An impressive collection of original aviation art has gone on view at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre for a limited period. They are the works of the late Arthur Banks, who during World War II spent four years in the Royal Air Force as a Meteorological Observer, mainly in East Africa attached to Catalina flying boat squadrons.

Arthur joined the RAF in 1943 at Nairobi and in his spare time sketched aircraft and cartoons for murals and aircrew training posters. After RAF service, he trained as a doctor and latterly was a GP at Chelmsford, Essex, before retiring in 1986.

The co-founder of the Indian Ocean Flying Boat Association, Dr. Banks was an enthusiastic supporter of Pembroke Dock Flying Boat Reunions held between 1985 and 1995 and local heritage initiatives. He donated several of his paintings to the community, including the former RAFA branch, and several are now in the Heritage Centre’s collection.

One of the paintings was for some years on display at Barclays Bank’s Pembroke Dock Branch and another - depicting a Catalina and a Sunderland over Pembroke Dock in 1944 - is also available as a limited edition print. This is signed by the artist and by a former Catalina pilot, Air Commodore Jack Holmes, DFC and Bar.

Arthur Banks also wrote ‘Wings Of The Dawning,’ the definitive record of wartime maritime air operations in the Indian Ocean Theatre.