Battleships-Cruisers .co .uk Home Page
Order Enquiries (UK) : 01436 820269

You currently have no items in your basket

Google

 

www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk

Naval History by Country :
ROYAL
NAVY
US
NAVY
GERMAN
NAVY
FRENCH
NAVY
MORE
PAGES
VIEW ALL OF OUR CURRENT ART SPECIAL OFFERS ON ONE PAGE HERE
NAVAL ART AVIATION ART MILITARY ART SPORT ART
Ship Search by Name :
Product Search         
ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS :
20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS
BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS
FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Wing Commander Robert Bray (deceased) - Art prints and originals signed by Wing Commander Robert Bray (deceased)

Robert Bray

Robert Bray
The signature of Wing Commander Robert Bray (deceased)

15 / 8 / 2014Died : 15 / 8 / 2014

Wing Commander Robert Bray (deceased)

Robert flew his first tour of 32 ops in 75 (NZ) Squadron on Wellingtons. After a period instructing he joined 105 Squadron PFF on Mosquitos, flying Oboe operations, completing 87 ops by June 1944. In March 1945 he was posted to command 571 Squadron PFF, then commanded 128 Squadron PFF until Feb 1946. He died on 15th August 2014. Robert Walter Bray was born on May 5 1921 in Sheffield and educated at King Edward VII Grammar School in the city. He joined the RAF in June 1940 and trained as a pilot. In June 1941 he joined No 75 (NZ) Squadron to fly the Wellington, and over the next six months bombed many targets in Germany . In September he attacked La Spezia in Italy . On December 23 he took part in a raid on Düsseldorf, his 32nd and final operation with No 75 Squadron. He was later awarded his first DFC. During a rest period as an instructor, Bray flew a Wellington in the first '1,000 Bomber' raid, on Cologne. Two nights later he flew on the second raid, in which Essen was the target. After he had completed his tour with the Pathfinder Force Equipped with the new Oboe radar , the squadron's Mosquitos illuminated and marked targets with flares and target indicators for the main bomber force. Bray was in constant action from August 1943 during the Battle of the Ruhr, when industrial targets were attacked. On the night of March 26 1944 he was flying one of six Mosquitos which dropped target indicators on the Krupps works in Essen to provide an aiming point for a force of 705 bombers. Despite complete cloud cover, Bray dropped his markers using Oboe, and proof of their accuracy came in the form of a large red glow through the cloud followed by large explosions; the glow could be seen from as far away as the Dutch coast. On the night of May 4/5 Bray dropped a 4,000lb bomb on the IG Farbenindustrie AG chemical works at Leverkusen. Over the target, flak smashed into the starboard engine and his Mosquito lost height rapidly. Bray wrestled with the controls and managed to reach Kent flying at very low level. With one engine on fire and the other malfunctioning, he managed to land on the crash strip at Manston, near Ramsgate. In the lead-up to the Allied landings in Normandy, Bray marked railways, marshalling yards, night fighter airfields and oil installations, mostly in France. On D-Day, he took off before dawn and dropped his markers on the huge gun battery at Longines near Cherbourg, which posed a great threat to the invading naval forces. The main force of bombers destroyed it. After attacking airfields and the docks at Le Havre, he marked the V-1 site at Reneserve on June 16. It was his final sortie with No 105 after 15 months of continuous operations. Bray was rested until April 1945 when, at the age of 23, he was promoted to wing commander and given command of No 571 Squadron. Piloting the high-flying Mosquito, he attacked Berlin eight times in two weeks. On his eighth operation his aircraft was hit by flak but he managed to get back to base. On April 26 he bombed a seaplane base in Schleswig-Holstein. It was his 94th and final operation.


Items Signed by Wing Commander Robert Bray (deceased)

 Flew a tour with No.32 Sqn on Wellingtons before joining No.105 Sqn Pathfinder Force flying the Mosquito.  He flew almost 100 operations as a Pathfinder, including important marking missions on D-Day.  He died in 2014. ......
Clipped Signature - Robert Bray.
Price : £35.00
Flew a tour with No.32 Sqn on Wellingtons before joining No.105 Sqn Pathfinder Force flying the Mosquito. He flew almost 100 operations as a Pathfinder, including important marking missions on D-Day. He died in 2014. ......

Quantity:
 To commemorate this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version, on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was by far the fastest pis......
Mission by Moonlight by Gerald Coulson.
Price : £120.00
To commemorate this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version, on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was by far the fastest pis......

Quantity:
 To commemorate this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version, on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was by far the fastest pis......
Mission by Moonlight by Gerald Coulson. (AP)
Price : £180.00
To commemorate this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version, on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was by far the fastest pis......

