The 65th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Tirpitz
"The destruction of this ship is the greatest event at sea at the present time. No other target is comparable to it" - Sir Winston Churchill.
On 12th November 1944, 617 Squadron, otherwise known as The Dambusters, set off from Lossiemouth. The target was the Tirpitz, the German battleship menacing British shipping and cutting off food suppies.
None of the men who were flying that day expected to return home. Even with extra fuel tanks, the Tirpitz was only just in range and close by was a crack squadron of German fighters who could easily shoot Lancasters out of the sky, before they even reached their target. It was a suicide mission.
But luck was with them that night.
They sighted Tirpitz 14,000ft below them. The Lancasters lined up over the target and the Tallboy bombs rained down. The first two direct hits pierced the decks then her magazine blew up with a tremendous explosion. Tirpitz was sunk.
It took incredible marksmanship to hit such a tiny target and the men who thought never to see their families again came back home after all.
Own Your Piece of their History
To mark the 65th Anniversary of this incredible achievement, we've created a new Platinum Stamp Sheet Presentation Pack. It features the breathtaking artwork of one of the greatest military artists of all time, Frank Wooton and is a strictly limited edition of just 617, to honour 617 Squadron.
A Very Special Signature
We are proud to offer a limited number of our sheets signed by Squadron Leader Tony Iveson DFC, who was not only a member of 617 Squadron but also flew in the attacks on Tirpitz itself.
Frame Yours for the Wall
These sheets are so visually stunning that we know many of you frame them for the wall. That way, they also make stunning presents.
We don't offer our sheet framed at the moment but we do offer it mounted, ready
to drop into a standard 14x11 inch frame.
The mount is cream in colour
- nice and neutral, to work with your own colour scheme.
The mount will not cause any damage to your stamp sheet, allowing you to frame it for the
wall without risking your investment. The sheets simply slip into the mount without need for
damaging tape.
This sheet was automatically reserved for members of our Sheet Club - and at the lowest possible prices. It pays to buy Buckingham Stamp Sheets as soon as they are issued. If you wait, the chances are they will sell out and you'll end up paying more in the future. If you love our sheets, we recommend you join the Sheet Club. There are lots of perks and no commitment whatsoever!
60th Anniversary Cover
In 2004 we produced our 60th Anniversary cover, featuring another stunning painting by Frank Wooton, depicting the exact moment that Tallboys from 617 Squadron's Lancasters rained destruction on the Tirpitz.
Quick Facts: Sinking of the Tirpitz 65th Anniversary is a Mint Sheet Issue date (2009-11-30): 30 November 2009
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Buckingham Covers Limited, registered in England No. 03877048 is part of Internet Stamps Group Limited, registered in England No. 03497867. Registered office for both: Warren House, Shearway Rd, Folkestone, Kent CT19 4BF, UK.
Tel. (+44)01303 278 137. Email. betty@buckinghamcovers.com
