Description
Briefing at 0500 hours on the morning of 14 October 1943 brought the crews of the 92nd Bomb Group news they didn’t want to hear: “It’s Schweinfurt again!” The same message was being repeated in USAAF bomb group briefing rooms all over eastern England in the early hours of what was to become forever known as “Black Thursday”.
This superb piece depicts 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 ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt on 14 October 1943.
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 folklore.
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 who flew on the second Schweinfurt mission making a total of TEN signatures:
First Lieutenant FREDERICK J. BIRD
Technical Sergeant JACK R. GOETZ
Captain MALCOM H. HIGGINS
Technical Sergeant BILL MARTIN
Technical 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’, which is personally signed by a Luftwaffe Pilot who flew in defense 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 . SLANE
First Lieutenant DONALD SPRINGER
Lieutenant Colonel HENRY E. TESSIEN
Feldwebel ADOLF DENZ (Companion Print)
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