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Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased) - Art prints and originals signed by Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

J B Tait

J B Tait
The signature of Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

31 / 5 / 2007Died : 31 / 5 / 2007

Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

One of Bomber Commands most outstanding leaders, James Brian -Willie- Tait was one of only two RAF officers who had the distinction of being awarded three Bars to his DSO, as well as a DFC and Bar. On the night before D-Day Tait was the 5 Group Master Bomber directing from the air the massed attack by Lancasters on the German defences in the Cherbourg peninsula. By then Tait had already flown more than 100 bomber sorties with 51, 35, 10 and 78 Squadrons. A Cranwell-trained regular officer, he was very much in the Cheshire mould: quiet, bordering on the introspective. He was to go on to command the legendary 617 Dambusters Squadron and lead it on one of its most famous raids which finally destroyed the German battleship Tirpitz. In July 1944 when Leonard Cheshire was replaced by Wing Commander J B Willie Tait, 617 Squadron discovered that it had acquired a Commanding Officer very much in the Cheshire mould. Quiet, bordering on introspection, Tait, who was a Cranwell-trained regular officer, had already flown over 100 bombing operations with 51, 35, 10 and 78 Squadrons before joining 617. Tait had also received a DSO and bar and the DFC. He was 26. In the best traditions of 617 Squadron, Tait wasted no time in adapting to the Mustang and Mosquito for low level marking. He appointed two new Flight Commanders including Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC. Although involved in many of 617 Squadrons spectacular operations, Taits name is always associated with the destruction of the Tirpitz. An earlier attack on the ship by the squadron on 15th September 1944 had caused severe damage but Tirpitz was still afloat. On 29th October the Squadron was frustrated on the second attack by cloud over the target. The final attack was launched in daylight on 12th November 1944. Leading a mixed force of 617 and 9 Squadron Lancasters, Tait achieved complete surprise and had the satisfaction of seeing the Tirpitz destroyed at last. He had led all three attacks. On 28th December 1944 Tait received a third bar to his DSO, becoming one of only two RAF men to achieve this distinction. It coincided with his leaving 617 Squadron. Tait served in the post-war RAF, retiring as a Group Captain in 1966. He died 31st May 2007.

Items Signed by Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

 On 12th November 1944, the mighty Tirpitz was finally destroyed by a combined force of Lancasters from No 9 and No 617 Squadrons. LM220, an aircraft of 9 Sqn is shown here making its run toward the target at approximately 09.40 hours on that fateful......
Raid on the Tirpitz by Ivan Berryman. (B)
Price : £320.00
On 12th November 1944, the mighty Tirpitz was finally destroyed by a combined force of Lancasters from No 9 and No 617 Squadrons. LM220, an aircraft of 9 Sqn is shown here making its run toward the target at approximately 09.40 hours on that fateful......

Quantity:
 Completed more than 100 sorties on bombers flying with No.51, No.35, No.10 and No.78 Sqn before taking command of No.617 Sqn, already famed for the Dambusters raid.  He led the squadron on all three attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, and rece......
Clipped Signature - James 'Willie' Tait.
Price : £30.00
Completed more than 100 sorties on bombers flying with No.51, No.35, No.10 and No.78 Sqn before taking command of No.617 Sqn, already famed for the Dambusters raid. He led the squadron on all three attacks on the German battleship Tirpitz, and rece......

Quantity:
 A cold winters morning, as dawn breaks over RAF Lissett, revealing that last nights biting wind has once again brought a covering of snow to the airfield.  But, with conditions forecast to improve, tonights operation to bomb industrial targets in Ge......
Action This Day by Richard Taylor. (C)
Price : £1095.00
A cold winters morning, as dawn breaks over RAF Lissett, revealing that last nights biting wind has once again brought a covering of snow to the airfield. But, with conditions forecast to improve, tonights operation to bomb industrial targets in Ge......

Quantity:
 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Price : £160.00
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......

Quantity:
 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian (AP)
Price : £200.00
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......

Quantity:
 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian. (B)
Price : £190.00
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......

Quantity:
 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian. (XX)
SOLD OUT
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian. (Y)
Price : £130.00
Throughout four long years of war Allied air and naval forces endeavoured to sink the German battleship Tirpitz. The mighty warship was a constant threat to Allied shipping, even while lying at anchor in her lair among the fjords of Norway. Her very......

