Description
In April 1945, with the War virtually over, P-51 Mustangs of the 357th Fighter Group sweep unopposed at low level through the beautiful Rhine valley.
It had taken almost six years of continual air fighting for the Allied air forces to attain complete and total air superiority over the Luftwaffe. At the outbreak of World War II the mighty German Air Force had appeared invincible but the ensuing Battle of Britain gave the Luftwaffe its first taste of what was to come.
When America joined the war, bringing with her to Europe new types of fighters and bombers, the writing must have been clearly chalked on the wall of Hitler’s bunker. Unleashing the full power of the Eighth Air Force against the Third Reich by day, and with the RAF Bomber Command’s constant attacks by night, production in Germany’s aircraft and munitions factories became fatally depleted. In the air the Allied fighter pilots were beginning to dominate the skies, and by the spring of 1945, had achieved complete air superiority. It had been a long and bitter struggle, fought with great courage and sacrifice.
This was the first release in a pair of of limited editions commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the conclusion of World War II, paying tribute the USAAF in Europe 1942 – 1945 . The second print in this pair is American Eagles and both prints feature the Mustangs of the 357th Fighter Group. Each print is exclusively signed by 357th Pilots and up to SEVENTEEN signatures are available between the two prints, including some of the unit’s most prominent Aces.
THE ACES EDITION
Joining artist Robert Taylor, each print is signed by FOUR highly prominent Aces from the 357th Fighter Group.
Colonel CLARENCE E “BUD” ANDERSON – 16 ¼ victories
Brigadier General FRANK L GAILER – 5 ½ victories
Lieutenant Colonel ROBERT G SCHIMANSKI – 6 victories
Captain ROBERT P WINKS – 5 ½ victories
THE VICTORY IN EUROPE EDITION
Each print in this edition is additionally autographed by a further eight Aces and Pilots of the 357th Fighter Group making a total of TWELVE signatures in this edition:
First Lieutenant JOSEPH BLACK – 28 combat missions including a massive escort raid to Berlin
First Lieutenant RAYMOND CONLIN – Flew 71 missions, including D-Day and Market Garden
Lieutenant Colonel WILLIAM FOARD – Took part in all of the Squadron’s main escort raids
First Lieutenant DALE KARGER – 7 ½ victories, third youngest American Ace
Major JOHN KIRLA – 11 ½ victories
Captain WILLIAM OVERSTREET – Flew 50 combat missions over Berlin, Leipzeig and other cities
Colonel ARVAL ROBERSON – 6 victories in 76 combat missions
First Lieutenant JOHN SKARA – Wingman to Bud Anderson
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