Its autumn 1941 and a Spitfire type G ( PR Mk 1 ) is descending through low level cloud just after dawn to conduct a high speed low level photo reconnaissance pass over the French coast.

X4784 is a 140 Squadron Spitfire based at Benson in Oxfordshire, the rare colour is Mountbatten Pink and was selected for low level missions at dawn and dusk to disguise the Spitfire as best as possible against the background light at those times of day. These were high risk missions, known as “dicing”, given the likelihood of engagement by anti-aircraft gunfire close to German installations, assets and airfields.

X4784 was lost on April 24th 1942 during a PR mission in the Calais - Boulogne area and its pilot, Charles Bertram Barber, was killed. The wreckage was discovered in 1986 close to the river Brede near Rye, Sussex.

Original oil on canvas, 76cm x 61cm, signed by the artist.

£ 1,500.00

There are no print options available yet. Contact the artist if you’d like to discuss print availability.