Quantity:
Winter in Northern Europe brings short days, long nights and, for the most part, appalling weather making navigation difficult and flying hazardous, even by todays electronically sophisticated standards.  Throughout RAF Bomber Commands arduous six ye......
Strike and Return by Robert Taylor (D)
SOLD OUT
Winter in Northern Europe brings short days, long nights and, for the most part, appalling weather making navigation difficult and flying hazardous, even by todays electronically sophisticated standards. Throughout RAF Bomber Commands arduous six ye......NOT
AVAILABLE
At sunrise on 12 November, 1944, led by Wing Commander James Tait, Lancasters of 617 Squadron RAF prepare to make their bombing run on the German battleship Tirpitz, lying in the Norwegian fjord at Tromso.......
Target Bearing 270 by Robert Taylor (B)
SOLD OUT
At sunrise on 12 November, 1944, led by Wing Commander James Tait, Lancasters of 617 Squadron RAF prepare to make their bombing run on the German battleship Tirpitz, lying in the Norwegian fjord at Tromso.......NOT
AVAILABLE
Probably the most famous RAF Squadron in history, mainly due to the audacious Dambuster raid in 1943. Other notably successful missions flying their Avro Lancaster bombers included precision raids on the mighty German battleship Tirpitz, U-boat pens,......Legends of the Air by Philip West. (AP)
Price : £150.00
Probably the most famous RAF Squadron in history, mainly due to the audacious Dambuster raid in 1943. Other notably successful missions flying their Avro Lancaster bombers included precision raids on the mighty German battleship Tirpitz, U-boat pens,......

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 Published to mark the 50th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Avro Lancaster on 9th January 1941. ......
Lancaster by Frank Wootton.
Price : £400.00
Published to mark the 50th anniversary of the maiden flight of the Avro Lancaster on 9th January 1941. ......

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 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (AP)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (B)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (C)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (RM)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command.  They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......
Towards Night's Darkness by Robert Taylor. (RMB)
SOLD OUT
Sometimes it was five, every so often it might be six, occasionally it was three, but usually it was seven men who flew together as a crew with RAF Bomber Command. They formed the closest of bonds, forged through an anvil of freezing temperatures, ......NOT
AVAILABLE
 By April 1945 everyone, except a few die-hard fanatical Nazis, knew the war in Europe was over; the end was only a matter of time. So when Bomber Command dispatched a force of over 300 Lancaster bombers to destroy Hitler's infamous Obersalzberg ......
Home Again England by Robert Taylor. (AP)
Price : £295.00
By April 1945 everyone, except a few die-hard fanatical Nazis, knew the war in Europe was over; the end was only a matter of time. So when Bomber Command dispatched a force of over 300 Lancaster bombers to destroy Hitler's infamous Obersalzberg ......

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 By April 1945 everyone, except a few die-hard fanatical Nazis, knew the war in Europe was over; the end was only a matter of time. So when Bomber Command dispatched a force of over 300 Lancaster bombers to destroy Hitler's infamous Obersalzberg ......
Home Again England by Robert Taylor. (B)
Price : £225.00
By April 1945 everyone, except a few die-hard fanatical Nazis, knew the war in Europe was over; the end was only a matter of time. So when Bomber Command dispatched a force of over 300 Lancaster bombers to destroy Hitler's infamous Obersalzberg ......