Quantity:
 To commemorate this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version, on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was by far the fastest pis......
Mission by Moonlight by Gerald Coulson. (XX)
Price : £115.00
To commemorate this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version, on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was by far the fastest pis......

Quantity:
 To commemorate this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version, on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was by far the fastest pis......
Mission by Moonlight by Gerald Coulson. (Y)
Price : £110.00
To commemorate this much-loved and incomparable aircraft, Gerald Coulsons evocative painting depicts a Mosquito B Mk. XVI, a high altitude bomber version, on operations deep over occupied Europe. In this guise the Mosquito was by far the fastest pis......

Quantity:
 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......
Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (AP)
Price : £135.00
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......

Quantity:
 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......
Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (B)
Price : £120.00
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......

Quantity:
 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......
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......

Quantity:

Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Wing Commander Robert Bray (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.

Quantity:

Pack 509. Pack of two WW2 De Havelland Mosquito prints by Robert Taylor and Nicolas Trudgian.
Pack Price : £210.00
Saving : £220
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (B)
Mosquitos at Dusk by Nicolas Trudgian.
Sunday Afternoon by Geoffrey R Herickx.
Those Nagging Mosquitoes by Stan Stokes.

Quantity:

Pilot Signed Mosquito Aircraft Art Prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman.
Pack Price : £180.00
Saving : £180
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (B)
A De Havilland Beauty by Ivan Berryman.
Those Nagging Mosquitoes by Stan Stokes.

Quantity:

RAF Mosquito Aviation Art Prints by Robert Taylor and Anthony Saunders.
Pack Price : £160.00
Saving : £115
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (B)
Return From Leipzig by Anthony Saunders. (E)
Those Nagging Mosquitoes by Stan Stokes.

Quantity:

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.

Quantity:

De Havilland Mosquito Aviation Art Prints by Robert Taylor and Ivan Berryman.
Pack Price : £145.00
Saving : £95
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (B)
A Moment's Peace by Ivan Berryman. (C)
Those Nagging Mosquitoes by Stan Stokes.

Quantity:


Special Sale Pack of 5 Prints - 4 FREE!
Pack Price : £145.00
Saving : £205
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (AP)
The Struggle for Malta by Ivan Berryman. (F)
LCT 312 by Ivan Berryman. (D)
Typhoons Over Normandy by Ivan Berryman. (D)
Dinah Might by Ivan Berryman.

Quantity:
Robert Taylor Mosquito Aircraft Print Pack
Pack Price : £165.00
Saving : £95
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Mosquito into Attack by Robert Taylor
Top Dog by Robert Taylor. (B)

Quantity:
Wing Commander Robert Bray (deceased)

Squadrons for : Wing Commander Robert Bray
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Wing Commander Robert Bray. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

No.105 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 23rd September 1917
Fate : On 20 January 1968 the squadron disbanded for the last timein Bahrain

