Description: A STUNNING TRIBUTE TO THE BRAVE AIRCREWS WHO FLEW WITH THE 100th BOMB GROUPCLEARING SKIES by Robert TaylorARTIST PROOFThe winter of 1944 / 45 wasn’t the coldest ever recorded in England but it came close. The weather was bitter and, in what would turn out to be the last Christmas of the war, temperatures plunged across the country, bringing ice, freezing fog and deep banks of drifting snow.Airfields across East Anglia stood bleak and frost-bound, runways kept clear of snow when conditions allowed, whilst the heavy bombers of the US Eighth Air Force remained under wraps, engines oiled, warmed and ready for any break in the banks of murky fog that would allow them to fly. And when those breaks came, the bombers were back in action ready to play their part in the final destruction of Hitler’s Third Reich. The end game was rapidly approaching and both sides knew it.The Eighth Air Force flew its final bomber operations of the war on 25 April 1945, the last of 968 combat missions involving over 523,000 sorties; they had dropped some 700,000 tons of bombs, inflicting destruction on a scale from which the enemy could never recover. Yet the cost of the victory in which they had played such a major part made for sober reading; they had lost some 6,130 bombers and fighters along with some 47,000 casualties, including more than 26,000 dead – half of the entire US Army Air Force losses during the conflict.THE SIGNATURESEarning the nickname “The Bloody Hundredth” because of the heavy losses they suffered, the print is personally signed by three veterans who served with the 100th Bomb Group. By endorsing the edition, their autographs help to create a historically important collector’s piece to be cherished for future generations:THE COLLECTORS EDITION SIGNATURESJoining artist Robert Taylor in signing every print are Ten distinguished aircrew who flew B-17s on operations with the 100th Bomb Group from Thorpe Abbotts during WWII:Captain ROBERT SHOENS - PilotFirst Lieutenant JOHN CLARK - Co-PilotFirst Lieutenant JAMES RASMUSSEN - Navigator Lieutenant Colonel HENRY “HANK” CERVANTES - Co-PilotMajor JOHN “LUCKY” LUCKADOO -PilotStaff Sergeant LEWIS PAYNE - Waist GunnerStaff Sergeant ALBERT ARREOLA - Ball Turret GunnerStaff Sergeant ALBERT FREITAS - Radio OperatorStaff Sergeant LEWIS HERRON - Tail GunnerStaff Sergeant JOE URICE - Tail GunnerThis stunning Artist Proof copy is personally signed by iconic 100th Bomb Group Aircrew featured in the mini series "Masters of the Air" and is the perfect centerpiece for any aviation art collection.ALSO AVAILABLE FRAMED & SHIPPED - Please ask for detailsWe will always do our best to combine shipping on multiple purchases whenever possible – please ask.BUY WITH CONFIDENCE: We have been in business for 30 years and our items are guaranteed to be in perfect condition, unless specified otherwise.SHIPPING: Larger prints are rolled in acid free tissue and shipped in large, heavy duty shipping tubes with smaller prints 'flat packed' in custom made packaging. Matted & framed pieces are packed in our custom made boxes. Our shipping is insured and guaranteed. YOUR PIECE OF MIND: As a reputable company, if any issues do arise we don't expect our customers to deal with it. So if there are any problems such as with condition, delivery or damages then we will take care of it with a replacement, store credit or your money back.Please note: The signatures on our pieces are not reproductions; they are original autographs, hand-signed by the veterans involved.
Price: 525 USD
Location: Ojai, California
End Time: 2024-11-15T19:25:28.000Z
Shipping Cost: 15 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money back or replacement (buyer's choice)
Artist: Robert Taylor
Unit of Sale: Single-Piece Work
Signed By: 100th Bomb Group Veterans
Size: Medium (up to 36in.)
Print Size: 35 ½ x 21 ¼ inches
Also Featuring: Thorpe Abbots
Region of Origin: California, USA
Framing: Unframed
Listed By: Aces High Gallery
Year of Production: 2019
Autographs also include: Albert Freitas
Style: Aviation Art, Military Art, Americana, Illustration Art, Realism
Features: Limited Edition, Autographed, Individually numbered, Eighth Air Force, Artist Proof, Signed by Robert Taylor
Autographs include:: Lucky Luckadoo
Time Period Produced: 2000-2009
Image Orientation: Landscape
Signed: Yes
Color: Color
Title: Clearing Skies - the 100th Bomb Group
Period: Contemporary (1970 - 2020)
Material: Lithograph, Paper
Aircraft Featured: B-17
Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes
Original/Licensed Reprint: Limited Edition Print
Topic:: USAAF
Subject: 100th Bomb Group, Aircraft, B-17, Eighth Air Force, England, European Theater, Masters of the Air, Military, USA, USAAF, World War II (1939-1945)
Edition: Artist Proof - one of 25 copies worldwide
Featuring: The Bloody Hundredth
Type: Art Print
Autographed by:: Ten 100th Bomb Group veterans
COA Issued By: Military Gallery
Theme: Art, Aviation, Conflicts & Wars, History, Militaria, War, Transportation, Europe
Production Technique: Lithography
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
