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B17 Flying Fortress
. Aviation art prints of the B17 Flying Fortress. shown in aviation
art prints. The B17 Flying Fortress and crew, bombadier are shown in
aviation art prints by leading military and aviation artists Robert taylor,
Ivan Berryman, Chris
Collingwood, Tim Fisher, Nicholas Trudgian, Simon Atack and Anthony Saunders available from Cranston Fine Arts.
The aviation and Military print company
In
the mid-1930s engineers at Boeing suggested the possibility of designing
a modern long-range monoplane bomber to the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1934
the USAAC issued Circular 35-26 that outlined specifications for a new
bomber that was to have a minimum payload of 2000 pounds, a cruising
speed in excess of 200-MPH, and a range of at least 2000 miles. Boeing
produced a prototype at its own expense, the model 299, which first flew
in July of 1935. The 299 was a long-range bomber based largely on the
Model 247 airliner. The Model 299 had several advanced features
including an all-metal wing, an enclosed cockpit, retractable landing
gear, a fully enclosed bomb bay with electrically operated doors, and
cowled engines. With gun blisters glistening everywhere, a newsman
covering the unveiling coined the term Flying Fortress to describe the
new aircraft. After a few initial test flights the 299 flew off to
Wright Field setting a speed record with an average speed of 232-mph. At
Wright Field the 299 bettered its competition in almost all respects.
However, an unfortunate crash of the prototype in October of 1935
resulted in the Army awarding its primary production contract to Douglas
Aircraft for its DB-1 (B-18.) The Army did order 13 test models of the
299 in January 1936, and designated the new plane the Y1B-17. Early work
on the B-17 was plagued by many difficulties, including the crash of the
first Y1B-17 on its third flight, and nearly bankrupted the Company.
Minor quantities of the B-17B, B-17C, and B-17D variants were built, and
about 100 of these aircraft were in service at the time Pearl Harbor was
attacked. In fact a number of unarmed B-17s flew into the War at the
time of the Japanese attack. The German Blitzkrieg in Europe resulted in
accelerated aircraft production in America.
The B-17E was the first truly heavily armed variant and made its
initial flight in September of 1941. B-17Es cost $298,000 each and more
than 500 were delivered. The B-17F and B-17G were the truly
mass-produced wartime versions of the Flying Fortress. More than 3,400
B-17Fs and more than 8,600 B-17Gs would be produced. The American
daylight strategic bombing campaign against Germany was a major factor
in the Allies winning the War in Europe. This campaign was largely flown
by B-17 Flying Fortresses (12,677 built) and B-24 Liberators (18,188
built.) The B-17 bases were closer to London than those of the B-24, so
B-17s received a disproportionate share of wartime publicity. The first
mission in Europe with the B-17 was an Eighth Air Force flight of 12
B-17Es on August 12, 1942. Thousands more missions, with as many as 1000
aircraft on a single mission would follow over the next 2 ½ years,
virtually decimating all German war making facilities and plants. The
B-17 could take a lot of damage and keep on flying, and it was loved by
the crews for bringing them home despite extensive battle damage.
Following WW II, B-17s would see some action in Korea, and in the 1948
Israel War. There are only 14 flyable B-17s in operation today and a
total of 43 complete airframes. |
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Coming Home by Tim Fisher.
The Flying Fortress the Memphis Belle returns from another mission over Germany.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 24 inches x 15 inches (61cm x 38cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 24 inches x 15 inches (61cm x 38cm). Price £135.00
Morgan Presentation Edition of 5 Artist Proofs, supplied double mounted. Image size 24 inches x 15 inches (61cm x 38cm). Price £260.00 Features the mounted original signature of Colonel Bob Morgan (deceased).
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £480.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £370.00
Original painting by Tim Fisher. Massive Saving! Was £2640. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £1900.00
ITEM CODE DHM1283
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B-17 Memphis Belle by Keith Woodcock.
Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £16.00
ITEM CODE KW0010
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Final Encounter by Philip West.
Returning from a raid over Lorient, France on the 17th May 1943 the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Memphis Belle came under close attack from Fw190s and Me109s. Fortunately no aircraft were lost and very little damage sustained to the 91st Bomb Group aircraft during this mission - the 25th and final one of the Memphis Belle for Captain Robert Morgan. Named after Capt. Morgans wartime sweetheart, Miss Margaret Polk, the Memphis Belle was based at Bassingbourn, England and was the first B-17 to complete 25 combat missions and keep her entire crew alive - this at a time when eight out of ten aircraft were being shot down over Europe.
Signed limited edition of 350 prints. Image size 27 inches x 16 inches (69cm x 41cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Image size 27 inches x 16 inches (69cm x 41cm). Price £135.00
ITEM CODE DHM2198
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US Bombadier by Chris Collingwood.
A Bombadier from a B17 Flying Fortress. A tribute to all Bombadier from all Bomber Aircraft.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 12 inches x 17 inches (31cm x 43cm). Price £60.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 17 inches (31cm x 43cm). Price £95.00
ITEM CODE DHM0703
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Berlin Bound by Anthony Saunders.
Signed limited edition of 2500 prints. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £37.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £43.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £370.00
**Signed limited edition of 2500 prints. (1 copy reduced to clear) Image size 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm). Price £22.00
ITEM CODE DHM0416
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The Veteran by Simon Smith.
Our Gal Sal, a veteran of over a hundred ops, returning to base in the summer of 1944. The peace of the English country side is broken by the thunder of the mighty four engined bombers and keen observers will spot the rabbit scampering along the country lane as the Forts of the Bloody 100th circle the Airbase. With one engine feathered and showing signs of the gauntlet of Flak and fighters she has had to come through, the crew know they are only moments away from the safety of home.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 23 inches x 17 inches (58cm x 43cm). Price £135.00 Signed by Colonel Bob Morgan (deceased)
Limited edition of artist proofs. Image size 23 inches x 17 inches (58cm x 43cm). Price £135.00 Signed by Colonel Bob Morgan (deceased)
ITEM CODE DHM1461
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Back to English Soil by Keith Woodcock.
A Boeing B17G of the 91st BG USA 8th Airforce returns to English soil on three engines after a fraught daylight mission over Germany.
Signed limited edition of 350 prints. Image size 24 inches x 11 inches (61cm x 28cm). Price £95.00 Signed by Brigadier General James H McPartlin.
ITEM CODE DHM2402
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A Green Hill Far Away by Robert Tomlin.
On the morning of October 14th 1943 along with 15 others from the 305th Bomb Group, Lazy Baby set off from Chelveston in England on Mission 115, the second Schweinfurt raid, later to become known as Black Thursday. By the time they reached Aachen on the outward leg only Lazy Baby and two others of the 305th were left flying, They were then seriously damaged and three crew severely injured whilst two bailed out. Diving from 23,000 ft to only 3,000 ft, pilot Ed Dienhart managed to escape the attacking fighters. With the ball turret gunner trapped and navigator seriously injured they proceeded at 30 to 50 feet, hedge-hopping all the way, to Switzerland and safety. Guided by the navigator Don Rowley who, despite having both arms virtually severed, managed to steer them from memory for over an hour to Switzerland where they made a dramatic crash landing only four miles from the German border. The navigator died the following day from his injuries. Whilst the pilot drew upon every ounce of his flying skills, the rest of the crew exhibited untold valour in the face of terrible adversity and selfless devotion to their stricken comrades. This print is autographed by pilot Ed Dienhart and Swiss Schoolmaster Leo Thüring who helped to rescue the mortally wounded navigator. Accompanying the print is a 24 page illustrated book which charts the story from take off, through the landing, to the eventual escape of some of the crew back to England. An individual book plate is also signed by members of the crew, the author and relevant Swiss personalities providing not only a complete historical record of the heroism and valour of the crew, but a tribute to all who fought for the freedom which we now enjoy.
Limited edition print. Image size 30 inches x 15 inches (76cm x 38cm). Price £105.00 Signed by ,
Lt Edward Dienhart,
S/Sgt Christy Zullo,
S/Sgt Robert Cinibulk,
Leo Thuring,
2nd Lt Brunson Bolin,
and
S/Sgt Raymond Baus
and supplied with a 28-page booklet about the incident depicted in the print and the crew of the aircraft.
ITEM CODE DHM2515
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Safe Pastures by Mark Postlethwaite.
B-17G 42-37755 NV-A 325th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group from Poddington crash landing in Switzerland on 25th February 1944 after sustaining damage over enemy territory after a raid on Augsburg and Stuttgart.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 33.5cm x 50.5cm. Few Copies Available. Price £75.00
ITEM CODE DHM1473
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An Interesting Dog Fight by Stan Stokes.
October 23, 1942 was a typical day for American troops at Esprito Santo, but for the crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress it would become a most memorable day. Early that morning the Japanese began shelling the field. Lt. Ed Loberg, a former farm boy from Wisconsin, was ordered to take his B-17 up for a reconnaissance mission to determine where the Japanese guns may be located. Not finding anything they returned to the field. The brakes failed on the B-17 upon landing, and they hit several parked Navy aircraft. Fortunately for Lobergs crew a 100 pound bomb dislodged in the crash did not explode. Later that day the crew boarded another B-17 and went hunting out to sea. Around mid-day the crew noticed a PBY being attacked by a Kawanishi H6K Mavis flying boat. Diving the B-17 straight down, the Mavis and the Flying Fortress soon entered a rain squall. The windows were black with clouds and rain, and the plane was buffeted by strong winds. Emerging from the squall at low altitude into blinding sunlight the B-17 emerged only fifty feet from their adversary. Immediately every gun on both aircraft began firing in a broadside exchange reminiscent of age old sailing ship battles. Thousands of bullets criss-crossed the narrow spread of air, and the Fortress shuddered from the impact. Tracer bullets from the B-17 pelted the Mavis like darts with many ricocheting off its armor. The Mavis made a tight turn, and Loberg turned inside him to avoid the mortal sting from the Mavis tail guns. In and out of rain squalls this interesting dogfight continued for 45 minutes. The Mavis kept very close to the wave tops to protect is vulnerable under belly. Several times during the fight the Mavis disappeared for three or four minutes into clouds, but each time as it reemerged Lobergs B-17 resumed the attack. Twice the B-17 passed over the H6K so close that the jagged bullet holes in the Mavis and the round glasses on its two pilots could be seen clearly. Finally, the Mavis began smoking, and the Japanese plane dropped into the sea and exploded in a large ball of flame. In the words of Ira Wolfert, a war correspondent, who was on the flight; During the duel, the Fort that I was on, with a bullet in one of its motors, and two holes as big as Derby hats in its wings, made tight turns with half-rolls and banks past vertical. That is, it frequently stood against the sea on one wing like a ballet dancer balancing on one point, and occasionally it went over even farther than that and started lifting its belly toward the sky in desperate effort to keep the Jap from turning inside it… Throughout the entire forty-four minutes, the plane, one of the oldest being used in the war, ran at top speed, shaking and rippling all over like a skirt in a gale, so many inches of mercury being blown into its motors by the superchargers that the pilot and co-pilot, in addition to their other worries, had to keep an eye on the cowlings to watch for cylinder heads popping up through them. Others on Lobergs crew that day were B. Thurston the co-pilot, R Spitzer the navigator, R. Mitchell the bombadier and E. Gustafson , E. Jung, G. Holbert , E. Smith, and P. Butterbaugh who manned the guns during this unusual dogfight. Both Mitchell and Spitzer were wounded during the battle.
Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £80.00 Signed by B-17 Pilot Ed Loberg (deceased).
ITEM CODE STK0084
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Birth of a Legend by Stan Stokes.
