ALLIES IN ARMS… Reflections of a unified effort against tyranny in WW2
ALLIES IN ARMS features legendary Wing Leader “Johnnie” Johnson, the highest scoring RAF Ace of WWII, leading the Spitfires of No. 144 (Canadian) Wing during the weeks following D-Day. Having picked up a formation of USAAF B-17s on a bombing mission to Germany, the Canadian Wing’s Spitfire Mk IXs stay with the American bombers to fend off attacks from prowling Luftwaffe fighters.
In these next few photos, we’ll take a look at some of the great people who inspired not only the subject of this scene, but also helped make it a very special piece of autographed history…
Front & center in this scene is legendary ace James Edgar “Johnnie” Johnson. The highest scoring RAF fighter pilot to survive the war, he shot down 38 enemy aircraft in the skies over Western Europe between June 1941 and September 1944. One of the most inspirational Wing Leaders of the war, ‘Johnnie’ finished as the highest scoring RAF Ace of WWII – and by most accounts, also the top Allied Ace in Europe.
On that note, the Telegraph publication wrote: “Johnson accounted for at least 38 enemy aircraft over Britain and occupied Europe, yet his actual score was almost certainly higher. Of the many enemy aircraft he shot down, he waived shared credits to boost the scores – and the confidence – of younger pilots.”
More on Johnson’s bio coming up in a few photos from now….
For years, I’ve wanted to do a painting featuring the Spitfire- few combat aircraft in history are more iconic and more beautiful in their design, and recently, the great folks at Perform Air Int’l in Arizona provided me the opportunity to have a lot of fun with this subject! We have a mutual friend (of whom many of you seeing this post may also know)- Mr. Mike Johnson!
The son of ‘Johnnie’, Mike was one of the first purveyors of Aviation Art when it started becoming popular in the late ’70s and early ‘80s. His famous dad showed him some of the early aviation paintings of British artist Robert Taylor, and before long, Mike Johnson began WINGS FINE ART, one of the leading dealers for many years.
As an artist, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed knowing Mike and working with him, and we’ve had a ball collaborating on several projects over the years, including ‘Ramrod-Outward Bound’ (with American ace ‘Bud’ Anderson), Reno Air Races 50th Anniversary piece, and also a Vietnam F-4 Phantom piece in which Mike helped round up multiple Navy F-4 combat pilots to sign prints of “Into the Storm” (here’s a pic of Mike and me in Reno, 2012 with the original oil painting). During our times together, Mike had many fond recollections of his dad ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, which always piqued my imagination. My only regret is that I never had the chance to meet the RAF’s ‘Ace of aces’ myself!
Once we established that Johnnie would be a great subject, I began the process of researching and deciding which of the various versions of Spitfire he flew to paint. I discussed this with his son Mike as well, and learned that hands-down, his beloved Mark IX was the undisputed winner.
Johnson had quickly distinguished himself as a Wing Leader, earning the right to adorn his plane with his initials JE J on the fuselages of his aircraft, and I felt that visually it was at its most dramatic just after D-Day in June 1944, once all Allied aircraft had their famous black & white stripes applied.
Here’s a detail shot of a section of the original oil painting-(note a bit of reflection of the canvas in the lower corners)…
As the guys at Perform Air & I discussed other specifics for the Johnson painting, we also felt that it would be very interesting to include B-17s as a major element. Photos and paintings of these two aircraft together in the same scene are not terribly common, so it seemed a very interesting approach! After some more research from various records, etc, the task of finding which B-17 units were likely operating in places to coincide with sorties which Johnnie’s Canadian group were flying in the weeks following D-day. I discovered a few possibilities involving the 100th Bomb Group, based out of Thorpe Abbots.
Both Mike and Johnnie Johnson had a huge affinity for the B-17, and I wanted to see if I could find any specific thoughts Johnnie had ever expressed about it specifically. I found a number of them, but was particularly delighted to discover several quotes within his great 1956 biography entitled “WING LEADER-Top Scoring Allied Fighter Pilot of World War II”.
One quote:
“We joined together and flew above the white, fleecy blanket towards our rendezvous point with the Forts. As usual, they were dead on time; they flew a converging course with ours, and I thought how beautiful and stately they looked when they winged their way through the high sky in a good, balanced formation”…
Here’s another detail shot of the main 100th BG Fortress from the painting,
And another of Johnson’s quotes from his book ‘WING LEADER’:
““We saw the glinting bombers from a great distance, for the bright sun reflected from a hundred places on each silver aircraft. They made a most impressive sight when they pounded their stately way through the skies in battle array. Flak and fighters could not stop them. Here and there, a bomber fell burning to the ground below, but the rest pressed on, determined, irresistible, blazing a new daylight trail over Europe and somehow symbolic of the country’s star they bore”.
