Black Friday, by Mark Postlethwaite

At 14.00 on the 9th February 1945, 31 Beaufighters of 445 (RAAF), 404(RCAF) and 144 Squadron(RAF) took off for a strike against a small German Naval Force hidden in Fordefjord. By 19.00 that evening, 404 Sqn were coming to terms with the loss of six of their aircraft, 11 men dead one POW. In total, nine Beaufighters were lost that day along with one Mustang, the Germans lost 5 Focke Wulf 190s. Fourteen Allied aircrew and two German pilots were dead.

This painting was produced to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of this momentous action, with the full co-operation of the Norwegian military authorities. The painting faithfully recreates the moment when Butler and Nichol, on their first operational sortie were attacked and hit by an FW190 over Fordefjord. They limped back to base and belly landed at Dallachy.

The original painting now hangs in Herdla Museum, from where the FW190s of JG5 took off to intercept the raid.

L/E of 850 (29" x 19")
Signed and numbered by the artist:: $110