Colin P. Kelly, Americas first hero of WW II, was born in Florida in 1915. He was accepted to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and following graduation Kelly married the former Marian Wick. Kelly received his primary flight instruction at Randolph Field in San Antonio, and after earning his wings he moved across town to Kelly Field for advanced pilot training. Unlike many would-be fighter pilots, Kelly was not disappointed with being assigned as a bomber pilot. Kelly received a letter of commendation from The Secretary of War when he crash landed a Northrop A-17A he was ferrying to Mitchel field in a vacant street in Brooklyn. In September of 1940 Kelly was promoted to Captain, and was assigned to the 42nd Bomb Squadron as commander of a B-17. Kelly trained in Hawaii, and was later made Operations Officer for the 14th Bomb Squadron. In September of 1941 Kelly and his crew flew from Hawaii to Clark Field in the Philippines. The B-17s were an important addition to the woefully inadequate and obsolete air forces which America had in the Philippines. The Japanese Imperial forces attacked the Philippines only hours following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Mitsubishi Zero fighters, flying to maximize their range, were able to accompany Japanese bombers from bases in Formosa. The initial attack on Clark Field damaged or destroyed many American aircraft. Kellys squadron had been moved south to another field and had escaped damage. On December 10, Kellys squadron was ordered to fly north to Clark Field where they would refuel and arm their aircraft for attacks on the Japanese invasion fleet. Kellys regular B-17D was out of service, so his crew was assigned a B-17C. At Clark Field three 600-pound armor piercing bombs were loaded on Kellys B-17 when an air raid hastened their departure. Kelly flew northward to the northern most tip of the island of Luzon. Kelly spotted a number of Japanese ships which were supporting an amphibious landing. The young Captain dropped his three bombs hoping to destroy the largest of the Japanese ships. One bomb struck the vessel, igniting a tremendous blaze. On returning to Clark Field, the B-17 was attacked by a number of Japanese fighters, including a Zero flown by Saburo Sakai. Sakai would become the highest scoring Japanese ace to survive the War with 64 victories. Amazed by the speed of the Flying Fortress, the Zeros needed full throttle to make passes at the B-17. Kellys B-17 was eventually hit and set afire. Captain Kelly ordered his crew to abandon ship. Kelly remained with the aircraft, and he did not survive the crash landing. With America desperate for any good news on the war front, and with Army brass in the Philippines anxious to claim some positive results, Colin Kellys exploits became exaggerated in many news accounts. By the time the story was publicized stateside, many believed he had dived his B-17 down the funnel of a Japanese battleship. While Kelly was indeed an American hero, the unfortunate gross exaggeration of his exploits, should not tarnish the fact that Kelly, like many that would follow him in the years ahead, had made the ultimate sacrifice for his country in the line of duty.
Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £124.00 Signed by Japanese Ace Saburo Sakai (deceased).
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £94.00 Signed by Colin Kellys Navigator Col. Joe Bean.
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00
ITEM CODE STK0086
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Fortress Under Siege by Stan Stokes.
In the mid-1930s engineers at Boeing suggested the possibility of designing a modern long-range monoplane bomber to the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1934 the USAAC issued Circular 35-26 that outlined specifications for a new bomber that was to have a minimum payload of 2000 pounds, a cruising speed in excess of 200-MPH, and a range of at least 2000 miles. Boeing produced a prototype at its own expense, the model 299, which first flew in July of 1935. The 299 was a long-range bomber based largely on the Model 247 airliner. The Model 299 had several advanced features including an all-metal wing, an enclosed cockpit, retractable landing gear, a fully enclosed bomb bay with electrically operated doors, and cowled engines. With gun blisters glistening everywhere, a newsman covering the unveiling coined the term Flying Fortress to describe the new aircraft. After a few initial test flights the 299 flew off to Wright Field setting a speed record with an average speed of 232-mph. At Wright Field the 299 bettered its competition in almost all respects. However, an unfortunate crash of the prototype in October of 1935 resulted in the Army awarding its primary production contract to Douglas Aircraft for its DB-1 (B-18.) The Army did order 13 test models of the 299 in January 1936, and designated the new plane the Y1B-17. Early work on the B-17 was plagued by many difficulties, including the crash of the first Y1B-17 on its third flight, and nearly bankrupted the Company. Minor quantities of the B-17B, B-17C, and B-17D variants were built, and about 100 of these aircraft were in service at the time Pearl Harbor was attacked. In fact a number of unarmed B-17s flew into the War at the time of the Japanese attack. The German Blitzkrieg in Europe resulted in accelerated aircraft production in America. The B-17E was the first truly heavily armed variant and made its initial flight in September of 1941. B-17Es cost $298,000 each and more than 500 were delivered. The B-17F and B-17G were the truly mass-produced wartime versions of the Flying Fortress. More than 3,400 B-17Fs and more than 8,600 B-17Gs would be produced. The American daylight strategic bombing campaign against Germany was a major factor in the Allies winning the War in Europe. This campaign was largely flown by B-17 Flying Fortresses (12,677 built) and B-24 Liberators (18,188 built.) The B-17 bases were closer to London than those of the B-24, so B-17s received a disproportionate share of wartime publicity. The first mission in Europe with the B-17 was an Eighth Air Force flight of 12 B-17Es on August 12, 1942. Thousands more missions, with as many as 1000 aircraft on a single mission would follow over the next 2 ½ years, virtually decimating all German war making facilities and plants. The B-17 could take a lot of damage and keep on flying, and it was loved by the crews for bringing them home despite extensive battle damage. Following WW II, B-17s would see some action in Korea, and in the 1948 Israel War. There are only 14 flyable B-17s in operation today and a total of 43 complete airframes.
Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00
ITEM CODE STK0087
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Rubys Fortress by Stan Stokes.
The B-17 Flying Fortress, was one of the most acclaimed aircraft of WW II. It is also one of those uniquely popular warbirds which has attracted more than its fair share of romance and nostalgia over the years. Nearly 13,000 of these aircraft were produced. The origins of the B-17 dates to 1934 when the Boeing company was authorized to build a prototype of a long-range, metal, monoplane, medium bomber which was designated Model 299. During the first public exposure of the prototype a reporter from the Seattle Daily Times coined the term flying fortress in his description of the new sleek, heavily armed aircraft. Boeings public relations department liked this reference, and shortly thereafter the aircraft became known as the Flying Fortress. Boeing received an initial order for 13 aircraft, designated the YB-17, and these aircraft were delivered in 1937. Later that year Boeing obtained orders for several enhanced models, which were designated B-17Bs. These aircraft had supercharged engines permitting higher ceilings, redesigned nose sections, hydraulic brakes, and larger rudders. With the outbreak of WWII the first Flying Fortresses were used by the RAF. Early experience by the RAF underscored the need for increased defensive firepower. Boeing responded by redesigning the entire rear fuselage on the aircraft, and incorporating a rear gun and a remotely controlled under belly turret gun. The resulting B-17E was only slightly slower than its predecessor at 317 MPH, and in mid-1942 the USAAF began moving B-17 units to the United Kingdom. These were primarily B-17Fs. Flying Fortresses had the ability to take a lot of punishment. The aircrafts flying characteristics were excellent, and it was not unusual for B-17s to return to base with large sections of wing surface or tail fin missing. The first B-17G models began to see action late in 1943, and were, along with the B-24 Liberators, carried the brunt of the USAAF daylight bombing campaign against targets of strategic significance. Such missions were exceedingly dangerous until only very late in the War. Luftwaffe pilots learned to attack B-17s head-on from the 12 oclock position, as this was the most vulnerable area to attack, and one in which crew injury was the most likely. Aviation artist Stan Stokes, in his painting entitled Rubys Fortress, shows a B-17G of the 8th Air Forces 385th Bomber Group over Germany in 1945. The aircraft in the foreground was named for Cpl. Ruby Newell of Long Beach, California. Ms. Newell was voted the most attractive WAC in England in 1944. The nose art painted by Cpl. Ploss was a fitting tribute, and such nose art was a great morale booster for bomber crews and ground support staff. Many B-17s were named after women, appropriate considering the fact that during wartime the majority of the people which built these planes were women.
Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £80.00 Signed by USAF Gen Carl Peterson - B-17 Pilot.
Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00
ITEM CODE STK0097
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Flying Into a War by Stan Stokes.
John Davy Crockett was trained as a navigator by Pan Am in mid-1941 because the USAAF did not have its navigator school in operation. Davy was assigned to the 36th Bomb Squadron of the 19th Bomb Group flying the new B-17C Flying Fortress. Davy found that most Air Corps pilots were used to doing their own navigating, so his job would be easy. Davy experienced a crash in a B-17 while training, but the crew walked away from the wreck. In late 1941 his crew was informed that they would be flying to Clark Field in the Philippines. On December they left Albuquerque and flew to Hamilton Field in California. They received a briefing on expected weather and left on the evening of December 6 for their first stop at Hickham Field, Oahu Hawaii. Flying into the darkness over the vast Pacific, the pilot for the first time in Crocketts career turned the navigation over to Davy. Realizing that the Hawaiian Islands were only small dots on the charts of the vast Pacific, and that his aircraft would have little fuel reserves left when it arrived, sent chills up Crocketts spine. As dawn broke Davy saw lots of islands where there were not suppose to be any. His panic subsided when he realized that they were only clouds. The pilot, Earl Cooper, came on the intercom at that moment to ask for an ETA. As Davy responded, the gunners in the back came on the intercom to report a large formation of aircraft about ten miles north of their position. They must be Navy aircraft. Minutes later they had descended to about 1200 feet when eight fighter aircraft came straight at them with their guns blazing. As the aircraft flew bye the flight engineer, Jesse Broyls, yelled out, Rising Sun ! The zeros reformed behind the unarmed B-17, and as Cooper dove the lumbering giant towards the wave tops, Crockett could hear the thump of bullets hitting his plane. The No. 2 engine was hit and Cooper shut it down. Rounding Diamond Head at about 300-feet the crew saw smoke and fire everywhere, and Japanese planes all over the sky. They passed over Hickham Field at about 1000-feet, realizing that this was no time and place for a landing. They turned towards Ford Island and passed directly over the USS Arizona minutes after the ship had exploded. Crocketts B-17 now became a target for nervous anti-aircraft gunners on the ground, and the B-17 had its No. 4 engine shot out. Cooper prepared the crew to bail out, but he then saw an opportunity to bring the big bird into Wheeler Field. He came straight in and belly-landed the B-17 with almost no fuel left. The plane slid to a stop on the turf just short of a group of P-40s. The entire crew got out of the B-17 and ran for cover in a patch of nearby woods. The B-17s on the flight from the mainland were scattered all over the island, with most of them seriously damaged. Fortunately, there were only two casualties, a flight surgeon who was killed and a bombardier who was injured when they were strafed while running from their plane. Crockett would survive a third crash in another B-17 on December 25th when he would spend six days in a life raft.
Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £94.00 Signed by John Davy Crockett, navigator of the B-17.
Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00
ITEM CODE STK0041
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Nine-o-Nine by Stan Stokes.
One of only fourteen B-17s that still fly, the Collings Foundation is the proud owner and operator of B-17G serial no. 44-83575. This aircraft was built on April 7, 1945 in Long Beach, CA by Douglas Aircraft under license from Boeing. She served as part of the Air/Sea 1st Rescue Squadron and in the Air Transport Service. She was subject to three separate nuclear explosions. After a thirteen-year cool down period the aircraft was sold for scrap. The Aircraft Specialties Company began a restoration of the aircraft. Named Yucca Lady the aircrafts skin was fabricated and replaced on site; engines and props were stripped, cleaned, repaired and tested. For the next twenty years 44-83575 served without incident as a fire bomber dropping water and borate on wild fires throughout the West. In 1986 the Collings Foundation of Stow Massachusetts purchased the aircraft and had her restored to her wartime configuration by Tom Reilly Vintage Aircraft. She was considered one of the finest B-17 restorations and has received numerous awards. In 1987 at an airshow at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, the aircraft was struck by a severe cross wind while landing. This resulted in a severe non-fatality accident, that necessitated another substantial restoration. With the support of many individuals and corporations, and support from many folks from Beaver Falls 44-83575 rose again like a Phoenix. The aircraft is named in honor of Nine-O-Nine, a B-17 that flew 140 successful combat missions with the 323rd Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group. The original Nine-O-Nine did not lose a crewman, and did not have to abort a single mission. This amazing record was attained between February 1944 and April 1945. During this time the Nine-O-Nine participated in eighteen raids on Berlin and flew an amazing 1129 combat hours. She underwent 21 different engine changes, 4 wing replacements, and fifteen main gas tank replacements due largely to heavy damage from flak. The Nine-O-Nine had six hundred patches in her fuselage and wings when the War ended in Europe. She was flown home, but later succumbed to the scrappers guillotine. In Stan Stokes highly detailed painting, that is a tribute to both the original Nine-O-Nine, and her present namesake flown by the Collings Foundation, the original Nine-O-Nine is readied for another mission to Berlin at its airfield in England in 1945.
Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £40.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00
Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00
ITEM CODE STK0105
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Those Golden Moments by Philip West.
As the sun slowly begins to rise this wintry morning over Thorpe Abbots, Norfolk, ground crew prepare B-17G The All American Girl in an almost surreal setting, for her 99th dangerous mission over enemy territory. On 10th January 1945, 19-year-old pilot, 1st Lt. John Dodrill and his crew went missing on a combat sortie to Cologne. Like many other crews, they made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom, with the Bloody Hundredth Bombardment Group playing its full part with courage and honour.
