Strike and Strike Again by Robert Taylor (B)

By the spring of 1945, Germanys once all-conquering submarine fleet, driven by allied forces from its bases in estern France, had fled to the relative safety of the Norwegian fjords - territory still remaining under German occupation since 1940. In one of Hitlers last stands, more than 100 U-Boats, merchant freighters, flakships, and other military vessels were hathered in the narrow fjords, laying up by day and sailing undercover of darkness. They were a menace that had to be dealt with. Tasked with the difficult job of eliminating this force were the Beaufighters and Mosquitos of RAF Coastal Commands Strike Wings based in Scotland. - Our job was to go after this shipping and sink it - recalled Wing Commader Colin Milson, C.O. of No. 455s Beaufighters. - The fjords were often just 200 - 300 yards across with cliffs rising vertically up 2000 feet, the deep water allowing the German shipping to get in beneath these high overhanging cliffs. This made for difficult and dangerous flying, exacerbated by the heavy flak and machine gun fire that always welcomed us.

Signed by Flying Officer Harold Corbin CGM,
Warrant Officer Les Doughty DFM,
Flight Lieutenant Herbert Bert Graham,
Flight Lieutenant Ray Harington,
Flight Lieutenant Des Curtis DFC,
Flying Officer Maurice Webb DFM
and
Warrant Officer Bill Parfitt.

RAF Victory in Europe. Signed Limited Edition of 400 prints.

Image size 28 inches x 16 inches (72cm x 41cm)