Military Themed Paintings ... But Which Is Your Favourite?

Tucked away behind a train station in Wendover at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, Aces High Gallery is the world’s leading specialists in aviation and military fine art. Counting neighbours such as Chequers – the Prime Minister’s country estate – and RAF Halton, the gallery is spread over two floors, the walls of which are crammed with paintings depicting actions from past conflicts.

On one wall there are eight paintings displaying various Battle of Britain aircraft. On another, a collection of works featuring D-Day sceneries … each item of artwork telling a story frozen in time. Next to the staircase, a salvaged side panel pulled from the River Thames of a downed Messerschmitt. Everywhere you look, there is something historical and impressive. It is a military collector's Disney Land.

On the face of it, Aces High is a place where military-themed art enthusiasts can pick up new collection pieces or simply just admire the hundreds of artworks depicting moments of action from bygone conflicts of the past. But, alongside this, gallery staff spend a lot of their time engaging veteran communities to come together and visit the artworks, offering those groups a chance to catch up with old comrades while browsing the paintings.

BFBS took a few hours out to visit the Aces High Gallery and hear from its founder, Colin Hudson, about the passion he and his customers have for military themed pieces of art.

Colin Hudson founded Aces High in 1996. His interest in military art was based upon a passion for twentieth century history he had developed during his education. Now, as the gallery approaches its 25th anniversary year in 2021, he is proud of the fact he has established a committed clientele, which counts the likes of Sir Peter Jackson - director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy - as well as having had the opportunity to meet hundreds of veterans from both the first and second world wars.

Paintings available at Aces High range is value from £15,000 to £40,000.

Talking to BFBS, Colin said:

“We don’t just sell paintings, we also hold events in the gallery bringing veteran communities together.

“There is one person I can think of who has sadly recently lost his wife and coming to the gallery reminds him of his younger life in the Armed Forces, and we know that a planned visit to a gallery like ours can help a lot.

“We have had World War Two veterans come here from all over the world, including those from Germany who served in the Luftwaffe.”

The gallery is crammed full of exciting works that frequently also tell wider stories than what is being displayed in the paintings.

One such example is the painting Salute To The Brave which depicts a returning B17 bomber which, on December 10, 1943, was flying back to England after taking part in a challenging raid on the Focke-Wulf fighter production factory in Bremen. During the mission, and as evident in the painting, the B17 picked up extraordinary damage, so much so that it was remarkable the crew had managed to keep the bomber in the air.  

A lone enemy Messerschmitt spotted the stricken B17, which Colin described as being “practically defenceless” and moved in closer to the aircraft with a view to putting it out of the sky. Yes, the aircraft was likely too damaged to be of further harm to the Germans, but the crew would still be able to climb into another aircraft and continue their war on German targets. The Messerschmitt pilot was duty bound to shoot the plane out of the sky.

However, the German pilot did something altogether different.

Instead of engaging the bomber, the Messerschmitt - out of respect to the bravery evidently on show due to the state of their aeroplane, gave the US bomber an escort out of France and into the English Channel before turning back home to Germany.

A wonderful moment of respect between adversaries, told brilliantly in a painting.

Colin explained to BFBS that the story did not end there …

“One of the American crew members in the B17 told of the experience a long, long time after the event … in the early nineties. And, quite incredibly whoever it was he was telling responded by saying he had heard of the same story but in Germany. It turned out to be the German pilot … they had both grown old but remembered the event, as you would …

“The pair became best friends, and interestingly but sadly, they each died within weeks of each other.

“Those are the type of incredible stories we have become aware of over the almost 25 years of the gallery existing.”

In 2015, Colin expanded Aces High by opening a second gallery in Normandy, France.

Situated in Sainte-Mère-Église, the French branch of the business is open seasonally from March to October and as well as enjoying a good trade from the year in, year out D-Day tourism which flocks to the region like pilgrims, the gallery has also become a focal point for visiting veterans who, as Colin described, often arrive with a tale to tell.

Colin said:

"Over the years, our bathroom door has been signed. The younger veterans among those who visit us, typically from conflicts such as the Falklands or those more recently, tend to sign as close to the bottom of the door as possible ... it has become a bit of a competition to see who can sign it the lowest."

It is clear from spending an hour chatting with Colin about the gallery’s history that he has a deep  passion for both the artworks on display, and the men and women they represent.

But what does the future look like if groups such as the Normandy veterans are becoming fewer in number with each passing year? Will Aces High Gallery need to start looking at other conflicts if it is going to continue providing a gallery service that directly links artwork with surviving veterans?

Colin says yes … the gallery has started to move into works that depict more recent conflicts.

“We are starting to get Vietnam War artwork, and we thankfully have the ability to reach veterans of that conflict reasonably easy, so we can get pieces signed by real veterans who were there. We are also seeing more Falklands War pieces too.”

The gallery displays all available works on their website, which is updated frequently. Potential buyers, or those who just want to browse the works, are encouraged to phone the gallery to arrange a suitable time to visit.

“Coronavirus, touch wood, has not affected us too harshly at our UK gallery, but we have lost the entire season in France at our Normandy site.”

Aces High is hoping the coronavirus crisis will be at a lesser point in disrupting their France-based gallery as they start to prepare for their 25th anniversary year. After so many surviving veterans of WWII missed out on the opportunity to make a visit their this summer, Colin - like many - hope 2021 does not turn out to be so cruel to them.

Which Painting Is Your Favourite?

Here are five works available to view or purchase at Aces High Gallery ... but which is your favourite?

Robert Taylor’s stirring painting was inspired by the late Group Captain Peter Townsend’s vivid description of an event that happened to him while in command of 85 Squadron during the Battle of Britain. Flying Officer Jim Marshall was struggling to keep his Hurricane in the air after a collision during an engagement - it was barely flying. Townsend stood guard over the crippled aircraft, and using hand-signals guided the young pilot safely back to their base at Debden. It was a typical act of unselfish leadership from one of the RAF’s most highly regarded fighter leaders.

The daylight raid on Tokyo, led by Lt Col James H. Doolittle on Sunday 18 April 1942, has rightfully entered the history books as one of the most daring and courageous operations of the Second World War. On that day, in mid ocean, Doolittle had launched his B-25 Mitchell bomber from the heaving, spray-soaked flight deck of an aircraft carrier, a deck too short to land on, and flown on to bomb Tokyo. He knew there would be no return to the USS Hornet, either for him or the 15 heavily-laden B-25s behind him, for this was a feat never before attempted, and for every crew member the mission was a one-way ticket. Yet, under the leadership of Jimmy Doolittle, they all dared to survive.

Robert Taylor's magnificent study of the legendary Hawker Hurricane captures wonderfully the spirit of that cataclysmic aerial conflict fought so long ago. Nearest, young Pilot Officer Geoffrey Page, later to become one of the RAF's most highly decorated fighter aces, powers his Mk I Hawker Hurricane over the country lane at the edge of the airfield, as he and his fellow No 56 Squadron pilots make their third scramble of the day.

In what looks similar to a scene from the iconic TV series Band of Brothers, Covering Fire depicts a moment of high stakes action from a battle situation in Normandy following the D-Day invasion. 

When the Luftwaffe unleashed the Fw190, the unsuspecting Spitfire pilots of RAF Fighter Command were at serious disadvantage – but it wasn’t for long!

Under clear skies, a light breeze from the south-west blew across the grass airstrip. It was Thursday 5 March 1936 and K5054 – the prototype of R. J. Mitchell’s beautiful Spitfire fighter – was about to make its maiden flight.

For more information about Aces High Gallery, visit their website at https://www.aces-high.com/