Fast and Furious by Stan Stokes.

Thomas Sopwith was a distinguished British aviator who organized the Sopwith Aviation Company. Sopwith produced an aircraft which won the coveted Schneider Trophy race. With the start of WW I, Sopwith Aviation shifted its focus to military aircraft, and was to become one the major suppliers to both the Royal Air Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. In October of 1914 two Sopwith Tabloids flew a 200-mile round trip strike against the airship sheds at Dusseldorf and Cologne. The Sopwith Strutter firmly entrenched Sopwith as a producer of quality-built aircraft. The Strutter was a precursor of the Sopwith Pup, which would serve as the Royal Navys first carrier aircraft. The first production Pup was delivered to the Royal Navy in 1916. Most Pups were powered by a 80-HP Le Rhone radial engine, which gave the Pup a top speed of 115-MPH and an endurance of three hours. Many Navy Pups were modified to utilize a tripod mounted Lewis gun which could be fired forward or upwards through a cutout in the upper wing. Sopwith Pups were also utilized on battlecruisers. In fact, a Pup launched from the HMS Yarmouth downed the Zeppelin L.23 in August of 1917. The Royal Navys HMS Furious was the first dedicated aircraft carrier in the world. The Furious was initially laid down as a battlecruiser, but the design was modified during construction to include a flying deck forward of the main bridge. This configuration allowed aircraft to be launched as the Furious steamed into the wind. An attempt at recovery by having aircraft side slip on to the deck proved ineffective with one of the early attempts resulting in the death of the pilot, Squadron Commander E. H. Dunning, who had made the worlds first successful carrier landing on a ship underway only days earllier. The Royal Navy decided to further modify the Furious by adding a second deck aft of the bridge. The fore and aft decks were connected by a narrow ramp on either side of the funnel and bridge, and this permitted aircraft to be to moved between the two decks. Sets of longitudinal wires were set across the aft deck, and were designed to catch the skids of the Sopwith Pups during landings. Recovering aircraft was still tricky, and a rope barrier was erected aft of the mainmast to prevent aircraft which overshot from crashing into the superstructure of the ship. The first carrier-based naval air strike in history was carried out against the Zeppelin hangars at Tondern by the Furious on July 19, 1918. Seven Sopwith Camels, each carrying two 50-pound bombs were utilized for this mission. This important moment in the history of naval aviation is captured magnificently in Stan Stokes highly detailed painting entitled Fast and Furious.

Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £37.00

ITEM CODE STK0005

Spitfires - Malta Bound by Philip West.

On the 11th August 1942, Flight Lieutenant Geoffrey Wellum DFC, having just taken off from the deck of HMS Furious, leads his section of gathering Spitfires on the long journey to Malta. They are much-needed reinforcements for the beleaguered island, now in the twenty-sixth month of its siege. To enable each of the 38 Spitfires dispatched from Furious to reach Malta, over three hours flying time away, they carry maximum fuel together with a centre-line over-load tank. Even their ammunition is removed to save weight. Escorting Furious to her aft is the Cruiser HMS Manchester together with Destroyers Brave and Lithe. To their port side is the Ohio tanker laden with fuel during what became an epic voyage. In the distance HMS Eagle succumbs to an Axis torpedo attack. The success of Operation Pedestal was absolutely critical for the survival of Malta, bringing desperately needed fuel, food and ammunition to the Island. Losses were heavy but the courage and determination by all involved prevailed: five of the fourteen merchant ships, including the Ohio, made it through and the island was saved.

Signed limited edition of 400 prints. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £135.00

Signed by Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC.

Limited edition of 75 Artist Proofs. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £175.00

Signed by Dame Vera Lynn,Flt Lt Geoffrey Wellum, Plt Off Harry Moon, Les Owen, Tom Sprake, Les Goodenough, Fred Davenport and Ted Shute.

Signed limited edition of 100 prints, signed by the artist only. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £95.00

Limited edition of 25 Artist Studio Proofs. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £200.00

Signed by Dame Vera Lynn,Flt Lt Geoffrey Wellum, Plt Off Harry Moon, Les Owen, Tom Sprake, Les Goodenough, Fred Davenport and Ted Shute.

