Dudley Burnside Art

Group Captain Dudley Burnside was a pilot who operated during the 1930s over the North-West Frontier, flying transport and bomber missions. Completing two tours of operations in Bomber Command during the Second World War, he also flew Sunderland flying boats in the Korean war. On 5 March 1943, he was flying a Wellington Bomber to Essen and his aircraft was hit by flak while en route. Burnside was awarded a Bar to his DFC, and two of his crew members also were awarded DFCs. In quieter moments, he greatly enjoyed painting and was an excellent artist. An early member of the Guild of Aviation Artists, he exhibited for many years at their annual show. Burnside’s subjects were often drawn from his flying career, and he also painted First World War aviation scenes. Burnside’s paintings are in the Royal Air Force Museum and the Brooklands Museum and are generally painted using muted tones.