A DSO for Cheshire by Ivan Berryman [Original Painting]

Aircraft Depicted: Armstrong Whitworth Whitley [other products featuring this aircraft]

Artist: Ivan Berryman [browse all Ivan Berryman]

On the night of 12th/13th November 1940, Whitley V P5005 found itself slightly off course above the primary target due to problems with the intercom. Changing instead to a secondary target, some railway marshalling yards near Cologne, Pilot Officer Leonard Cheshire suddenly felt his aircraft rocked by a series of violent explosions that caused a severe fire to break out in the fuselage, filling the cockpit with acrid black smoke. As DY-N plunged some 2,000 feet, Cheshire managed to regain control and the fire was eventually extinguished. For bringing his aircraft safely home to 102 Squadron's base after being airborne for eight and half hours, Cheshire was awarded a DSO.

Acrylic

Size 13 inches x 9 inches (33cm x 23cm)