Midwinter Dawn

Midwinter Dawn by Robert Taylor 
Overall Print Size: 33 1/8" x 25 1/8" 
Edition size of 250
S/N by Artist and Five (5) Pilots

Aircraft Type: Spitfire

The scene captures the moment when, as Wing Leader of 127 Canadian Wing, Johnnie is seen leading Mk.IX Spitfires from 421 ‘Red Indian’ Squadron RCAF out on patrol from their airfield at Evère near Brussels on a cold December morning in 1944. It is close to the fighting and the German front line so, as the Canadians climb steadily out over the snowclad landscape in the golden light of dawn, they are already alert and on the lookout for the first signs of trouble.

Prints in this magnificent new release have been personally signed by a number of the decreasing band of Spitfire pilots who flew and fought over Normandy, including the top Ace ‘Johnnie’ Johnson himself, who endorsed the content and publishing of this edition before he sadly passed away in 2001. The signature of such a great legend adds enormous distinction, value and historical importance to this new collectors’ piece.

Of special interest to collectors is the CANADIAN EDITION personally signed by three top Canadian Spitfire Aces who flew with Johnnie in the famous Canadian Wings.

Signatures:

Limited Edition:

• Flight Lieutenant STANISLAW NAWARSKI DFC KM
• Flight Sergeant RON FARNBOROUGH
• Flight Lieutenant RODNEY SCRASE DFC RAFVR
• Flight Lieutenant JIMMY TAYLOR
• Air Vice-Marshal J.E. ‘JOHNNIE’ JOHNSON (1916 – 2001) CB CBE DSO** DFC* DL (see note below)
  
  All Canadian Editions include all signatures above plus the following top Canadian Spitfire Aces who flew with Johnnie Johnson in the Canadian Wing:
• Wing Commander J.F. ‘STOCKY’ EDWARDS DFC* DFM
• Wing Commander JAMES D. LINDSAY DFC
• Lieutenant General DON LAUBMAN DFC*

Note: Although sadly no longer with us, Johnnie Johnson, in special agreement with Robert Taylor's publisher, fully endorsed the content of this painting by adding his signature to the edition during his lifetime, on condition that prints would be released at a later date.