Brian Sanders (British, B. 1937) "Lancaster Bombers sink German Battleship Tirpitz" Artist notes in margins. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original which appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 50c German Battleship Tirpitz Sunk 1944 Avro Lancaster stamp issued November 12, 1994. After the Tirpitz was damaged by one of many British bombing attacks, Germany's naval commander, Grand Admiral Karl D?nitz, felt it was no longer feasible to repair his last battleship. Deciding to use her as a floating battery to defend part of the Norwegian coast against a possible Allied invasion, D?nitz ordered the Tirpitz to be moved 200 miles south to a new berth off Haakoy Island near the port of Tromso. Here, however, the mammoth battleship was at last within range of specially modified British Lancaster bombers. On November 12, 1944, 32 Lancasters managed to drop 29 "Tallboy" bombs on the ship. The Tirpitz heeled over and minutes later her magazine exploded. Soon afterward, the great battleship capsized and sank. Image Size: 13.5 x 16.25 in. Overall Size: 16.5 x 19.5 in. Unframed. (B14851)