Quantity:
 Official limited edition print of the 60th Anniversary of the Normandy Veterans Association.  The Eastern Flank of the D-Day battlefield, 1300 hours, June 6th 1944.  No single picture could possibly encompass the actions of all British forces on D-D......
Normandy Veterans Association 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Print by Michael Turner.
SOLD OUT
Official limited edition print of the 60th Anniversary of the Normandy Veterans Association. The Eastern Flank of the D-Day battlefield, 1300 hours, June 6th 1944. No single picture could possibly encompass the actions of all British forces on D-D......NOT
AVAILABLE
A first-hand account of the sinking of the Tirpitz by Bob Knights. - The early morning of 12th November 1944 was clear and very cold, and the wings of the Lancasters of 617 Squadron, parked on the airfield at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, were coated ......
The Sinking of the Tirpitz by Frank Wootton.
SOLD OUT
A first-hand account of the sinking of the Tirpitz by Bob Knights. - The early morning of 12th November 1944 was clear and very cold, and the wings of the Lancasters of 617 Squadron, parked on the airfield at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, were coated ......NOT
AVAILABLE
A first-hand account of the sinking of the Tirpitz by Bob Knights.  -  The early morning of 12th November 1944 was clear and very cold, and the wings of the Lancasters of 617 Squadron, parked on the airfield at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, were coate......
The Sinking of the Tirpitz by Frank Wootton (B)
SOLD OUT
A first-hand account of the sinking of the Tirpitz by Bob Knights. - The early morning of 12th November 1944 was clear and very cold, and the wings of the Lancasters of 617 Squadron, parked on the airfield at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, were coate......NOT
AVAILABLE
On April 25th 1945, the RAF despatched over 300 Lancasters to attack The Eagles Nest, Hitlers private mountain top castle at Berchstegaden.  It was a symbolic raid, for the war was almost over, but it seemed appropriate that, after almost six years o......
Escort for the Straggler by Robert Taylor.
SOLD OUT
On April 25th 1945, the RAF despatched over 300 Lancasters to attack The Eagles Nest, Hitlers private mountain top castle at Berchstegaden. It was a symbolic raid, for the war was almost over, but it seemed appropriate that, after almost six years o......NOT
AVAILABLE
<b>SOLD OUT. ......
Straggler Returns by Robert Taylor.
SOLD OUT
SOLD OUT. ......NOT
AVAILABLE

Packs with at least one item featuring the signature of Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)


Tony Iveson Signature Lancaster and Spitfire Prints.
Pack Price : £460.00
Saving : £295
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Target Bearing 270 by Robert Taylor.
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Lest We Forget by Robert Tomlin.
Spitfire Country by Ivan Berryman.

Quantity:


Dambusters Discount 5 Print Pack.
Pack Price : £180.00
Saving : £240
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
The One That Broke The Dam by Ivan Berryman.
'O' Safe Home by Ivan Berryman.
No Way Back by Ivan Berryman.
Raining Fire by Ivan Berryman.

Quantity:
Pack 562. Pack of two 617 Sqn aviation prints by Nicolas Trudgian and Gerald Coulson.
Pack Price : £290.00
Saving : £140
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Summer Harvest by Gerald Coulson.

Quantity:
Pack 563. Pack of two Lancaster bomber prints by Philip West and David Pentland.
Pack Price : £270.00
Saving : £120
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Legends of the Air by Philip West. (AP)
Target Y The Eder Dam Raid, The Ruhr Valley, 17th May 1942 by David Pentland. (AP)

Quantity:
Tony Iveson Pilot Signed Lancaster Bomber Prints by Robert Taylor and Nicolas Trudgian.
Pack Price : £330.00
Saving : £95
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Target Bearing 270 by Robert Taylor.
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.

Quantity:
No.617 Squadron Lancaster Tirpitz Raid Print Pack by Nicolas Trudgian and Ivan Berryman.
Pack Price : £190.00
Saving : £105
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Raid on the Tirpitz by Ivan Berryman.

Quantity:
Tirpitz Raid Lancaster Aviation Prints by Nicolas Trudgian and Philip West.
Pack Price : £240.00
Saving : £170
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Preparing for the Tirpitz by Philip West.

Quantity:
617 Sqn Lancaster Print Pack by Nicolas Trudgian and Gerald Coulson.
Pack Price : £260.00
Saving : £170
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.
Summer Harvest by Gerald Coulson.

Quantity:
Tirpitz Raid Aviation Prints by Stan Stokes and Nicolas Trudgian.
Pack Price : £185.00
Saving : £75
Aviation Print Pack. ......

Titles in this pack :

Attack on the Tirpitz by Stan Stokes.
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.

Quantity:
Lanacaster Tirpitz Print and Pilot Signature Pack.
Pack Price : £180.00
Saving : £70
......

Titles in this pack :

Clipped Signature - Joe Warburton.
Sinking the Tirpitz by Nicolas Trudgian.

Quantity:
Group Captain J B Willie Tait DSO*** DFC* ADC (deceased)

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