2020 Holiday Auction – Hendon Lamb 16″x25″ Canvas Print

Description

You are bidding on a 16″ x 25″ canvas print depicting Sergeant Wlodzimierz Chojnacki of the Polish Air Force in his Spitfire, Hendon Lamb, possibly at Northolt or Kirton, in 1942. The Polish Air Force was based in the United Kingdom during World War II after the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939.

The original black and white image has been accurately hand-colored by the noted digital artist and Hendon FC supporter Kim Parker. The canvas print reproduction shows excellent detailing and is a striking composition. It is donated by Marina Reznor.

Please note: The print will be shipped directly to the winning bidder from the printer and can take up to six weeks to fulfill.

Further information about Sergeant Chojnacki, excerpted from spitfiresite.com, circa 2011:

This gentleman [Sergeant Chojnacki] is now living in Australia and aged 96 with his ex-WAF wife of 68 years. He has changed his name to Don Merrill for convenience. I am interviewing him with a view to collecting his stories, which in aviation terms began in 1932 when he began to fly in Poland.

Chojnacki career as a pilot begun in 1932 in Poznan, where he got his license. He quickly distinguished himself as a skilfull aviator. By the time the war broke out, he already was a qualified fighter instructor in the Polish Air Force.

Like many of his peers, after the demise of his home country Chojnacki escaped to Britain. There, for the 15 months’ in 1941 and 1942, he served with Nos. 303 and 129 Squadrons in which he flew Spitfires Mk. Vb and Vc.

After the Dieppe Raid where he flew on Operation Jubilee, he was awarded the Polish Cross of Valour which was presented to him by the Polish President at a special parade, about two weeks after the operation.

During his Flying Career, Wlodek flew nearly 4000 hours on 28 different types of aircraft.

Note the two emblems on the depicted Spitfire. The right one is the circular “Kosciuszko” emblem of No. 303 Squadron, commemorating a Polish general who fought in the American Revolutionary War (note that the emblem features the stars and stripes of the American flag). The second one, “Hendon Lamb” is a presentation name of this particular Spitfire, adorned by the coat of arms of Hendon – a Lamb carrying a St George’s Flag, which is seen on St Mary’s Church in the town.

The elaborate presentation logo is an interesting example of local patriotism – Hendon had become a municipal borough with its own mayor and the right to to have its own coat of arms only eight years previously, in 1932 – when Chojnacki was going through his initial flying training…

No. 303 Squadron records indicate that the “Hendon Lamb” Spitfire was W3506, a Spitfire Mk. Vb marked RF-U. This would date the photo to a period between 3 Oct 1941 (W3506 assigned to No. 303 Sqn) and 12 Apr 1942, when the same aircraft was lost. Damaged by a Fw 190 during a Circus 122 mission over France, it ditched five miles South-East off Dover; the pilot, P/O Wojda, was rescued by an RAF launch.