WW2 AVRO LANCASTER Ltd Ed Print SIGNED PILOT BILL REID VC ARTIST SIMON SMITH

Description: THE SHINING SWORD by Simon SmithTHE AWARD OF THE VICTORIA CROSSOn the night of November 3 Flight Lieutenant Reid was pilot and captain of a Lancaster aircraftdetailed to attack Dusseldorf. Shortly after crossing the Dutch coast the pilot’s windscreen shattered by fire from a Messerschmitt 110. Owing to a failure in the heating circuit, the rear gunnhands were too cold for him to open fire immediately or to operate his microphone and so give warninof danger; but after a brief delay he managed to return the Messerschmitt’s fire and it was driven off. During the fight with the Messerschmitt F/L Reid was wounded in the head, shoulder and hands. Theelevator trimming tabs of the aircraft were damaged and it became difficult to control. The rear turret, too, was badly damaged and the communication system and compasses were put out of action. F/Reid ascertained that his crew were unscathed and, saying nothing about his own injuries, he continued his mission. Soon afterwards the Lancaster was attacked by a Focke-Wulf 190. This time the enemy's fire raked the bomber from stem to stern. The rear gunner replied with his only serviceable gun, but the state of his turret made accurate aiming impossible. The navigator was killed and the wireless operator was fatally injured. The mid-upper turret was hit and the oxygen system put out of action. FIL Reid was again wounded and the Flight Engineer, though hit in the forearm, supplied him with oxygen from aportable supply. F/L Reid refused to be turned from his objective and Dussedorf was reached some 50 minutes ator.He had memorised his course to the target and had continued in such a normal manner that thebomb-aimer, who was cut off by the failure of the communications system, knew nothing of his captain’s injuries or of the casualties to his comrades. Photographs show that, when the bombs were released, the aircraft was right over the centre of the target. Steering by the Pole Star and the Moon, F/L Reid then set course for home. He was growing weakfrom loss of blood. The emergency supply of oxygen had given out. With the windscreen shattered thecold was intense. He lapsed into semi-consciousness. The Flight Engineer, with some help from the bomb-aimer, kept the Lancaster in the air in spite of heavy anti-aircraft fire over the Dutch coast. The North Sea crossing was accomplished and an airfield sighted. The captain revived, resumed control and made ready to land. Ground mist partially obscured the runway lights. The captain was also much bothered by blood from his head wound getting into his eyes. But he made a safe landing although one leg of the damaged under-carriage collapsed when the load came on. Wounded in two attacks, without oxygen, suffering severely from cold, his navigator dead, his wirelessoperator fatally wounded, his aircraft crippled and defenceless, F/L Reid showed superb courage andleadership in penetrating a further 200 miles into enemy territory to attack one of the most strongly defended targets in Germany, every additional mile increasing the hazards of the long and perilous journey home. His tenacity and devotion to duty were beyond praise. The Shining Sword is limited to an edition of only 500 copies, each numbered and signed in person by flt lt Bill Reid VC and artist Simon Smith. Certificate of Authenticity included with description of the award of the VC and Pilot photo. The printed image size measures 21x13 inches ,on 300gsm paper. PRICE £65 THE AWARD OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

Price: 65 GBP

Location: BORDON

End Time: 2025-01-16T15:59:48.000Z

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