By the spring of 1945, Germany's once all-conquering submarine fleet, driven by allied forces from its bases in western France, had fled to the relative safety of the Norwegian fjords - territory still remaining under German occupation since 1940. In one of Hitler's last stands, more than 100 U-boats, merchant freighters, flakships, and other military vessels were gathered in the narrow fjords, laying up by day and sailing under the cover of darkness. They were a manace that had to be dealt with.

Tasked with the difficult job of eliminating this force were the Beaufighters and Mosquitos of RAF Coastal Command's Strike Wings based in Scotland. Piloting the twin engine Beaufighter through the narrow fjords, hugging the cliff face at close to 300 mph and, with every enemy gun that could be brought to bear throwing up a wall of lead, these frightening shipping strikes were not for the faint hearted.

Robert Taylor's gripping new painting conveys the awesome task faced by the Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand aircrews, as Beaufighters of 455 Squadron RAAF from the Dallachy Strike Wing skim the rugged rock face, exiting the target after a successful rocket attack on shipping deep in a Norwegian fjord. It is the spring of 1945. Throughout the last weeks of World War II the aircrews of 455 Squadron continued to pound the elusive enemy with inordinate courage and determination, upholding their squadron motto -Strike and Strike Again. A compelling image by the master artist.

THE RAF AIRCREW EDITION
Every print in this new commemotative edition has been signed in pencil by THREE distinguished Beaufighter pilots who flew combat in the Strike Wings. Each print is also signed by artist Rober Taylor and individually hand numbered from 1 - 450.

Flying Officer HAROLD CORBIN CGM
Harold Corbin joined the RAF in November 1940 and was sent to the United States to train as a pilot. On completion he returned to England as a Sergeant and after several positions was posted to 235 Squadron at RAF Portreath flying operations on Beaufighters. He completed many missions attacking various ports and enemy shipping on th French coast and in the Bay of Bicscay. In 1944 he converted onto Mosquitos and joined 248 Squadron at RAF Banff. The Banff Strike Wing was to become immortalized for undertaking some of the most dangerous and concentrated attacks on German Surface vessels and U-Boats in the North Sea and Norwegian coastline. He was awarded the CGM in August 1944 and was given a full commission in December 1944

Warrant Officer LES DOUGHTYY DFM
Joining the RAF in 1939 as a driver, Les Doughty was posted overseas to serve in Iraq. In 1941 he applied for, and was accepted, to be a pilot and went on to train in Rhodesia. In 1943 his first operational posting was to 248 Squadron flying Beaufighters from RAF Predannack, providing fighter escorts and coastal patrols, with combat strikes mostly against enemy shipping. He moved with 248 Squadron to RAF Portreath and converted to Mosquitos. In early 1944 whilst out on a strike mission, he attacked submarine U-155 whilst under heavy fire as it was entering the French harbor of Lorient. The submarine was put out of action for the duration of the was , and Les was awarded an immediate DFM.

Flight Lieutenant HERBERT 'BERT' GRAHAM
'Bert' Graham joined the RAF in 1941 and was immediately posted to a pilot training station in Torquay, Devon. After passing his final exams he then went on to fly Tiger Moths, before being posted to RAF Brize Norton flying Oxfords. in 1942 'Bert' transferred to start flying with 143 Squadron on Blenheims, but quickly moved onto the Beaufighters with the North Coast Strike Wing. For his second tour 'Bert' was posted to Scotland flying Mosquitos, where, before the end of the war, he completed many port and shipping strikes over Norway and occupied Europe.