'Heading Home - Less One Engine'-1944

102 Squadron 'Pathfinders' 

Unusual rear perspective of the "tail gun Charlie" turret of a Lancaster bomber, after the outside starboard engine hit by heavy flak en route to a raid on the V2 rocket construction site in Northern Germany.

The pilot pressed the bomber on, dropped the bomb load and then limped back across the English Channel, where it was escorted by two Spitfires to Ford airfield near Arundel and a crash landing. Thankfully, on this occasion, there were no serious injuries to the crew on board.

In memory of my father Douglas 'Buddy' Cunningham who served as a rear gunner in RAF Bomber Command 1941-1944. 

Oil On Canvas 2019   (100 x 100 cm, excluding frame)