Fortis in proeliis - Valiant in battles

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.105 Sqn RAF

No.105 Sqn RAF

No 105 Squadron, RFC, was formed at Andover, Hampshire, in September 1917, and was originally intended as a bomber unit for service in France. In April 1918, however, plans were changed: it was ordered to mobilize as a corps reconnaissance squadron for service in Ireland and in May it proceeded to Omagh, Co. Tyrone, equipped with RE8 aircraft. In December 1918, it was re-equipped with Bristol Fighters. and 105 Squadron continued on duties in Ireland until 1 February 1920, when the squadron was disbanded by being re-numbered to 2 Squadron at Oranmore The squadron was formed again on 12 April 1937 at RAF Harwell from B Flight of 18 Squadron as a day bomber squadron. Its first equipment was the biplane Hawker Audax while it awaited delivery of the more modern monoplane Fairey Battle. The Battles arrived in August 1937 and 105 Squadron was one of the first to be operational on the type. At the start of the Second World War in September 1939, as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force, the squadron moved to France, initially on reconnaissance missions along the France-German border. The Germans invaded France in May 1940 and the squadron was soon busy attacking the advancing German troops. One of the most important targets was the bombing of the bridges over the River Meuse in attempt to slow down the German advance. It suffered heavily from the attention of German fighters and the squadron had to retire back to England in June 1940. At RAF Honington the squadron was re-equipped with the Bristol Blenheim to join 2 Group's offensive against the invasion ports and German shipping. The squadron had many losses particularly from the German Flak ships. In October 1940 part of the squadron was detached to Malta to carry out attacks on Axis shipping in the Mediterranean Sea. It moved to RAF Swanton Morley in Norfolk. After losing its commanding officer in a raid near Stavanger in 1941, it gained a new CO, Wing Commander H.I. Edwards. For his part in planning and leading a low level daylight attack on the port of Bremen he was awarded the Victoria Cross. In October 1941 the Malta detachment returned to England and the squadron began to operate at a reduced level. The reason for the reduction in sorties was the squadron had been chosen to be the first to use the Mosquito Mk.IV and was concentrating on training. In December the squadron moved to RAF Horsham St Faith near Norwich. The first Mosquito operation was a high-level attack on Cologne as a follow-on to the "thousand-bomber" raid on the city. It was not the best use of the new aircraft and the squadron soon moved to low-level precision attacks where the aircraft had an outstanding performance. The first precision attack was against the Gestapo Headquarters in Oslo on 25 September 1942. The squadron was the first to do a daylight raid on Berlin on 30 January 1943. By June 1943 the squadron joined No. 8 (Pathfinder) Group and upgraded to Oboe-equipped Mosquito Mk.IXs. It performed precision target-marking for Bomber Command until the end of the war. The squadron was disbanded at RAF Upwood on 1 February 1946. Between 1949 and 1957 the squadron was linked with 109 Squadron as 109/105 Squadron, but on 21 February 1962 the squadron re-formed in its own right at RAF Benson with the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy, a medium-range tactical transport. By June it had moved to RAF Khormaksar, Aden, to provide support to ground forces in the area. It also carried out transport runs through the middle-east and parts of Africa. It was involved in paradropping supplies to the British Army during operations in the Radfan and was also involved in supporting the operations in Borneo. In 1966 it was supporting troops in Aden again. When the terrorist activity worsened, it was also tasked with providing search-and-rescue searches over the Indian Ocean and Red Sea. As the British withdrawal from Aden got nearer the squadron moved out the Muharraq, Bahrain, in 1967. On 20 January 1968 the squadron disbanded for the last time there.

No.128 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st February 1918
Fate : Disbanded 31st March 1946

Fulminis instar - Like a thunderbolt

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.128 Sqn RAF

No.128 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.571 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 7th April 1944
Fate : Disbanded 20th September 1945

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.571 Sqn RAF
No.571 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.

No.75 Sqn RAF


Country : UK
Founded : 1st October 1916
Fate : Disbanded 15th October 1945
New Zealand

Ake ake kia kaha - For ever and ever be strong

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of No.75 Sqn RAF

No.75 Sqn RAF

Full profile not yet available.
Aircraft for : Wing Commander Robert Bray
A list of all aircraft associated with Wing Commander Robert Bray. A profile page including a list of all art prints for the aircraft is available by clicking the aircraft name.
SquadronInfo

Mosquito




Click the name above to see prints featuring Mosquito aircraft.

Manufacturer : De Havilland
Production Began : 1940
Retired : 1955
Number 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.

Wellington




Click the name above to see prints featuring Wellington aircraft.

Manufacturer : Vickers
Production Began : 1938
Retired : 1953

Wellington

The Vickers Wellington was a Bomber aircraft and also used for maritime reconnaissance. and had a normal crew of six except in the MKV and VI where a crew of three was used. Maximum speed was 235 mph (MK1c) 255 mph (MK III, X) and 299 mph (MK IIII), normal operating range of 1805 miles (except MK III which was 1470miles) The Wellington or Wimpy as it was known, was the major bomber of the Royal Air Force between 1939 and 1943. The Royal Air Force received its first Wellingtons in October 1938 to 99 squadron. and by the outbreak of World war two there were 6 squadrons equipped with the Vickers Wellington. Due to heavy losses on daylight raids, the Wellington became a night bomber and from 1940 was also used as a long range bomber in North Africa. and in 1942 also became a long range bomber for the royal Air Force in India. It was well used by Coastal Command as a U-Boat Hunter. The Wellington remained in service with the Royal Air Force until 1953. Probably due to its versatile use, The aircraft was also used for experimental work including the fitting of a pressure cabin for High altitude tests. The Vickers Wellington could sustain major damage and still fly, probably due to its construction of its geodesic structure and practical application of geodesic lines. Designed by Sir Barnes Wallis

Everything we obtain for this site is shown on the site, we do not have any more photos, crew lists or further information on any of the ships.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE. ALL IMAGES DISPLAYED ON THIS WEBSITE ARE PROTECTED BY  COPYRIGHT  LAW, AND ARE OWNED BY CRANSTON FINE ARTS OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.  NO REPRODUCTION OR COPYING ALLOWED ON OTHER WEBSITES, BOOKS OR ARTICLES WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT.

Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

Join us on Facebook!

Sign Up To Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with all our latest offers, deals and events as well as new releases and exclusive subscriber content!

This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts.  Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE

Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269.  Email: