Australian Spitfires & Aussie Aces by Troy White
The paintings on this page depict Supermarine Spitfire aircraft flown by Australian pilots serving in the RAF and RAAF during WWII.
When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939 Australia had an air force that consisted of 310 officers, 3179 airmen and 164 operational aircraft. During the war the RAAF expanded to 20,000 officers 144,000 airmen and 18,000 airwomen. The RAAF fought in every theatre of operations. Six RAAF Spitfire squadrons were formed during the course of the war. In addition to those six RAAF squadrons many Australians flew with RAF squadrons in Europe, North Africa and in the CBI (China, Burma, India).
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"Caldwell & Watson" Oil on Canvas 16" x 48" ©2005 For Sale
To relive the frustration of flying ops in an area far away from enemy aircraft aircraft Wing Commander Clive Caldwell and Squadron Leader Bruce Watson would often go out as a pair looking for Jap gun positions in the mountains on various Halmahera islands. Usually one aircraft would go in close to draw some fire while the other watched to see the muzzle flashes. Once the target was identified they would then be able take it out. Bruce and Clive were good mates during the war and this friendship continued right up until Clive died in 1994. In “Caldwell & Watson” the mate ship between the two men is portrayed by the proximity of the Spitfires to each other with both pilots making eye contact. The lush tropical environment that they flew in during early 1945 serves as a backdrop.
"Rhapsody in Red" Oil on Canvas 24" x 36" ©2005 For Sale
F/O Lysle Roberts of No 457 Squadron RAAF begins a chandelle over Vestey's beach on the northern outskirts of Darwin, NT in late 1944. Roberts is flying his personal Spitfire Mk VIII A58-458. "Rhapsody in Red" sports a pin-up girl painted just below the windscreen and was coded ZP-R.
"Out of the Blue" Oil on Canvas 44" x 36" ©2005 For Sale
Out of the Blue depicts F/Lt. Ray Thorold-Smith of No 452 Squadron RAAF in combat with an Fw190 from 6/JG 26. Thorold-Smith nicknamed “Throttle” is flying his assigned Spitfire Mk Vb W3821 UD-D. Throttle received the DFC in December of 1941 after 50 fighter sweeps and was promoted to squadron leader in early 1942. In June 1942 No 452 Squadron was sent to Australia to form part of No 1 Fighter Wing. S/L Smith was killed in action during a Japanese raid on Darwin on 15th March 1943. Smith credited with 5.5 victories his last one being an Fw 190.
"Shark Patrol" Oil on Canvas 36"x 48" ©2005 For Sale
Deputy Wing Commander Bobby Gibbes leading No. 457 Squadron RAAF on a sortie over a tropical island. The Mk VIII Spitfires of the "Grey Nurse" Squadron were based at Morotai island in the Halmaheras in mid 1945. ALSO AVAILABLE AS LIMITED EDITION PRINT!
"Blue Skies over Darwin" Oil on Canvas 30" x 24" ©2005 For Sale
Wing Commander Clive R. Caldwell banks his personal Spitfire Mk VIII A58-484 over Darwin in late 1944. Clive flew combat in North Africa in 1941 and 1942 scoring 20.5 victories while flying Tomahawks and Kittyhawks with Nos 250 and 112 squadrons, earning the nickname "Killer" He returned to Australia in late 1942 and Flying out of Darwin in command of No.1 FW he scored an additional seven victories over Japanese aircraft raising his score to 27.5 enemy aircraft destroyed. Caldwell was the highest scoring Australian of WWII his awards include the DSO, DFC & Bar and the Polish Cross of Valour.
"Desert Eagles" Oil on Canvas 48" x 16" ©2005 For Sale
Squadron Leader Neville Duke, F/L Ted Sly and F/L Alf Glendinning cruse alongside a towering cumulus cloud in north African skies. The Mk Vb Spitfires are from No. 92 Squadron RAF. Duke was born in Kent, England and was one of the RAF's highest scoring aces. He finished the war with 26 and 2 shared enemy aircraft destroyed. Both Sly and Glendinning are Australians from New South Wales and Queensland respectively. After the war Neville Duke became Chief Test Pilot for Hawker Aircraft and in that position carried out much of the early testing on the famed Hawker Hunter jet fighter.
