Description

This superb new aerial combat painting from the worlds most collected aviation artist, shows Colonel Budd Peaslee’s B-17 Equipose, flown by lead pilot Kemp Maclaughlin, leading the Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group en-route to the vital ballbearing factories at Schweinfurt. High over Germany, beyond the range of Allied fighter cover, the unprotected B-17s come under relentless attack from enemy fighters. Losses are high. Undeterred, the valiant crews press on to the target, their relentless determination and courage on that “Black Thursday” forever etched into aviation folk lore.

Signatures

The edition is personally signed by an unprecedented number of veterans of this historic raid:

THE LIMITED EDITION
Each has been signed by THREE pilots, all veterans of the second Schweinfurt mission on 14 October 1943, including the mission command pilot Kemp Maclaughlin:

General J. KEMP MACLAUGHLIN
First Lieutenant WILBUR ‘BUD’ KLINT
First Lieutenant JOHN P. NOACK

THE SCHWEINFURT EDITION
Each print has been individually signed by an additional seven veterans from the second Schweinfurt mission making a
total of TEN signatures:

First Lieutenant FREDERICK J. BIRD
Technical Sergeant JACK R. GOETZ
Captain MALCOLM H. HIGGINS
Technical Sergeant BILL E. MARTIN
Chief Master Sergeant ROY C. McGINNIS
Captain JAMES A. 'PETE' MULLINAX
Staff Sergeant BEN ROBERTS

THE COMMEMORATIVE PROOFS
This historically important Commemorative Proof Edition is issued with Robert Taylor’s companion drawing ‘Black Thursday’, signed by a Luftwaffe veteran of the second Schweinfurt raid; this significant tribute
edition is also signed by additional USAAF B17 veterans who flew and fought on the mission. In total there are no less than TWENTY-FOUR signatures on the edition.

First Lieutenant EARL G. BASON
First Lieutenant JAY G. COBERLY
First Lieutenant ROY G. DAVIDSON Jnr
Staff Sergeant MARSHALL L. FISHER
Technical Sergeant EDWARD K. FOX
Colonel ED MILLSON
Captain THOMAS A. PARKS
Staff Sergeant ROBERT RICKEL
Technical Sergeant GEORGE G. ROBERTS
First Lieutenant JOHN SCARBOROUGH
Colonel ROBERT M. SLANE
First Lieutenant DONALD SPRINGER
Lieutenant Colonel HENRY E. TESSIEN
Feldwebel ADOLF DENZ (Companion Drawing)


* A number of prints in the edition are also signed by the following three veterans of the second Schweinfurt mission, making a total of 27 signatures. These are issued at no extra charge to the first orders received, so please order early to avoid disappointment.

Lieutenant Colonel ARVID O. DAHL*
Sergeant MATHIAS J. KREMER*
Captain FOSTER ‘FOSS’RODDA*