Unfortunately, since the MOD Art Collection exists to preserve its current items rather than to spend scarce cash on acquiring new ones, contemporary peacekeeping activities of the armed Forces are not well represented.
It is hoped that in future years the collection might expand to include more images of early 21st century operations.
Aerial reconnaissance is shown here in Pamela Drew's "RAF Venom's over Arabia". It gives a strong sense of the geographical hostility of some of the environments in which our Armed Forces work.
The primary role of the Venom was that of a short range, single seat fighter/bomber. With its 20mm cannons in the nose and provision for bombs or rocket projectiles the Venom could be used effectively in either the fighter or the bomber role.
From the 31st of October 1956 Venoms were used in action during the Suez operations to attack Egyptian airfields. They saw action once again in the summer of 1957 when No.s 249 and 8 Squadrons, based at Khormaksar in Aden, were used against Omani rebels.
Other operators of land-based fighter-bomber Venoms included New Zealand, Iraq, Venezuela and Switzerland. The last Venoms in service were finally retired in 1983