‘Johnnie’ Johnson, from Wing Leader, 1956
A great shot of Wing Leader J.E. ‘Johnnie’ Johnson with one his 4-legged buddy, taken in July 1944
This unusual picture of Johnson’s Spit being serviced is noted as evidently occurring around September 1944 in Eindhoven, Holland, when 403 Squadron was conducting activities during Operation Market Garden…(Note the unusual font applied on the fuselage) -very atypical!
I discovered this and other amazing photos and anecdotal information on a tremendous blog, which I HIGHLY recommend to anyone interested. Here’s a link: https://rcaf403squadron.wordpress.com/category/johnnie-johnson-2/
This is one of the most famous shots of Wing Leader ‘Johnnie’ Johnson, again with his faithful friend. Sadly, his beloved lab was not still around in 1996, when he re-enacted this well-known photo in Duxford, UK.
JE J- This is Your Life
Remember the old British-produced series from yesteryear called ‘This is Your Life”?
Here’s a GREAT episode made back in 1995, featuring Johnnie Johnson and many great recollections from those days in the skies over Europe…
Allies in Arms Today!
Since beginning painting WWII aviation scenes in the mid-90s, my goal (and motto for Liberty Studios) has been “Keeping History Alive”. In the world of Aviation Art, there have been a number of kindred spirits with this goal, and certainly no one has been more committed to preserving the history of our great veterans through art than Mr. Rick Taylor! Many collectors familiar with the long rich history of the UK-based publisher Military Gallery have interacted with Rick, and no doubt enjoyed conversations rich with history, stories and first-hand details of working with some of the greatest aviation veterans ever.
I’ve treasured the times working with Rick for many years, and few people have inspired & stimulated ideas for more paintings with the enthusiasm he’s had. Now based in Ojai, California, Aces High Publishing continues to carry the torch of our shared motto of keeping history alive.
The first time we had the chance to collaborate on a project together was in 2006, when Aces High hosted me and five of Jimmy Doolittle’s surviving Tokyo Raiders in England, during a wonderful time at the annual major airshow held at historic Duxford.
At this event, the Doolittle veterans had requested that one of their favorite art prints be reproduced in a small special edition to be signed specifically for this event. It was a tremendous honor that my 1994 painting ‘The Hornet’s Nest’ was their choice! A “UK Edition” of 300 prints was a huge hit.
Over the years, Aces High established close relationships with many great pilots and aviators of the war years. In the case of ALLIES in ARMS, Johnnie Johnson and several other highly-notable Canadian Aces pre-signed prints in their latter years, knowing that artwork would soon be created which would preserve the legacy of the great accomplishments of themselves and their countrymen in military history. Signatures like these are getting hard to come by, and it’s an honor for me to tell their stories through art!
Following are brief biographies of Johnnie and these three great Canadian Spitfire veterans….
Air Vice Marshal J.E. ‘JOHNNIE’ JOHNSON- CB CBE DSO** DFC* DL
Born in 1915, “Johnnie”Johnson is best known as the highest-scoring Western Allied fighter ace against the German Luftwaffe. Joining the RAF in 1939, some previous injuries resurfaced during his training, which prevented him from participating the early battles in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the Battle of Britain; In 1941, he began flying regularly in offensive sweeps over occupied Europe, and experienced frequent heavy fighting during this period. His His combat tour included the Battle of Normandy, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. A well-loved Wing Leader from 1942 through war’s end, he would hold multiple commands, among them 610 Squadron, Wings 144, 127, 125 and 124. All his aerial victories were against enemy fighters, primarily FW 190s and Bf 109s, scoring his last in September 1944, by which time, according to official records, he had achieved 34 individual victories, 7 shared victories and 3 probables (many other records list him with 38 individual victories). One of the most inspirational Wing Leaders of the war, ‘Johnnie’ finished as the highest scoring RAF Ace of WWII – and by most accounts, also the top Allied Ace in Europe.
On that note, the Telegraph publication wrote: “Johnson accounted for at least 38 enemy aircraft over Britain and occupied Europe, yet his actual score was almost certainly higher. Of the many enemy aircraft he shot down, he waived shared credits to boost the scores – and the confidence – of younger pilots.”
His last victory took place in September 1944 but he continued to fly combat missions to the last day of the war. He went on to serve in the Korean War, flying the F-80 Shooting Star, and later flew F-86 Sabres with the US Air Force Tactical Air Command.
He retired at the rank of Air Vice Marshall. Johnnie Johnson, one of history’s greatest air aces, died at age 85 on January 30, 2001.
Wing Commander J.F. “STOCKY” EDWARDS DFC* • DFM
Joining the RCAF as a Sergeant Pilot in October 1940, Stocky was posted to 92 Sqn RAF in the Western Desert flying Hurricanes and Kittyhawks. After moving to 260 Sqn as a Flight Commander he saw a great deal of action, scoring a significant number of victories. His second tour saw him flying Spitfires with 417 Sqn RCAF in Italy, then with 92 Sqn, before taking command of 274 Sqn flying Spitfire IXs during D-Day. After a spell in England flying Tempests on anti-V1 sorties in August 1944, his final tour was in command of 127 Canadian Wing RCAF and he finished the war with 16½ confirmed victories.
Lt General DON LAUBMAN •DFC*
Joining the RCAF in September 1940 he served as an instructor and with 133 Sqn in Canada until his first posting to England with 412 Sqn RCAF, flying Mk.V and then Mk.IX Spitfires. He was prolific throughout D-Day and the Normandy invasion including the destruction of German forces at Falaise and he downed 8 German fighters over Arnhem, becoming one of the leading Aces in the 2nd TAF. For his second tour he commanded 402 Sqn RCAF in April 1945 but after only a week with the unit he was forced to bale out after his Spitfire was hit by flak, becoming a POW for last few weeks of the war, having scored 15 aerial victories.
Wing Commander JAMES LINDSAY • DFC
James Lindsay enlisted in the RCAF in February 1941 and initially stayed in Canada as a flying instructor, before joining 403 Sqn RCAF in England becoming a Flight Commander. Flying a Mk IX Spitfire over France he scored his first victory in May 1944 and was prolific during the Normandy invasions scoring 7 victories, including 3 in one minute on 2 July. In April 1945 he was posted to 416 Sqn RCAF. In 1952 he was posted to Korea attached to the USAF flying F-86s claiming 2 MiG 15s and two damaged, for a total of 9 victories in WWII and Korea.
It seemed only appropriate for a print highlighting the combined efforts of the RAF, Canada, and United States to include signatures of American B-17 veterans as well. Not many of those great people are still here today in 2023 to recount firsthand the days of WWII , but Aces High went to great lengths to procure some of their names on ALLIES in ARMS as well, as a testament to the Allied effort they were a part of.
Lt Colonel IRVIN POFF • 3 Air Medals
Joining the USAAF in December 1942, Irvin completed Pilot training and joined the 9th Bomb Sqn, 2nd Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in April 1944, as a Co-Pilot flying B-17s from Foggia, Italy. Keen to fly as often as possible he volunteered for any mission he could get, volunteering for aircraft that were short of crew, and by June 1944 had completed 50 missions as both a Pilot and Co-Pilot - a staggering achievement in such a short space of time. Regularly escorted by the Tuskegee Airmen, his operations included the oil refineries in Ploesti and Austria and targets in Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Greece and Northern Italy. After the war he continued as an instructor until 1967.
First Lt KEN SHARP • 3 Air Medals
After joining the USAAF in March 1943, Ken completed Pilot training and was posted to the 8th Air Force, serving with the 388th Bomb Group flying B-17Gs with the 561st Bomb Sqn from RAF Knettishall in Suffolk, England. He flew his first mission in January 1945 and went on to complete a total of 18 perilous daylight Operations over occupied Europe, including numerous trips to Berlin, the Ruhr Valley and, as the war in Europe was coming to an end, picking up 30 French POWs from Linz in Austria to return them home to Paris.
First Lieutenant CHARLES "NORM" STEVENS • DFC • 4 Air medals
Volunteering for the USAAF in April 1943, ‘Norm’ was posted to the 351st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force as a Bombardier. Commissioned soon after, he and his recently formed crew flew a brand new B-17Gs from Nebraska to their new base in England, joining the 509th Bomb Sqn at Polebrook in Northamptonshire. He flew his first combat mission on 14 June, 1944, a raid on Le Bourget airfield near Paris, followed by operations to targets across occupied France, Holland, Belgium and Germany. His final mission was a bombing raid on the Luftwaffe airfield at Kassel on 22 September, 1944 and he finished the war having completed a total of 34 daylight Operations.
Only a small number of ALLIES in ARMS prints are available. With a truly unique set of Allied veteran signatures, they’re sure to go quickly. Don’t miss out on the chance to own this great piece of history which will be a source of fascinating conversation for years to come!
For those interested in an oil-painting ‘version’ of the scene, beautiful hand-embellished canvas giclées are also available, each one-of-a kind custom reproductions. Hope you enjoy!
