The aviation art of Mark Postlethwaite

Eismeer Over Herdla
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"Eismeer over Herdla" signed by 'Rudi' Artner and 'Charly' Koch.
Limited edition of 850, 32" x 19" (Print Code 001)

To counter the threat of Allied air superiority over occupied Norway, elements of Jagdgeschwader 5 'Eismeer' (trans. frozen sea) were pulled back from the Russian and Finnish fronts and positioned at various bases along the Norwegian coastline. The airfield at Herdla, some 30 km northwest of Bergen, was ideally placed to defend a crucial sector of the shipping routes. Over 20 Focke-Wulf 190s of 9 and 12 Staffel JG 5 were posted there and saw extensive combat. This print depicts an aircraft from each staffel returning to Herdla from an operational sortie in March 1945. 'Weiss 10' and 'Blau 9' were the personal aircraft of Artner and Koch respectively.

Kemeraden
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"Kameraden" signed by Gerd Kelbling, Jürgen Oesten, 'Peter' Stahl and Manfred Riegel. (Additional signatures available. Details on "Who's Who" page and Price List.)
Limited edition of 850, 32" x 19" (Print Code 002)

The supremacy of the formidable U-Boat in Atlantic waters was at long last being challenged, around mid 1942, by a combination of improved radar, more lethal depth charges and long-range bombers, such as the B-24 Liberator. Grand Admiral Dönitz then requested the assistance of heavy fighters to escort his U-Boats to and from their French coastal bases. The Junkers 88 C-6 easily filled this role and, with its hefty forward-firing armament and a top speed of over 300 mph, soon became known as the 'Junkers Menace'! This spectacular print shows a formation of JU88 C-6`s of V/KG 40 as they rendezvous with their Kriegsmarine comrades ('kameraden') in the Bay of Biscay.

Hunting Owls
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"Hunting Owls" signed by Wolfgang Falck
Limited edition of 500, 17" x 13" (Print Code 011)

Despite the fact that less than 300 examples were built, the Heinkel HE219 'Uhu' (Eagle Owl) proved to be one of the most outstanding night fighters of WWII. With a maximum speed of over 400 mph and a heavy armament of up to eight 30mm and 20mm cannons, it became a major threat to all Allied aircraft in the night skies over Germany, in particular to the previously unrivalled Mosquito. "Hunting Owls" depicts the aircraft in active service with NJG 1 over Holland in 1944.

Heroes of The Mighty Eighth
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"Heroes of the Mighty Eighth" A symbolic portrayal of William Lawley's B-17, Don Blakeslee's P-51 and 'Hub' Zemke's P-47, signed by all three aviators.
Limited edition of 1000, 22" x 18" (Print Code 012)

In February 1944, Bill Lawley's B-17 was attacked bv a dozen or more German fighters. Eight members of the crew including Lawley were wounded and the co-pilot was killed. Lawley managed to bring several fires under control, counter a second attack and crash land back in England with only one engine. He was awarded the US's highest decoration for valour, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

lancaster dusk
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"Lancaster Dusk" signed by Bill Reid VC, Fred Fish, Ron Liversage and Eddie Wheeler.
Limited edition of 850, 28" x 18" (Print Code 028)

By late 1943, RAF Bomber Command was becoming an increasingly powerful force capable of sending, on any one night, up to a thousand heavy bombers to strike at targets deep into mainland Europe. To assemble such large formations required considerable co-ordination as the aircraft slowly gained altitude.In this evocative painting we pay tribute to the Avro Lancaster and her heroic crews. We share their moment of anticipation when the waiting is over; the course is set eastwards and the rumble of the Merlin engines starts to fade from the evening skies.

luftwaffe at war
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"Luftwaffe at War - FW190 A5-U8" signed by Fritz Setzer
Limited edition of 850, 19" x 17" (Print Code 029)

The aircraft depicted is the rarely painted FW 190 A5-U8 and was the personal aircraft of Fritz Setzer of 5/SKG 10. The Focke-Wulfs of II/SKG 10 had been carrying out highly successful daylight attacks on the south coast of England since the Gruppe's formation in March 1943. Their luck was to change however on their first nocturnal attack on 16/17 April. On this occasion, the combination of darkness, the intense flak barrage over London, opposition from nightfighters and an increased cockpit workload for the pilots all proved too much. Setzer's aircraft was one of three to make a forced landing at West Malling, Kent, whilst a fourth crashed further south and a fifth was lost over the Channel.

regensberg - no place to hide
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"Regensberg - No Place to Hide" signed by 'Jan' Schild, Heinrich Heuser, Werner Kraft and Werner Molge. (Additional signatures on Nos. 1 - 350 only: 'Count' Krupinski, Ottomar Kruse and Hans Prager. Details on Price List.)
Limited edition of 850, 32" x 19" (Print Code 024-A)

On 17 August 1943, a daring double strike took place against the ME109 assembly plant at Regensburg and the ball bearing plant at Schweinfurt. As the B-17s of the 4th Bomb Group crossed the Dutch coast en route for Regensburg, the fighters of JG 26 based nearby commenced a protracted aerial assault but were unable to prevent the ultimate success of the mission. In this print we experience the dramatic intensity of the air battle over Holland as a pair of ME109Gs from 9/JG 26 flash through the formation of the 100th Bomb Group, while an ME110 (lower right) stalks the B-17s and reports their position.

bismark into battle
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"Bismark into Battle" signed by Hans-Joachim Jabs, Hans Hellwig, Herbert Jahn, Fritz Mathes, Josef Statz, Sean Dixon-Child and John Moffat.
Limited edition of 850, 28" x 17" (Print Code 025)

As the majestic Bismarck leaves Grimstadfjord in Norway, she is escorted by Messerschmitt Bf11Os of II/ZG 76 based at nearby Herdla, their 'shark-mouth' noses contrasting sharply with their grey mottled camouflage. The time is 19.45 hours on 21 May 1941 and the scene is one of tranquillity before the battle commences. During the next seven days, "the most powerful battleship ... in the world", as Churchill described the Bismarck, will take on the combined might of British air and naval forces, sinking HMS Hood and finally coming to rest in the waters of the North Atlantic with the loss of almost 2000 lives and only 115 survivors.

All measurements given refer to the overall print size.
All our limited edition prints carry the artist's original signature.

famous fighters

air aces Click on "Famous Fighters" and "Air Aces" to the left for more Aviation Art by Mark Postlethwaite

Mark Postlethwaite

Mark Postlethwaite GAvA

Over the past decade, Mark Postlethwaite has been recognised as one of the world's leading aviation artists. International sales of his limited edition prints continue to increase dramatically, with many editions now available only on the secondary market. In 1991, aged 27, Mark became the youngest artist ever to gain full membership of the prestigious UK Guild of Aviation Artists (GAvA). In addition to frequent exhibitions of his work and his busy programme with Skyscapes, Mark manages to fit in many commissions, often for RAF Squadrons and Associations who raise tens of thousands of pounds from the sale of his prints for Service and children's charities.

Technical and historical accuracy is the outstanding feature of Mark's work, reflecting his detailed knowledge of his subject, while his great love of flying is evident in his ability to capture the beauty and majesty of the world above the clouds.

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