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Vampire T11
On a training flight a Vampire T11 of 2 Squadron Royal Rhodesian Air Force flies over Guinea Fowl, just south of Gwelo Rhodesia.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Provost over Swartkops
I had always wanted to do a painting of the Percival Provost that the Rhodesian Air Force had used, but way back in the eighties and nineties photo references were scarce and Internet was still very much in its infancy. Imagine my surprise when I learned that there was an old Prov right here in South Africa that had been restored to its former glory. Not only was it in my country, it was in my town, Pretoria, at the Swartkop Air Force Base.
I took some time off work and visited the base and met its Commanding Officer, Neil Thomas, who was to become a great friend of mine. Neil gave me permission to go and spend some time with the Prov. Now, in those days I did not have a camera so I took along a note pad to take notes. The old bird was resplendent in its old colour scheme and I happily scribbled down pages of diagrams. But time was against me and I had to leave.
This was on Tuesday the 17th of March 1998. I made plans to return the following week to complete the references that I would need for my painting.
There was an air-show that coming weekend and the Provost was to be flown at the show, but unfortunately I was unable to attend.
The evening news on television on Thursday the 19th March announced that a vintage aircraft had crashed at Swartkop and the pilot had died. I heard the next day that it had in fact been the Provost, and the pilot who had died was Rick Culpan who I had met during the Rhodesian war. It was a double tragedy!
Some months ago I started on a digital painting of RRAF137 and it has been probably the most labour intensive painting I have ever done. It has taken me close on forty hours, over about four months, to complete, but at last it is done. It depicts Rick Culpan and the Prov over Swartkop Air Base. I have done this artwork also in memory of a brave Rhodesian airman, Rick Culpan. RIP.
I used Artrage 5 to do this artwork, it is totally ‘painted’ using oils, pen and airbrush.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
I took some time off work and visited the base and met its Commanding Officer, Neil Thomas, who was to become a great friend of mine. Neil gave me permission to go and spend some time with the Prov. Now, in those days I did not have a camera so I took along a note pad to take notes. The old bird was resplendent in its old colour scheme and I happily scribbled down pages of diagrams. But time was against me and I had to leave.
This was on Tuesday the 17th of March 1998. I made plans to return the following week to complete the references that I would need for my painting.
There was an air-show that coming weekend and the Provost was to be flown at the show, but unfortunately I was unable to attend.
The evening news on television on Thursday the 19th March announced that a vintage aircraft had crashed at Swartkop and the pilot had died. I heard the next day that it had in fact been the Provost, and the pilot who had died was Rick Culpan who I had met during the Rhodesian war. It was a double tragedy!
Some months ago I started on a digital painting of RRAF137 and it has been probably the most labour intensive painting I have ever done. It has taken me close on forty hours, over about four months, to complete, but at last it is done. It depicts Rick Culpan and the Prov over Swartkop Air Base. I have done this artwork also in memory of a brave Rhodesian airman, Rick Culpan. RIP.
I used Artrage 5 to do this artwork, it is totally ‘painted’ using oils, pen and airbrush.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Provost's Frantan attack.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Hawk over the karoo.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Lynx
We had a number of these Reims-Cessna FTB 337G aircraft, which we called Lynx. They served the Rhodesian Air Force with distinction and were an indispensable element of our Fireforce operations. This one is heading east from Mtoko's FAF (Forward Air Field) 5, which can just be seen in the distance below it's port wing.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Kariba Hunter
In October 1975 a hunter landed at FAF2 Kariba after running short of fuel. We removed its under wing armament to lighten the aircraft and refuelled it by hand pump from drums making sure it had the absolute minimum fuel to see it back to its base at Gwelo. Due to the high temperature and altitude of Kariba the jet had to use every metre of the runway and with full thrust just managed to clear the trees to the east of the airfield. This artwork depicts the Hunter seconds after lifting off. Done on Artrage Studio Pro.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
"Smoke to starboard!"
Another 'Lock-Down' project done. A Supermarine Walrus Mk1 of 293 Squadron RAF doing Air Sea Rescue duties in Italy, 1944. The Walrus was a British single-engine amphibious biplane reconnaissance aircraft designed by R. J. Mitchell, the same man who designed the famous Spitfire. It was manufactured by the British aircraft company Supermarine and saw service in the Second World War.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Here comes the cavalry.
A 'K' Car leads two 'G' Cars to a terrorist sighting. Done with Artrage Studio Pro.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Dawn Patrol Sopwith.
Sopwith Camel F.1 (B6313)
Possibly one of the most famous Sopwith Camels was B6313, flown by the legendary Canadian pilot Major William ‘Billy’ Barker. Originally with No. 28 Squadron, RAF, in France, Barker took his Camel with him when posted to command No. 66 Squadron in Italy. He then kept it with him when given command of No. 139, a Bristol Fighter Squadron. In a total of 404 flying hours between September 1917 and September 1918, Barker, flying this Camel, destroyed 48 enemy aircraft. It is generally believed (although debateable) that no other single aeroplane has ever matched the achievement of Sopwith Camel B6313. It was dismantled in October 1918. Barker kept the aircraft’s clock as a memento but had to return it the following day.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Possibly one of the most famous Sopwith Camels was B6313, flown by the legendary Canadian pilot Major William ‘Billy’ Barker. Originally with No. 28 Squadron, RAF, in France, Barker took his Camel with him when posted to command No. 66 Squadron in Italy. He then kept it with him when given command of No. 139, a Bristol Fighter Squadron. In a total of 404 flying hours between September 1917 and September 1918, Barker, flying this Camel, destroyed 48 enemy aircraft. It is generally believed (although debateable) that no other single aeroplane has ever matched the achievement of Sopwith Camel B6313. It was dismantled in October 1918. Barker kept the aircraft’s clock as a memento but had to return it the following day.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Grand Reef Paradak
An Eland 60 stands guard as the last element of a Fireforce call-out, a Paradak takes off from Grand Reef. Done with Artrage.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Spitfire Mk22 PK350
This Spitfire Mk22 was built in 1945 by Supermarine in Castle Bromwich. Allocated number PK350 it served in 73 Squadron RAF based in Malta. On March 22nd 1951, this Spitfire, along with nine others acquired by the Southern Rhodesia Air Force landed at Cranborne Aerodrome. The pilot who ferried this particular aircraft from the UK to Rhodesia was Lieutenant Bradshaw; one of the other pilots who flew on this ferry flight was a Lieutenant J M Malloch. PK350 was then assigned the number SR64. Retired on 18th December 1954 this Spitfire was soon afterwards placed on a plinth at New Sarum as a gate guard. Unusually the aircraft was mounted complete with its engine. After more than twenty years as a gate guard SR64 was acquired by Jack Malloch, the owner of Affretair, and in 1979 he started to restored it. SR64 flew again on the 29th March 1980 with Captain Jack Malloch at the controls. In restored condition it was one of the few Spitfires in the world with no aerobatic restrictions on it. On the 26th March 1982 while being filmed for a documentary, “The pursuit of a dream”, SR64 flew through a violent hailstorm. The aircraft crashed and Jack Malloch was killed.
Printed on Fine Art paper.
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR600:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
Printed on Fine Art paper.
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR600:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
Cranborne Dawn
A Harvard Mk1 of the RATG (Rhodesian Air Training Group) on an early morning training flight over Cranborne Aerodrome just south of Salisbury Rhodesia.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
JP Verster Mustang
Many years ago my wife’s grandfather told me about a cousin of his that had been killed in the Korean war flying Mustangs. I had always remembered this but only recently I decided to do some research into this distant relative. I asked questions on social media and was surprised at all the information I gleaned from a number of people. It was at this point that I decided to do an artwork in memory of this airman who died in the line of duty so many years ago.
The research then started in earnest and it was like a detective searching for hidden clues in a cold case. Many hours were spent pouring over articles and photographs; I had to get every detail as authentic as humanly possible. Some detail, for instance the airfield K10, was very sparse and I had to make do with two old black and white photos and Google Earth, and the result has some speculation and artist’s licence. I finally started the artwork, and the research did not stop. Finally, after close on sixty man-hours of work, I have completed the artwork. It depicts 2nd Lieutenant Jesse Powell Verster leaving K10 airfield for the last time in the F-51 Mustang that he died in.
Thank you to all those who contributed information, I hope that the artwork does justice to your memories, and the memories of the Verster family. Rest In Peace brave airman!
On the 1st of July 1951, at 15.10 hours Second Lieutenant Jesse Powell Verster took off from airfield K-10 (Chinhae) to ferry an F-51, Mustang 328, to airfield K-16. The policy at the time was to operate sorties from K-16, which was our forward base, and maybe stay there for 3 days or so, and then fly back to K-10 for the necessary maintenance, training, paperwork etc. So occasionally it was necessary to ferry an aircraft up to K-16. He failed to arrive at K-16. An extensive search was instituted immediately with negative results for the first day. Arrangements were made for the search to be continued the next day.
