Saunders-Roe Lerwick and Lockheed Hudson advertising prints from 1941

The Saunders-Roe A.36 Lerwick was a British flying boat built by Saunders-Roe Limited (SARO) on the Isle of White. The Lerwick was Saunders-Roe's answer to Air Ministry Specification R1/36 calling for a medium range flying boat for anti-submarine, convoy escort and reconnaissance duties. A contract was placed in June 1937 to purchase 21 aircraft and the first machine off the production line took to the air on 31st October 1938. It was intended to be used alongside the Short Sunderland in Royal Air Force Coastal Command but it was a flawed design and on entering RAF service in 1940 had a poor safety record and a high accident rate. Of the 21 aircraft actually built, 10 were lost to accidents and one for an unknown reason and as such the remaining examples were retired 1942, one would think much to the relief of their crews! This drawing is dated 1941 on the reverse and is we suspect a rare survivor. The print is signed Morton who we believe to be Cavendish Morton (1911 – 2015) a painter and illustrator acclaimed for his impressionistic landscapes and sweeping, atmospheric maritime themes in East Anglia and the Isle of Wight – the two locations where his career was principally acted out.

The other print was published in Aeroplane magazine on June 6th 1941 and whilst unsigned shows an aircraft in flight with a map of Germany below which highlights various targets. The print is connotated Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft Ltd, contractors to H. M. Government England. The company was established in 1937 at Eastleigh near Southampton. They were primarily a repair and overhaul facillity, but also a construction shop for other companies' designs, and won a contract to manufacture the Supermarine Seafire. In addition Cunliffe-Owen Aircraft Limited also had a factory on the Macmerry aerodrome near Edinburgh, Scotland and the workforce were principally concerned with the repair of Lockheed Hudson aircraft which ties in with our artwork. Both drawings are in really excellent original condition and are mounted on card so ideal for framing.

Both measure 10.25" x 7" (26 cm x 18 cm)