What a difference a century makes. This flying field in Hounslow in 1917 is a long way back from the Heathrow Airport that so many of use are familiar with. It is one of Sir John Lavery’s first paintings as an official war artist. Hounslow airfield in west London was originally a cavalry barracks. It had been used to train flying officers since 1910. Initially acting at first as the base for airships, it flew Bristol Scout biplanes early in the war. By November 1917, it had received a squadron of newer Sopwith SE5A (Scout Experimental 5 A) aircraft – several of which are seen in the present canvas. The work comes up at Sotheby’s Modern and Post War British art day sale in London on June 30 with an estimate of £80,000-120,000. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD