R.A.F. Badge: Bomber Squadron 49 (Original)

Artist: 20th Century unidentified artist
Medium: Watercolour on Paper
Size: 8" x 12" (210mm x 300mm)
Date: c. 1950
Code: 20thRAFSq49

This is the unique original Watercolour painting by artist unknown.

This is a very rare original painting by an unknown artist, produced for an unpublished run of cigarette cards featuring R.A.F. badges, most likely by John Player & Sons Cigarettes.

This artwork features the badge of the R.A.F. Bomber Squadron 49.

The motto of RAF Bomber Squadron 49 is "Cave Canem", which translates from Latin to "Beware of the Dog". This motto is associated with the squadron's official badge, which features a racing greyhound.

No. 49 Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Air Force formed during World War I, re-formed in the build up to World War II, and later took part in the Cold War.

The unit is noted for its role in the British atomic and hydrogen bomb programmes. During Operation Buffalo in 1956, a Vickers Valiant from the squadron became the first British aircraft to drop a live atomic bomb. A year later, the squadron was entrusted with the task of dropping hydrogen bombs in Operation Grapple.