THEY LANDED BY MOONLIGHT - Framed Collectors Piece

To fly a small aircraft at the dead of night, without radio communication or navigational assistance, deep into enemy occupied territory, was an extremely perilous task. Yet throughout WWII the prime function of the pilots of the RAF’s Special Duties squadrons was to fly time and again into occupied France, in utmost secrecy, under the cover of darkness. It was acutely dangerous work requiring inordinate flying and navigational skills, and supreme courage.

Weather permitting, these clandestine operations were carried out during the moon’s fullest phase. With only torch light to guide him, the pilot made a hazardous landing into an isolated field at a pre-arranged time, trusting that agents on the ground had checked the field for cart tracts and loitering Gestapo. Every mission required ice cool bravery and nerves of steel. 

Robert's memorable piece, packed with tension, recreates the drama of a typical rendezvous as a pilot from 161 Sqn based at Tangmere, readies his rugged Westland Lysander for take-off in a remote field deep inside occupied France. Clutching a Luger in one hand, he completes pre-take-off checks as three passengers are spirited away by an armed member of the French resistance. 

Issued with the matching-numbered companion print SPECIAL DUTIES - a compelling study of the ubiquitous Lysander heading for a secret rendezvous in occupied France, November 1943.

Framed to full conservation standards, this unique pair are signed by four highly decorated Special Duties pilots AND one of the most famous secret agents of WWII. To make it even more special, our expert team have included a photo and the RARE original autograph of a further famous Special Operations Executive. 

The full list of signatures reads: