The Final Show
By Robert Taylor

In May 1944 Wing Commander Roland ‘Bee’ Beamont led three squadrons of Hawker Tempests into operations for the first time. Flying from RAF Newchurch in Kent, one of the advanced landing grounds constructed in preparation for the invasion of France, they formed 150 Wing RAF.

The far-sighted Beamont had almost single - handily overseen the transformation of the Hawker Typhoon into the most potent ground attack aircraft of its day before turning his attention to its successor - the Tempest. With thinner wings, greater range, improved ailerons, a redesigned windscreen and all-round ‘rear vision’ canopy it was a significant improvement on the Typhoon.

Through the last year of the war the unwavering pilots who flew these two mighty aircraft became the scourge of the German Army, blasting their way through armoured formations, destroying airfields, shipping, barges, bridges, trains, marshalling yards, rail hubs, anything to support the advancing British and Canadian armies as they battled their way through Belgium and the Netherlands towards the Rhine. And, as an increasingly desperate enemy fought back with V-1 ‘Doodlebug’ flying bombs, the Typhoon and Tempest pilots destroyed those too - 150 Wing alone accounting for 638 V-1s destroyed.

As the remnants of Hitler’s once-fabled army collapsed under the onslaught, many high-ranking Nazis were faced with a choice - go down fighting or cut and run. Many chose to run, heading north to the Baltic coast with one aim in mind - a last-chance passage to neutral Sweden. The Tempest pilots of 150 Wing, graphically portrayed in Robert Taylor’s painting, were amongst those tasked with stopping their escape.

Once again the world’s most collected aviation artist has produced an astounding work that is set to become the defining image of the Hawker Tempest. Some of the greatest pilots of the RAF flew this iconic aircraft and Robert has depicted the final combat of the war for one such pilot - the legendary fighter Ace Pierre Clostermann.

A Flight Commander with 3 Squadron, Clostermann is at the controls of his distinctive Tempest ‘Le Grand Charles’ during a strafing raid against the heavily-defended seaplane base at Grossenbrode, on the coast to the north of Lübeck. Having just destroyed two
Dornier Do18 flying boats on the water, he now helps finish off a Bf109 and a Fw190 that have tried to pounce from above.

Overall Size: 24½" x 34"

AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING EDITIONS:

• Limited Edition: Joining artist Robert Taylor, every print has been personally autographed by two WWII Hawker Tempest Pilots - 200 prints ($325)
• Victory in Europe Edition: Joining artist Robert Taylor, every print has been personally autographed by two (2) WWII Hawker Tempest Pilots PLUS four (4) Typhoon pilots - 150 prints ($395)
• Artist Proof: As above - 25 prints ($550)
• Remarque: As above - 15 prints ($1,145)
• Double Remarque: As above - 10 prints ($1,995)
• Tribute Edition: With ten (10) Tempest and Typhoon pilot signatures and matted original drawing - 10 prints ($3,625)

THE LIMITED EDITION

• Flying Officer RON POTTINGER
• Flight Lieutenant JOHN THORBURN

THE VICTORY IN EUROPE EDITION

• Flying Officer RON POTTINGER
• Flight Lieutenant JOHN THORBURN
• Flight Lieutenant Fr. GEORGE WOOD
• Flight Lieutenant DEREK LOVELL
• Warrant Officer TOM CARTER
• Warrant Officer NORMAN SAMUELS

THE TRIBUTE EDITION

Includes the accompanying print below, all of the "Victory in Europe" Edition signatures PLUS...

• Group Captain TOM DALTON-MORGAN DSO DFC* OBE - Tempest pilot on D-Day as Operations Officer for the 2nd Tactical Air Force. He finished the war as one of the RAF’s most respected leaders with at least 17 victories.
• Group Captain BILLY DRAKE DSO DFC* - Commanded 20 Wing, part of the 2nd Tactical Air Force on Typhoons. One of the foremost. Allied Aces of WWII he finished the war officially credited with 24 ½ victories.
• Wing Commander PIERRE CLOSTERMANN Ld’H CDG DSO DFC* - Famous French flying Ace depicted in Robert’s superb painting THE FINAL SHOW. He flew Spitfires and Tempests and finished the war having flow 432 sorties, scoring 19 aerial victories plus countless armoured vehicles, trains and boats.
• Wing Commander ROLAND ‘BEE’ BEAMONT CBE DSO* DFC* - Influential in the development of the Typhoon and Tempest, he flew both until being shot down in late 1944 and spent time as a PoW. He was an Ace with 6 aerial victories and the first V-1 ‘Ace’.Plt Off NORMAN "SNEEZY" BROWN - Pilot on Spitfires with 610 Sqn.