Signed limited edition of 100 prints. Paper size 16 inches x 26 inches (41cm x 66cm). Price £135.00
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 16 inches x 26 inches (41cm x 66cm). Price £150.00
ITEM CODE DHM2321
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B17G Flying Fortress Little Miss Mischief by Barry Price.
Open edition prints. Image size 16 inches x 12 inches (41cm x 31cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE NTR0088
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Skipper Comes Home by Robert Taylor
From the summer of 1942 until the end of hostilities, the USAAFs Eighth Air Force took the battle to enemy occupied Europe every single day that weather permitted. The largest air unit ever to go to war, the Eighth played a vital role in the ultimate defeat of Hitlers Germany. In the forefront of this awesome fighting force, the crews of the mighty B-17 Flying Fortress will be forever remembered.
Signed Limited Edition of 500 prints. Includes 4 signatures. Image size 23.5 inches x 17 inches (60cm x 43cm). Price £200.00 Signed by Major Paul H Greer, Lieutenant Colonel William P Kincheloe, First Lieutenant Don Nielsen and Captain Robert Paris.
Artist Proof Edition. Edition of 25, with 4 signatures. Image size 23.5 inches x 17 inches (60cm x 43cm) . Price £325.00 Signed by Major Paul H Greer, Lieutenant Colonel William P Kincheloe, First Lieutenant Don Nielsen and Captain Robert Paris.
Limited edition of 25 remarques. Image size 23.5 inches x 17 inches (60cm x 43cm). Price £ Signed by Major Paul H Greer, Lieutenant Colonel William P Kincheloe, First Lieutenant Don Nielsen and Captain Robert Paris.
ITEM CODE DHM2579
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Heaven Can Wait by Nicolas Trudgian.
B-17 Fortresses of the Bloody Hundredth- the Eighth Air Forces 100th Bomb Group - return to Thorpe Abbotts following a raid on enemy oil refineries, September 11, 1944. Nicolas Trudgians moving tribute to the Bloody Hundredth shows the imaginatively named B-17, Heaven Can Wait, on final approach to Thorpe Abbotts after the intense battle on September 11, 1944. Skilfully piloted by Harry Hempy, the seriously damaged B-17G has struggled 500 miles home on two engines to make it back to England. They lost their tail gunner that fateful day. Below the descending bomber stream, an agricultural traction engine peacefully ploughs the wheat stubble in preparation for next year’s vital crop, the farm workers oblivious to the unimaginable traumas so recently experienced by the crews of the returning B-17 Fortresses.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Print paper size 30.5 inches x 24 inches (77cm x 61cm). Price £160.00 Signatories: Lt Col Henry Hank Cervantes; Cpt Harry M Hempy; Stf Sgt Joseph Joe Keenan; Tech Sgt James Mack.
Limited edition 25 artist proof editions. Print paper size 30.5 inches x 24 inches (77cm x 61cm). Price £205.00 Signatories: Lt Col Henry Hank Cervantes; Cpt Harry M Hempy; Stf Sgt Joseph Joe Keenan; Tech Sgt James Mack.
** (Ex Display) Signed limited edition of 500 prints. (Three copies reduced to clear) Print paper size 30.5 inches x 24 inches (77cm x 61cm). Price £110.00 Signatories: Lt Col Henry Hank Cervantes; Cpt Harry M Hempy; Stf Sgt Joseph Joe Keenan; Tech Sgt James Mack.
ITEM CODE DHM2592
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Thunderheads Over Ridgewell by Robert Taylor.
In the early days of the USAAF daylight bombing campaign, before the arrival of long-range fighter escorts, rarely was a mission flown without Luftwaffe interception and the ever-present barrage of anti-aircraft fire. The Eighth Air Force crews literally fought their way through swarms of enemy fighters and thick flak to hit their targets, then fought their way home again. Seldom a formation returned without losses and casualties, but inexorably the American bomb groups struck deeper and deeper into enemy territory. Bomber crews lucky enough to survive a complete tour were few and far between. They knew this when they arrived in England at the start of their tour, and the awesome task they faced banded the flyers together like brothers. They flew and fought for each other, their country and liberty with determination and a camaraderie that only those who went through the experience could fully appreciate. In his tribute to the USAAF bomber crews, Robert Taylor has selected the 381st Bomb Group to represent, and pay tribute to all those who flew the perilous daylight raids out of bases in England into the heavily defended skies above enemy occupied Europe. Roberts emotive painting shows 381st Bomb Group B-17 Fortresses returning to Ridgewell on a summer afternoon in 1944 during a period when the Group reached the peak of it effectiveness- for several months it was the top ranked outfit in the Eighth. Between June 1943 and the end of hostilities the 381st completed 297 combat missions, hit almost every important target in German hands and was credited with the destruction of 223 enemy aircraft. One aircraft, more than any other, came to symbolise the great bombing campaign of the USAAF in Europe during World War Two, and in his spectacular new painting Robert Taylor captures the magnificence of Boeings legendary B-17 Flying Fortress. In his inimitable style the artist brings to life an exact wartime scene, a battle-damaged aircraft making apparent the fearsome task tackled daily by those who flew the hazardous missions to occupied Europe during the greatest air war ever fought.
Aircrew Edition. Signed limited edition of 400 prints. Image size 25 inches x 16 inches (64cm x 41cm). Price £200.00 Signed by Captain Turner G Brashear, Major Edward A Klein and First Lieutenant Vincent J Peters.
Mighty Eighth Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 16 inches (64cm x 41cm). Price £395.00 Signed by Captain Turner G Brashear, Major Edward A Klein and First Lieutenant Vincent J Peters.
Mighty Eighth Edition. Signed limited edition of 250 prints. Image size 25 inches x 16 inches (64cm x 41cm). Price £250.00 Signed by Captain Turner G Brashear, Major Edward A Klein and First Lieutenant Vincent J Peters.
ITEM CODE RT0002
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Legend of Colin Kelly by Robert Taylor.
December 10th 1941, Just three days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, captain Colin Kellys 19th BG B-17C is heavily outnumbered by Zeros as it returns to Clark Field after completing a successful bombing attack. With his aircraft on fire. Kelly remained at the controls whilst his crew bailed out. Seconds later the B-17 exploded. Colin Kelly gave his life and was posthumously awarded the DFC. A legend was born.
