damaged B17 'Flying Fortress' of the 303rd Bomb
Group out of RAF Molesworth. The B17 is being escorted home by an RAF 'Spitfire'.
Though severely damaged, by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, the Nevada was rebuilt
and served at Normandy before deploying to the Pacific campaign.
Although there is some 'artistic license' in the painting the 303rd did take part in the
invasion by bombing German troop concentrations inland from the beaches. The
painting was produced in honour of all the men and women who took part in the
invasion and eventual liberation of Europe.
- Flt/Lt H.W. Catlin BA, DFC, 51Sqdn, RAF
(At 04:00 on June 6th 1944 Flt/Lt Catlin was navigator on Halifax 'Q' - Queeny'
bombing the German coastal defences at Mon Fleurier)
- Trooper Joe Ekins 1st Regt. Northamptonshire Yeomanry
(Trooper Joe Ekins landed on Gold beach, Normandy on D-Day +6)
- Sgt. Les Fiander 1st Regt. Northamptonshire Yeomanry
(Sergeant Les Fiander landed on Gold beach, Normandy on D-Day +6)
- CPO Joe Pearson USN (Ret)
(On June 6th 1944 Chief Petty Officer Joe Pearson was aboard LST-306 landing
tanks, troops and equipment on Omaha beach, Normandy)
- AB. Reg Taylor HMS Warspite, Royal Navy
(On June 6th 1944 Able Seaman Reg Taylor was a gunner on HMS Warspite
supporting the D-Day landings)
Click here to view more details on the careers & biographies of the above.
During the early part June 1944 the battleship USS Nevada is shown off the Normandy
beachhead. Flying overhead is a damaged B17 'Flying Fortress' of the 303rd Bomb
Group out of RAF Molesworth. The B17 is being escorted home by an RAF 'Spitfire'.
Though severely damaged, by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, the Nevada was rebuilt
and served at Normandy before deploying to the Pacific campaign.
Although there is some 'artistic license' in the painting the 303rd did take part in the
invasion by bombing German troop concentrations inland from the beaches. The
painting was produced in honour of all the men and women who took part in the
invasion and eventual liberation of Europe.