|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John Cunningham
| Group Captain John Cunningham CBE DSO DFC AE DL FRAeS (deceased) John Cunningham joined the RAF in 1935 with 604 Squadron. At the outbreak of World War Two he was based at North Weald flying Blenheims on day escort and night fighter operations. In September 1940 he converted onto Beaufighters equipped with radar, the first aircraft that made night fighting really possible. In November he had the Squadrons first successful night combat. He took command of 604 Squadron in August 1941. After a period at HQ81 Group, he was posted on his second tour to command 85 Squadron equipped with Mosquitoes. In March 1944 with 19 night and 1 day victory he was posted to HQ11 Group to look after night operations. The most famous Allied night fighter Ace of WWII - 20 victories. He died 21st July 2002. Born in 1917, Group Captain John Cunningham was the top-scoring night fighter ace of the Royal Air Force. Cunningham joined the RAF in 1935 as a Pilot Officer. He learned to fly in the Avro 504N and was awarded his wings in 1936. While assigned to the Middlesex Squadron Auxiliary based at Hendon, Cunningham received instruction in the Hawker Hart prior to moving on the Hawker Demon. The Demon was a two-seat day and night fighter. Cunningharns squadron was mobilized in 1938 following the Czechoslovak crisis. His No. 604 unit was moved to North Weald. Later in 1938 his unit returned to Hendon and was reequipped with the more modern Blenheim 1 fighter. In August of 1939 the unit was again mobilized and returned to North Weald. The Squadron was primarily utilized to provide daylight air cover for convoys. Lacking radar the Blenheim was relatively useless as a night fighter. In September of 1940 the unit was moved to Middle Wallop and the first Bristol Beaufighters arrived. The Beatifighter had a modestly effective, although often unreliable radar. It was an excellent aircraft with reliable air-cooled engines and four 20mm cannons. Cunningham attained the units first night victory in the Beaufighter, and his tally rose steadily. He was promoted to Wing Commander of 604 Squadron in August of 1941. Cunningham completed his first combat tour of duty in mid-1942 with a total of 15 victories. He was then posted to H.Q. 81 Group, which was an operational training group under the Fighter Command. In January of 1943 Cunningham was transferred to command of No. 85 Squadron which was equipped with the Mosquito. With the higher speed of the Mosquito, Cunningham was successful at downing Fw-190s, something impossible in the slower Beaufighter. Cunningham completed his second tour in 1944 with a total of nineteen victories at night and one by day. He was promoted to Group Captain at that time, and was assigned to H.Q. 11 Group. Cunninghams radar operator Sqd. Ldr. Jimmy Rawnsley participated in most of Cunninghams victories. The 604 Squadron was disbanded in 1945, but in 1946 Cunningham was given the honor of reforming the Squadron at Hendon - flying the Spitfire. Cunningham left the RAF in 1946 and joined the De Havilland Aircraft Co. at Hatfield as its Chief Test Pilot. Cunningham had a long and distinguished career in the British aviation industry, retiring from British Aerospace in 1980. Cunningham was appointed OBE in 1951 and CBE in 1963. He was awarded the DSO in 1941 and Bars in 1942 and 1944; the DFC and Bar in 1941, also the Air Efficiency Award (AE). He also held the Soviet Order of Patriotic War 1st Class and the US Silver Star. Group Capt John Cunningham died at the age of 84 on the 21st July 2002. |
Items Signed by Group Captain John Cunningham CBE DSO DFC AE DL FRAeS (deceased) |
  | Seastrike by Ivan Berryman. (B) Price : £145.00 | Without doubt one of the most outstanding and versatile aircraft in the Allied inventory during World War II, the Bristol Beaufighter was to endure a cautious reception by its crews when it first entered service, not least due to difficulties experi...... | |
  | Destination Amiens by Ivan Berryman. (B) Price : £135.00 | When De Havilland built the prototype DH.98 Mosquito (E-0234) they did so as an act of the purest faith in their design since the Air Ministry had already dismissed the companys proposal for their all-wood aircraft as impractical and unworkable. How...... | |
  | Beaufighter Attack by Ivan Berryman. (B) Price : £360.00 | A pair of Beaufighters attacking Axis shipping in the North Sea. Without doubt one of the most outstanding and versatile aircraft in the Allied inventory during World War II, the Bristol Beaufighter was to endure a cautious reception by its crews w...... | |
  | Mk.I Blenheims of No.141 Sqn by Ivan Berryman. (B) Price : £360.00 | Royal Air Force Blenheim Mk.I aircraft of No.141 Squadron. ...... | |
 | Legend - TSR.2 by Ivan Berryman. (C) Price : £300.00 | Viewed by many as the most advanced and forward-thinking design for an attack and reconnaissance aircraft in its day, the BAC TSR.2 was to fall victim to inter government wrangling and the absurd belief by those in power in the mid 1960's that t...... |