Signed limited edition of 750 prints. Paper size 33 inches x 23 inches (84cm x 58cm). Price £200.00 Signed by Master Sergeant James E Halkyard, Staff Sergeant Robert E Altman and Saburo Sakai (deceased).
Limited edition of artist proofs. Paper size 33 inches x 23 inches (84cm x 58cm). Price £325.00 Signed by Master Sergeant James E Halkyard, Staff Sergeant Robert E Altman and Saburo Sakai (deceased).
ITEM CODE DHM2154
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Return to Rattlesden by Nicolas Trudgian.
With their crews, the 447th Bomb Group B-17 Fortresses arrived at Rattlesden in late 1943, the East Anglian base from which the group flew all its missions until the end of the war. Entering combat on December 24, the 447th targeted submarine pens, naval installations, ports and missile sites, airfields and marshalling yards in France, Belgium and Germany in preparation for the Normandy invasion. In the thick of the bomber offensive, the 447th took part in the Big-Week raids, supported the D-Day landings, aided the breakthrough at St. Lo, pounded enemy positions during the airborne invasion of Holland, and dropped supplies to the Free French forces fighting behind enemy lines. During the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945, the group attacked marshalling yards, railroad bridges and communications centers in the combat zone, later resuming their offensive against targets deep inside Germany. When the war ended the 447th had flown over 257 individual missions, with one of their aircrew, Robert Femoyer, being awarded the Medal of Honor. Theirs was typical of the action packed campaigns flown by the American Eighth Air Force bomb groups in Europe during WWII.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 37 inches x 22 inches (94cm x 56cm). Price £150.00 Signed by T/Sgt John C Bitzer, T/Sgt Norman Bussel, Colonel Edward A Dingivan, First Lt Frank Frision, S/Sgt John H Osbah, S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo, Sgt Byron Schlag and S/Sgt Don Sherman, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 37 inches x 22 inches (94cm x 56cm). Price £210.00 Signed by T/Sgt John C Bitzer, T/Sgt Norman Bussel, Colonel Edward A Dingivan, First Lt Frank Frision, S/Sgt John H Osbah, S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo, Sgt Byron Schlag and S/Sgt Don Sherman, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 25 publishers proofs. Paper size 37 inches x 22 inches (94cm x 56cm). Price £180.00 Signed by T/Sgt John C Bitzer, T/Sgt Norman Bussel, Colonel Edward A Dingivan, First Lt Frank Frision, S/Sgt John H Osbah, S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo, Sgt Byron Schlag and S/Sgt Don Sherman, in addition to the artist.
ITEM CODE DHM2176
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| Back to English Soil by Keith Woodcock
A Boeing B17G of the 91st BG USA 8th Airforce returns to English soil
on three engines after a fraught daylight mission over Germany. Signatory: Brigadier General James H
McPartlin, AFRes Commander, 442d
Troop Carrier Wing, Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. . A Green Hill Far Away by
Robert Tomlin On the morning of October 14th 1943 along with 15 others
from the 305th Bomb Group, Lazy Baby set off from Chelveston in England on
Mission 115, the second Schweinfurt raid, later to become known as Black
Thursday. By the time they reached Aachen on the outward leg only
Lazy Baby and two others of the 305th were left flying. They were
then seriously damaged and three crew severely injured whilst two bailed
out. Diving from 23,000 ft to only 3,000 ft, pilot Ed Dienhart
managed to escape the attacking fighters. With the ball turret
gunner trapped and navigator seriously injured they proceeded at 30 to 50
feet, hedge-hopping all the way, to Switzerland and safety. Guided
by the navigator Don Rowley who, despite having both arms virtually
severed, managed to steer them from memory for over an hour to Switzerland
where they made a dramatic crash landing only four miles from the German
border. The navigator died the following day from his injuries.
Whilst the pilot drew upon every ounce of his flying skills, the rest of
the crew exhibited untold valour in the face of terrible adversity and
selfless devotion to their stricken comrades.This print is autographed by pilot Ed
Dienhart, Brunson
Bolin, Co - Pilot Christy Zullo, Waist Gunner, Raymond Baus,
Ball Turret Gunner, Robert Cinibulk, Waist Gunner crew
members and Swiss Schoolmaster Leo Thüring who helped to rescue the
mortally wounded navigator
Safe Pastures by Mark
Postlethwaite B-17G 42-37755 NV-A 325th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group
from Poddington crash landing in Switzerland on 25th February 1944 after
sustaining damage over enemy territory after a raid on Augsburg and
Stuttgart.
An Interesting Dog Fight by Stan Stokes.
October 23,
1942 was a typical day for American troops at Esprito Santo, but for the
crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress it would become a most memorable day.
Early that morning the Japanese began shelling the field. Lt. Ed Loberg,
a former farm boy from Wisconsin, was ordered to take his B-17 up for a
reconnaissance mission to determine where the Japanese guns may be
located. Not finding anything they returned to the field. The brakes
failed on the B-17 upon landing, and they hit several parked Navy
aircraft. Fortunately for Lobergs crew a 100 pound bomb dislodged in the
crash did not explode. Later that day the crew boarded another B-17 and
went hunting out to sea. Around mid-day the crew noticed a PBY being
attacked by a Kawanishi H6K Mavis flying boat. Diving the B-17 straight
down, the Mavis and the Flying Fortress soon entered a rain squall. The
windows were black with clouds and rain, and the plane was buffeted by
strong winds. Emerging from the squall at low altitude into blinding
sunlight the B-17 emerged only fifty feet from their adversary.
