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When, at the height of the Battle of Britain, Luftwaffe Supremo Hermann Goering made a decision to blitz London and other major cities, his tactical blunder would ultimately change the course of the war. His flawed judgement to shift the Luftwaffe's attacks away from RAF airfields and radar stations was a ruthless attempt to break the morale of the civilian population, and force Britain to its knees. Devastating as the long night raids were, his brutal plan failed, and with RAF fighters gradually winning control of the skies over southern England, Hitler's preparations to invade England were cancelled.
The Blitz opened with a force of nearly 350 German bombers, escorted by 600 fighters, unloading their mix of incendiary and high explosive bombs into the heart of the city, with wave after wave following through that first September night. The horrifying air raids continued relentlessly throughout the bleak winter into 1941, the chilling sound of air raid sirens a nightly occurrence. And as the bombs rained down on London, Coventry, and other cities, the night sky over southern England was aglow with the flames of destruction. The bombardment continued without respite for nearly eight months and by the last night of the Blitz in May 1941, over 43,000 people had lost their lives, tens of thousands injured, and a million houses destroyed; but the spirit of the British people never wavered.
Robert Taylor's evocative painting brings to life the frightening scenario of the Luftwaffe's night bombing campaign during the Blitz. It is December 1941, and London is once again under concentrated attack. With fires raging below, the armada of German bombers is clearly visible in the night sky as they sweep across the city. Shimmering in the glow of destruction, a lone Hurricane night-fighter from 85 Squadron, based at nearby Gravesend, engages Heinkel Ills of KG 55 in a desperate attempt to break up the formations. This important painting - by the world's premier aviation artist - portrays one of the most critical periods in Britain's long history. Beautifully reproduced Limited Edition prints, signed by four decorated Luftwaffe aircrew who flew Heinkels over England during the Blitz, and an RAF Hurricane night-fighter pilot, will become a valuable addition to the portfolios of serious collectors of aviation art.
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