MORAL SUPPORT

Published in 1985, this moving piece has become one of the most recognisable aviation art prints published. With outstanding clarity, the simple composition instantly conveys the ‘moral support’ given by an extraordinary leader and commanding officer to one of his men who is in trouble. That leader was the highly decorated and much respected Group Captain Peter Townsend CVO DSO DFC who commanded 85 Squadron during the Battle of Britain.

In August 1940, just as the battle was reaching its height, he spotted one of his Hurricane pilots, Flying Officer Marshall, in a serious predicament. After suffering a mid-air collision with a Heinkel 111 during an intense air-to-air engagement over Kent, Marshall had lost a good part of his tail and port wing and was struggling to stay airborne. He was a sitting duck for any preying Bf109 but his CO came to the rescue.

Providing protection and encouragement, Peter Townsend stayed with the young Flying Officer and escorted him all the way back to their base at Debden. It’s a moving story to go with a beautiful print that’s signed by the legendary Peter Townsend.