Immediately every gun on both aircraft began firing in a broadside
exchange reminiscent of age old sailing ship battles. Thousands of
bullets criss-crossed the narrow spread of air, and the Fortress
shuddered from the impact. Tracer bullets from the B-17 pelted the Mavis
like darts with many ricocheting off its armor. The Mavis made a tight
turn, and Loberg turned inside him to avoid the mortal sting from the
Mavis tail guns. In and out of rain squalls this interesting dogfight
continued for 45 minutes. The Mavis kept very close to the wave tops to
protect is vulnerable under belly. Several times during the fight the
Mavis disappeared for three or four minutes into clouds, but each time
as it reemerged Lobergs B-17 resumed the attack. Twice the B-17 passed
over the H6K so close that the jagged bullet holes in the Mavis and the
round glasses on its two pilots could be seen clearly. Finally, the
Mavis began smoking, and the Japanese plane dropped into the sea and
exploded in a large ball of flame. In the words of Ira Wolfert, a war
correspondent, who was on the flight; During the duel, the Fort that I
was on, with a bullet in one of its motors, and two holes as big as
Derby hats in its wings, made tight turns with half-rolls and banks past
vertical. That is, it frequently stood against the sea on one wing like
a ballet dancer balancing on one point, and occasionally it went over
even farther than that and started lifting its belly toward the sky in
desperate effort to keep the Jap from turning inside it… Throughout
the entire forty-four minutes, the plane, one of the oldest being used
in the war, ran at top speed, shaking and rippling all over like a skirt
in a gale, so many inches of mercury being blown into its motors by the
superchargers that the pilot and co-pilot, in addition to their other
worries, had to keep an eye on the cowlings to watch for cylinder heads
popping up through them. Others on Lobergs crew that day were B.
Thurston the co-pilot, R Spitzer the navigator,
R. Mitchell the bombadier and
E. Gustafson , E. Jung, G. Holbert , E. Smith, and P. Butterbaugh
who manned the guns during this unusual dogfight. Both Mitchell and
Spitzer were wounded during the battle.
Birth of a Legend by Stan Stokes.
Colin P. Kelly, Americas first hero of WW II, was born
in Florida in 1915. He was accepted to the U.S. Military Academy at West
Point, and following graduation Kelly married the former Marian Wick.
Kelly received his primary flight instruction at Randolph Field in San
Antonio, and after earning his wings he moved across town to Kelly Field
for advanced pilot training. Unlike many would-be fighter pilots, Kelly
was not disappointed with being assigned as a bomber pilot. Kelly
received a letter of commendation from The Secretary of War when he
crash landed a Northrop A-17A he was ferrying to Mitchel field in a
vacant street in Brooklyn. In September of 1940 Kelly was promoted to
Captain, and was assigned to the 42nd Bomb Squadron as commander of a
B-17. Kelly trained in Hawaii, and was later made Operations Officer for
the 14th Bomb Squadron. In September of 1941 Kelly and his crew flew
from Hawaii to Clark Field in the Philippines. The B-17s were an
important addition to the woefully inadequate and obsolete air forces
which America had in the Philippines. The Japanese Imperial forces
attacked the Philippines only hours following the attack on Pearl
Harbor. Mitsubishi Zero fighters, flying to maximize their range, were
able to accompany Japanese bombers from bases in Formosa. The initial
attack on Clark Field damaged or destroyed many American aircraft.
Kellys squadron had been moved south to another field and had escaped
damage. On December 10, Kellys squadron was ordered to fly north to
Clark Field where they would refuel and arm their aircraft for attacks
on the Japanese invasion fleet. Kellys regular B-17D was out of service,
so his crew was assigned a B-17C. At Clark Field three 600-pound armor
piercing bombs were loaded on Kellys B-17 when an air raid hastened
their departure. Kelly flew northward to the northern most tip of the
island of Luzon. Kelly spotted a number of Japanese ships which were
supporting an amphibious landing. The young Captain dropped his three
bombs hoping to destroy the largest of the Japanese ships. One bomb
struck the vessel, igniting a tremendous blaze. On returning to Clark
Field, the B-17 was attacked by a number of Japanese fighters, including
a Zero flown by Saburo Sakai. Sakai would become the highest scoring
Japanese ace to survive the War with 64 victories. Amazed by the speed
of the Flying Fortress, the Zeros needed full throttle to make passes at
the B-17. Kellys B-17 was
eventually hit and set afire. Captain Kelly ordered his crew to abandon
ship. Kelly remained with the aircraft, and he did not survive the crash
landing. With America desperate for any good news on the war front, and
with Army brass in the Philippines anxious to claim some positive
results, Colin Kellys exploits became exaggerated in many news accounts.
By the time the story was publicized stateside, many believed he had
dived his B-17 down the funnel of a Japanese battleship. While Kelly was
indeed an American hero, the
unfortunate gross exaggeration of his exploits, should not tarnish the
fact that Kelly, like many that would follow him in the years ahead, had
made the ultimate sacrifice for his country in the line of duty.
Fortress Under Siege by Stan Stokes.
In
the mid-1930s engineers at Boeing suggested the possibility of designing
a modern long-range monoplane bomber to the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1934
the USAAC issued Circular 35-26 that outlined specifications for a new
bomber that was to have a minimum payload of 2000 pounds, a cruising
speed in excess of 200-MPH, and a range of at least 2000 miles. Boeing
produced a prototype at its own expense, the model 299, which first flew
in July of 1935. The 299 was a long-range bomber based largely on the
Model 247 airliner. The Model 299 had several advanced features
including an all-metal wing, an enclosed cockpit, retractable landing
gear, a fully enclosed bomb bay with electrically operated doors, and
cowled engines. With gun blisters glistening everywhere, a newsman
covering the unveiling coined the term Flying Fortress to describe the
new aircraft. After a few initial test flights the 299 flew off to
Wright Field setting a speed record with an average speed of 232-mph. At
Wright Field the 299 bettered its competition in almost all respects.
However, an unfortunate crash of the prototype in October of 1935
resulted in the Army awarding its primary production contract to Douglas
Aircraft for its DB-1 (B-18.) The Army did order 13 test models of the
299 in January 1936, and designated the new plane the Y1B-17. Early work
on the B-17 was plagued by many difficulties, including the crash of the
first Y1B-17 on its third flight, and nearly bankrupted the Company.
Minor quantities of the B-17B, B-17C, and B-17D variants were built, and
about 100 of these aircraft were in service at the time Pearl Harbor was
attacked. In fact a number of unarmed B-17s flew into the War at the
time of the Japanese attack. The German Blitzkrieg in Europe resulted in
accelerated aircraft production in America.
The B-17E was the first truly heavily armed variant and made its
initial flight in September of 1941. B-17Es cost $298,000 each and more
than 500 were delivered. The B-17F and B-17G were the truly
mass-produced wartime versions of the Flying Fortress. More than 3,400
B-17Fs and more than 8,600 B-17Gs would be produced. The American
daylight strategic bombing campaign against Germany was a major factor
in the Allies winning the War in Europe. This campaign was largely flown
by B-17 Flying Fortresses (12,677 built) and B-24 Liberators (18,188
built.) The B-17 bases were closer to London than those of the B-24, so
B-17s received a disproportionate share of wartime publicity. The first
mission in Europe with the B-17 was an Eighth Air Force flight of 12
B-17Es on August 12, 1942. Thousands more missions, with as many as 1000
aircraft on a single mission would follow over the next 2 ½ years,
virtually decimating all German war making facilities and plants. The
B-17 could take a lot of damage and keep on flying, and it was loved by
the crews for bringing them home despite extensive battle damage.