The next morning (2 nd of July 1951) at 06.00 hours, the search for 2nd Lieutenant J.P. Verster continued and news of his whereabouts was anxiously awaited. That afternoon at 15.15 hours news was received from Joint Operational Control Rescue that the missing aircraft had been found Northwest of Sosan, South Korea. The aircraft had been destroyed by fire but the number of the aircraft and the S.A.A.F. emblem were intact and served to identify the wrecked aircraft. A Korean eyewitness said he had seen the aircraft, pouring black smoke, come within 100 feet of the ground, when it suddenly nosedived and hit the ground. The pilot had attempted to bale out but was too late, and had been killed. He was a very big man and perhaps he had difficulty in exiting the cockpit. In later years they did not allow big men like Jessie to fly the Mustang. The remains of the pilot were removed from the crash site and taken to K-16 awaiting arrangements for transport and burial. Second Lieutenant Jesse Powell Verster was finally interred at the United Nations Cemetery at Pusan. He was the younger brother of the man who later became Chief of the South African Air Force, Jim Verster.
References:
SAKWVA NEWSLETTER NO 354 FEBRUARY 2021 YEAR 2021.
“Beyond the edge of the Sky” written by Crow Stannard.
85 years of SAAF.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
The research then started in earnest and it was like a detective searching for hidden clues in a cold case. Many hours were spent pouring over articles and photographs; I had to get every detail as authentic as humanly possible. Some detail, for instance the airfield K10, was very sparse and I had to make do with two old black and white photos and Google Earth, and the result has some speculation and artist’s licence. I finally started the artwork, and the research did not stop. Finally, after close on sixty man-hours of work, I have completed the artwork. It depicts 2nd Lieutenant Jesse Powell Verster leaving K10 airfield for the last time in the F-51 Mustang that he died in.
Thank you to all those who contributed information, I hope that the artwork does justice to your memories, and the memories of the Verster family. Rest In Peace brave airman!
On the 1st of July 1951, at 15.10 hours Second Lieutenant Jesse Powell Verster took off from airfield K-10 (Chinhae) to ferry an F-51, Mustang 328, to airfield K-16. The policy at the time was to operate sorties from K-16, which was our forward base, and maybe stay there for 3 days or so, and then fly back to K-10 for the necessary maintenance, training, paperwork etc. So occasionally it was necessary to ferry an aircraft up to K-16. He failed to arrive at K-16. An extensive search was instituted immediately with negative results for the first day. Arrangements were made for the search to be continued the next day.
The next morning (2 nd of July 1951) at 06.00 hours, the search for 2nd Lieutenant J.P. Verster continued and news of his whereabouts was anxiously awaited. That afternoon at 15.15 hours news was received from Joint Operational Control Rescue that the missing aircraft had been found Northwest of Sosan, South Korea. The aircraft had been destroyed by fire but the number of the aircraft and the S.A.A.F. emblem were intact and served to identify the wrecked aircraft. A Korean eyewitness said he had seen the aircraft, pouring black smoke, come within 100 feet of the ground, when it suddenly nosedived and hit the ground. The pilot had attempted to bale out but was too late, and had been killed. He was a very big man and perhaps he had difficulty in exiting the cockpit. In later years they did not allow big men like Jessie to fly the Mustang. The remains of the pilot were removed from the crash site and taken to K-16 awaiting arrangements for transport and burial. Second Lieutenant Jesse Powell Verster was finally interred at the United Nations Cemetery at Pusan. He was the younger brother of the man who later became Chief of the South African Air Force, Jim Verster.
References:
SAKWVA NEWSLETTER NO 354 FEBRUARY 2021 YEAR 2021.
“Beyond the edge of the Sky” written by Crow Stannard.
85 years of SAAF.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Hunting Pembroke C1
A Pembroke flies low over Lake Kariba. The Southern Rhodesian Air Force operated two of these. In 1963 they were passed onto the Zambian Air Force.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
No flying today
Somewhere in France a squadron of SE5a fighter are grounded due to inclement weather.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
Printed on canvas.
This artwork is available in two sizes.
400mm x 300mm
Price: ZAR600:00
600mm x 400mm
Price: ZAR750:00
Unframed.
Excludes packaging and postage.
NOTE: These prints are also available on Fine Art paper at 20% off marked price.
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