Limited edition of 75 Remarques. Paper size 28 inches x 20 inches (71cm x 51cm). Price £380.00

Signed by Dame Vera Lynn,Flt Lt Geoffrey Wellum, Plt Off Harry Moon, Les Owen, Tom Sprake, Les Goodenough, Fred Davenport and Ted Shute.

ITEM CODE DHM2310

HMS Furious with HMS Revenge by Ivan Berryman.

Grand Harbour, Malta, April 1932. The R-Class battleship HMS Revenge slips majestically past the carrier HMS Furious as she lies at anchor as three of her Fairey IIIFs fly overhead on a routine training sortie.

Signed limited editiion of 1150 prints. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £95.00

Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £135.00

Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £590.00

Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £460.00

Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00

ITEM CODE DHM1010

Fast and Furious by Stan Stokes. Thomas Sopwith was a distinguished British aviator who organized the Sopwith Aviation Company. Sopwith produced an aircraft which won the coveted Schneider Trophy race. With the start of WW I, Sopwith Aviation shifted its focus to military aircraft, and was to become one the major suppliers to both the Royal Air Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service. In October of 1914 two Sopwith Tabloids flew a 200-mile round trip strike against the airship sheds at Dusseldorf and Cologne. The Sopwith Strutter firmly entrenched Sopwith as a producer of quality-built aircraft. The Strutter was a precursor of the Sopwith Pup, which would serve as the Royal Navys first carrier aircraft. The first production Pup was delivered to the Royal Navy in 1916. Most Pups were powered by a 80-HP Le Rhone radial engine, which gave the Pup a top speed of 115-MPH and an endurance of three hours. Many Navy Pups were modified to utilize a tripod mounted Lewis gun which could be fired forward or upwards through a cutout in the upper wing. Sopwith Pups were also utilized on battlecruisers. In fact, a Pup launched from the HMS Yarmouth downed the Zeppelin L.23 in August of 1917. The Royal Navys HMS Furious was the first dedicated aircraft carrier in the world. The Furious was initially laid down as a battlecruiser, but the design was modified during construction to include a flying deck forward of the main bridge. This configuration allowed aircraft to be launched as the Furious steamed into the wind. An attempt at recovery  by having aircraft side slip on to the deck proved ineffective with one of the early attempts resulting in the death of the pilot, Squadron Commander E. H. Dunning, who had made the worlds first successful carrier landing on a ship underway only days earllier. The Royal Navy decided to further modify the Furious by adding a second deck aft of the bridge. The fore and aft decks were connected by a narrow ramp on either side of the funnel and bridge, and this permitted aircraft to be to moved between the two decks. Sets of longitudinal wires were set across the aft deck, and were designed to catch the skids of the Sopwith Pups during landings.  Recovering aircraft was still tricky, and a rope barrier was erected aft of the mainmast to prevent aircraft which overshot from crashing into the superstructure of the ship. The first carrier-based naval air strike in history was carried out against the Zeppelin hangars at Tondern by the Furious on July 19, 1918. Seven Sopwith Camels, each carrying two 50-pound bombs were utilized for this mission. This important moment in the history of naval aviation is captured magnificently in Stan Stokes highly detailed painting entitled Fast and Furious.

HMS Furious, launched on the 15th August 1916, at Armstrong at Wallsend. A former light Battle cruiser with two 18 - inch guns and ten 5.5inch guns underwent three major reconstructions. with the last reconstruction as a flush decked aircraft carrier. later a small "island" was fitted along with several 20mm Anti aircraft guns. HMS Furious served in the Home fleet between 1939 - 1944 and then in reserve 1944 to 1945. Finally being scrapped initially at Dalmuir on the 15th March 1948 and the Hull scrapped at Troon 22th June 1948.

Displacement: 22,450 tons,  and a compliment of 748 excluding aircrew.       Speed  30.5 Knots.    Armament  12 - 4inch guns in pairs and 24 - 2pounder AA guns in threes.  Aircraft:  33

HMS Revenge with HMS Furious by Ivan Berryman   Grand Harbour, Malta, April 1932. The R-Class battleship HMS Revenge slips majestically past the carrier HMS Furious as she lies at anchor as three of her Fairey IIIFs fly overhead on a routine training sortie.