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- Vendor: Military Aviation Art Prints
They Landed by Moonlight by Robert Taylor.
To fly a small aircraft at the dead of night, without radio communication or navigational assistance, deep into enemy-occupied territory, was an extremely perilous task. To then land on an unlit remote field, deliver secret agents, collect Resistance leaders, or downed airmen and fly them home without attracting the attentions of enemy night fighters, was appallingly risky work. Yet throughout World War II the prime function of the pilots of the RAFs Special Duties Squadrons was to fly time and again into occupied France, in utmost secrecy, under the cover of darkness. It was acutely dangerous work requiring inordinate flying and navigational skills, and supreme courage. Most suited to these clandestine operations was the rugged Westland Lysander, operations being conducted, weather permitting, during the moons fullest phase. Guided only by torch light, the pilot made a hazardous night landing into an isolated field at a pre-arranged time, trusting that agents on the ground had checked the field for cart tracks and loitering Gestapo. Every mission required ice cool bravery and nerves of steel.
Signed by Captain Murray Anderson DFC*,
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Cammaerts DSO (deceased),
Air Chief Marshal Sir Lewis Hodges KCB CBE DSO DFC* (deceased),
Wing Commander Len Ratcliff DSO DFC
and
Group Captain Hugh Verity DSO* DFC (deceased).
Signed limited edition of 750 prints.
Paper size 31 inches x 24 inches (79cm x 61cm)
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They Landed by Moonlight by Robert Taylor.