Race For The Clouds
…. a commissioned artwork showing Lancasters in battle.
“My idea behind commissioning Race For The Clouds was to commemorate two uncles of mine who were rear gunners and both made the ultimate sacrifice. Their commemoration here with ‘Race For The Clouds’ also extends to their crews and to all who served with Bomber Command.
“I was born six years after they were killed, so these are uncles I never met but will never forget - Pilot Officer Roy Thibedeau, 50 Squadron and Flight Sergeant Earl Bock, 626 Squadron. Their stories are elsewhere on this site.
“The selection of the artist for this commission was straightforward – long time friend Cheryl Ann Jones is extraordinarily talented as an artist and brought her dedication, empathy and soul to this project - below the watermarked image read her insights into what she created.”
“ Race For The Clouds”
Written by the artist Cheryl Ann Jones
This piece represents a moment in time when we find a squadron of Lancaster bombers retreating to the clouds after a ground bombing. Location is left unknown to allow for the feeling of the vastness of WWII and the enormous number of bomber missions that took place to secure freedom and safety to the allied countries battling one of the world’s worst dictators and his dangerous military operations against mankind itself.
We see a very chaotic, dark scene with a location just bombed and on fire below against a low-level mountain range to give depth to the perspective.
Above the tranquil moon watches over the dark scene gently lighting it up for the viewer to see.
In the foreground, is the main protagonist, a young rear gunner hanging on to life by firing along with his crew to thwart off an ominous Focke-Wulf 190, followed by Junkers coming up from the depths of the night.
One Lancaster has been hit badly, but its top and rear gunners aren’t giving up trying to save the engines that may get them home. We don’t know if the rear gunner will survive the hit that was just behind him.
Another Lancaster coming up from the rear has had a wing hit, and will most likely not survive, with two more ‘Lancs’ seen lower trying to gain altitude to reach more safety within the clouds.
Finally, we look back to our main protagonist again, whose bomber is becoming enveloped by the dark clouds. In a last-ditch effort to support his fellow squadron bombers, he watches the trajectory of the Focke-Wulf 190 coming up and has just fired all 4 guns with the hope of not hitting any of his own who are struggling to catch up through the dark maze of chaos.
With the constant challenge for the gunners to be accurate against the agile enemy planes, they also struggle not to hit their own in the frenzy of flack and smoke. The face of the young gunner is the only thing we see disappearing into the clouds, with a suggestion of his spot within the precarious turret position. He is focused on deflecting the enemy planes, but in the back of his mind, he can see what their mission results may be.
Still, he hangs on as they race to the clouds. Forever vigilant, with valour and courage, these and all bomber crews of World War II have an honoured place in this incredible, historic moment in time.
This piece was a private commission for Art Osborne, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
December 2025 by: Cheryl Ann Jones cheryljonesart.ca
The artist’s creativity extended to this video she wrote, narrated and produced…