A DSO for Cheshire by Ivan Berryman. [Print]

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

Artist: Ivan Berryman [browse all Ivan Berryman]

The prints (Ltd ed of 30) and artist proofs (Ltd ed of 20) are signed by:

 Brown, Eric Winkle (Died 21st February 2006) [bio and other signed products]

+ Artist

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.