  | Clipped Signature - John Cunningham Price : £50.00 | John Cunningham joined the RAF in 1935 with 604 Squadron. At the outbreak of World War Two he was based at North Weald flying Blenheims on day escort and night fighter operations. In September 1940 he converted onto Beaufighters equipped with radar,...... | |
  | Return From Leipzig by Anthony Saunders. (B) Price : £125.00 | Mosquitos of 105 Squadron, Marham. No. 105 Squadron, stationed at Marham, Norfolk, became the first Royal Air Force unit to become operational flying the Mosquito B. Mk. IV bomber on 11th April 1942. The painting shows 105 Squadron on the raid of 1...... | |
  | A Moment's Peace by Ivan Berryman. (B) Price : £260.00 | A de Havilland Mosquito patrols high above the clouds. This versatile all-wooden aircraft first flew on the 25th of November 1940. This aircraft was used in a wide variety of roles, including as a fighter-bomber and as a Pathfinder for bombers....... | |
  | Hurricane Patrol by Graeme Lothian (P) Price : £3000.00 | After taking part in the Battle of France early in 1940, 85 Squadron moved to Croydon on the 19th August, where, led by renowned squadron leader Peter Townsend DSO DFC, the squadron played a notable part in the Battle of Britain. Thirty Hurricane sq...... | |
  | Cloud Dancers by Ivan Berryman. (B) Price : £200.00 | Two Hawker Furies of No.1 Sqn, based at Tangmere in 1937. ...... |
  | Those Valiant Few by Robert Taylor. (B) SOLD OUT | The Battle of Britain commenced at the beginning of June 1940, and for the next two and a half gruelling months the young men of Royal Air Force Fighter Command, duelled with the cream of Goerings Luftwaffe over the skies of southern England. It wa...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
  | Night Intruder by Robert Taylor. Price : £80.00 | A colourful painting depicting a Mosquito, the fastest Allied aircraft and perhaps the most versatile of all to fly in World War II, dodging between the flak and searchlights on a low-level night attack. ...... | |
| | Night Intruder by Robert Taylor. (Y) Price : £60.00 | A colourful painting depicting a Mosquito, the fastest Allied aircraft and perhaps the most versatile of all to fly in World War II, dodging between the flak and searchlights on a low-level night attack. ...... | |
  | Rangers on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. (APC) SOLD OUT | Flying the high speed low level Day Ranger missions in the Mosquito was one of the most exhilarating forms of aerial combat experienced by aircrews in WWII. Given a free hand at squadron level to select targets of opportunity deep inside enemy held...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
| | Rangers on the Rampage by Robert Taylor. (C) SOLD OUT | Flying the high speed low level Day Ranger missions in the Mosquito was one of the most exhilarating forms of aerial combat experienced by aircrews in WWII. Given a free hand at squadron level to select targets of opportunity deep inside enemy held...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
  | Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (C) Price : £265.00 | Completing a record 213 operational sorties with Bomber Commands Pathfinder Force, Mosquito LR503 became one of the most successful aircraft in the Royal Air Force during World War II. It flew first with 109 Pathfinder Squadron, and then 105 Pathfin...... | |
  | Vital Support by Robert Taylor. (B) Price : £325.00 | Crucial to every squadron in the RAF were the unsung heroes of World War II - the ground crew. Without the vital support of these dedicated men who refuelled the aircraft, rearmed them, maintained them and kept them flying, the pilots and aircrew wou...... | |
  | Tribute to Flight Sergeant Ladislaw Bobek by Ivan Berryman. (C) Price : £290.00 | On the night of 28th / 29th May 1942, Beaufighter X7583, piloted by Flt Sgt Ladislaw Bobek with Sgt Kovaric as navigator, intercepted a lone Dornier Do217 off the coast of Norfolk, sending it plunging into the North Sea after a 20 minute chase. Thi...... | |
  | Mosquito - The Wooden Wonder of Salisbury Hall by Robert Tomlin. (AP) SOLD OUT | On 15th May 1941, Geoffrey de Havilland Jnr, accompanied by Fred Plumb, lifts the third prototype Mosquito, the first night-fighter variant, from the unprepared fields of Salisbury Hall for the short flight to Hatfield. The Mosquito was probably th...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
  | Mosquito by Frank Wootton. SOLD OUT | ...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
  | Double Trouble by Stan Stokes. (B) Price : £130.00 | The Bristol Beaufighter was one of the most successful twin-engine fighters utilized by the RAF during WW II. The forerunner of the Beaufighter was the Bristol Beaufort, which was the first modern torpedo bomber to enter service. The Beaufort, known...... | |
| | Double Trouble by Stan Stokes. (C) Price : £90.00 | The Bristol Beaufighter was one of the most successful twin-engine fighters utilized by the RAF during WW II. The forerunner of the Beaufighter was the Bristol Beaufort, which was the first modern torpedo bomber to enter service. The Beaufort, known...... | |
| | Double Trouble by Stan Stokes. (Y) SOLD OUT | The Bristol Beaufighter was one of the most successful twin-engine fighters utilized by the RAF during WW II. The forerunner of the Beaufighter was the Bristol Beaufort, which was the first modern torpedo bomber to enter service. The Beaufort, know...... | NOT AVAILABLE |
Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Group Captain John Cunningham CBE DSO DFC AE DL FRAeS (deceased) |
   | Mosquito Cres Tribute Aviation Print Pack. Pack Price : £280.00 Saving : £355 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (B) Night Intruder by Robert Taylor. Return From Leipzig by Anthony Saunders. (E) A De Havilland Beauty by Ivan Berryman. Sunday Afternoon by Geoffrey R Herickx. Those Nagging Mosquitoes by Stan Stokes. | |
| | Mosquito Aviation Art Prints by Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £185.00 Saving : £105 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (B) Night Intruder by Robert Taylor. Those Nagging Mosquitoes by Stan Stokes. | |
   | Wing Commander Bob Foster Signed Aviation Prints. Pack Price : £695.00 Saving : £310 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Glorious Summer by Robert Taylor. (B) Spitfire F Mk21 by Ivan Berryman. (C) Hurricane Mk.IIC by Ivan Berryman. (F) | |
 | Mosquito Aircraft Art Prints by Ivan Berryman. Pack Price : £120.00 Saving : £130 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Night Intruder by Robert Taylor. Shell House Raiders by Ivan Berryman. (B) | |
| | RAF Beaufighter Prints by Ivan Berryman and Stan Stokes. Pack Price : £145.00 Saving : £95 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Double Trouble by Stan Stokes. (B) Seastrike by Ivan Berryman. |
 | Mosquito Aircraft Prints by Philip West and Robert Taylor. Pack Price : £150.00 Saving : £150 | Aviation Print Pack. ...... Titles in this pack : Time To Go by Philip West. Night Intruder by Robert Taylor. |
| Group Captain John Cunningham CBE DSO DFC AE DL FRAeS Squadron details |
| Group Captain John Cunningham CBE DSO DFC AE DL FRAeS Aircraft details |
 Mosquito Manufacturer : De Havilland Built : 7781 | Mosquito Used as a night fighter, fighter bomber, bomber and Photo-reconnaissance, with a crew of two, Maximum speed was 425 mph, at 30,300 feet, 380mph at 17,000ft. and a ceiling of 36,000feet, maximum range 3,500 miles. the Mosquito was armed with four 20mm Hospano cannon in belly and four .303 inch browning machine guns in nose. Coastal strike aircraft had eight 3-inch Rockets under the wings, and one 57mm shell gun in belly. The Mossie at it was known made its first flight on 25th November 1940, and the mosquito made its first operational flight for the Royal Air Force as a reconnaissance unit based at Benson. In early 1942, a modified version (mark II) operated as a night fighter with 157 and 23 squadron's. In April 1943 the first De Haviland Mosquito saw service in the Far east and in 1944 The Mosquito was used at Coastal Command in its strike wings. Bomber Commands offensive against Germany saw many Mosquitos, used as photo Reconnaissance aircraft, Fighter Escorts, and Path Finders. The Mosquito stayed in service with the Royal Air Force until 1955. and a total of 7781 mosquito's were built. |
 Spitfire Manufacturer : Supermarine Built : 20351 | Spitfire Royal Air Force fighter aircraft, maximum speed for mark I Supermarine Spitfire, 362mph up to The Seafire 47 with a top speed of 452mph. maximum ceiling for Mk I 34,000feet up to 44,500 for the mark XIV. Maximum range for MK I 575 miles . up to 1475 miles for the Seafire 47. Armament for the various Marks of Spitfire. for MK I, and II . eight fixed .303 browning Machine guns, for MKs V-IX and XVI two 20mm Hispano cannons and four .303 browning machine guns. and on later Marks, six to eight Rockets under the wings or a maximum bomb load of 1,000 lbs. Designed by R J Mitchell, The proto type Spitfire first flew on the 5th March 1936. and entered service with the Royal Air Force in August 1938, with 19 squadron based and RAF Duxford. by the outbreak of World war two, there were twelve squadrons with a total of 187 spitfires, with another 83 in store. Between 1939 and 1945, a large variety of modifications and developments produced a variety of MK,s from I to XVI. The mark II came into service in late 1940, and in March 1941, the Mk,V came into service. To counter the Improvements in fighters of the Luftwaffe especially the FW190, the MK,XII was introduced with its Griffin engine. The Fleet Air Arm used the Mk,I and II and were named Seafires. By the end of production in 1948 a total of 20,351 spitfires had been made and 2408 Seafires. The most produced variant was the Spitfire Mark V, with a total of 6479 spitfires produced. The Royal Air Force kept Spitfires in front line use until April 1954. |
|
Contact Details |
|
Sign Up To Our Newsletter!
This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com
|
|
|