Following WW II, B-17s would see some action in Korea, and in the 1948
Israel War. There are only 14 flyable B-17s in operation today and a
total of 43 complete airframes.
Portrait of a Queen by Stan Stokes.
The Boeing
B-17 Flying Fortress is the subject of Stans painting. B-17s were
produced in large numbers and along with the B-24 Liberator carried out
the brunt of the Eighth Air Forces long range strategic daylight bombing
campaign. These missions were very dangerous, especially early in the
War when long range fighter escort was unavailable. The sacrifice made
by these bomber crews hastened the end of the War.
Rubys Fortress by Stan Stokes.
The
B-17 Flying Fortress, was one of the most acclaimed aircraft of WW II.
It is also one of those uniquely popular warbirds which has attracted
more than its fair share of romance and nostalgia over the years. Nearly
13,000 of these aircraft were produced. The origins of the B-17 dates to
1934 when the Boeing company was authorized to build a prototype of a
long-range, metal, monoplane, medium bomber which was designated Model
299. During the first public exposure of the prototype a reporter from
the Seattle Daily Times coined the term flying fortress in his
description of the new sleek, heavily armed aircraft. Boeings public
relations department liked this reference, and shortly thereafter the
aircraft became known as the Flying Fortress. Boeing received an initial
order for 13 aircraft, designated the YB-17, and these aircraft were
delivered in 1937. Later that year Boeing obtained orders for several
enhanced models, which were designated B-17Bs. These aircraft had
supercharged engines permitting higher ceilings, redesigned nose
sections, hydraulic brakes, and larger rudders. With the outbreak of
WWII the first Flying Fortresses were used by the RAF. Early experience
by the RAF underscored the need for increased defensive firepower.
Boeing responded by redesigning the entire rear fuselage on the
aircraft, and incorporating a rear gun and a remotely controlled under
belly turret gun. The resulting B-17E was only slightly slower than its
predecessor at 317 MPH, and in mid-1942 the USAAF began moving B-17
units to the United Kingdom.
These were primarily B-17Fs. Flying Fortresses had the ability to
take a lot of punishment. The aircrafts flying characteristics were
excellent, and it was not unusual for
B-17s to return to base with large sections of wing surface or
tail fin missing. The first B-17G
models began to see action late in 1943, and were, along with the
B-24 Liberators, carried the brunt of the USAAF daylight bombing
campaign against targets of strategic significance. Such missions were
exceedingly dangerous until only very late in the War. Luftwaffe pilots
learned to attack B-17s head-on from the 12 oclock position, as this was
the most vulnerable area to attack, and one in which crew injury was the
most likely. Aviation artist Stan Stokes, in his painting entitled Rubys
Fortress, shows a B-17G of the 8th Air Forces 385th Bomber Group over
Germany in 1945. The aircraft in the foreground was named for Cpl. Ruby
Newell of Long Beach, California. Ms. Newell was voted the most
attractive WAC in England in 1944. The nose art painted by Cpl. Ploss
was a fitting tribute, and such nose art was a great morale booster for
bomber crews and ground support staff. Many B-17s were named after
women, appropriate considering the fact that during wartime the majority
of the people which built these planes were women.
Flying Into a War by Stan Stokes.
John
Davy Crockett was trained as a navigator by Pan Am in mid-1941 because
the USAAF did not have its navigator school in operation. Davy was
assigned to the 36th Bomb Squadron of the 19th
Bomb Group flying the new B-17C Flying Fortress. Davy found that most
Air Corps pilots were used to doing their own navigating, so his job
would be easy. Davy experienced a crash in a B-17 while training, but
the crew walked away from the wreck. In late 1941 his crew was informed
that they would be flying to Clark Field in the Philippines. On December
they left Albuquerque and flew to Hamilton Field in California. They
received a briefing on expected weather and left on the evening of
December 6 for their first stop at Hickham Field, Oahu Hawaii. Flying
into the darkness over the vast Pacific, the pilot for the first time in
Crocketts career turned the navigation over to Davy. Realizing that the
Hawaiian Islands were only small dots on the charts of the vast Pacific,
and that his aircraft would have little fuel reserves left when it
arrived, sent chills up Crocketts spine. As dawn broke Davy saw lots of
islands where there were not suppose to be any. His panic subsided when
he realized that they were only clouds. The pilot, Earl Cooper, came on
the intercom at that moment to ask for an ETA. As Davy responded, the
gunners in the back came on the intercom to report a large formation of
aircraft about ten miles north of their position. They must be Navy
aircraft. Minutes later they had descended to about 1200 feet when eight
fighter aircraft came straight at them with their guns blazing. As the
aircraft flew bye the flight engineer, Jesse Broyls, yelled out, Rising
Sun ! The zeros reformed behind the unarmed B-17, and as Cooper dove the
lumbering giant towards the wave tops, Crockett could hear the thump of
bullets hitting his plane. The No. 2 engine was hit and Cooper shut it
down. Rounding Diamond Head at about 300-feet the crew saw smoke and
fire everywhere, and Japanese planes all over the sky. They passed over
Hickham Field at about 1000-feet, realizing that this was no time and
place for a landing. They turned towards Ford Island and passed directly
over the USS Arizona minutes after the ship had exploded. Crocketts B-17
now became a target for nervous anti-aircraft gunners on the ground, and
the B-17 had its No. 4 engine shot out. Cooper prepared the crew to bail
out, but he then saw an opportunity to bring the big bird into Wheeler
Field. He came straight in and belly-landed the B-17 with almost no fuel
left. The plane slid to a stop on the turf just short of a group of
P-40s. The entire crew got out of the B-17 and ran for cover in a patch
of nearby woods. The B-17s on the flight from the mainland were
scattered all over the island, with most of them seriously damaged.
Fortunately, there were only two casualties, a flight surgeon who was
killed and a bombardier who was injured when they were strafed while
running from their plane. Crockett would survive a third crash in
another B-17 on December 25th when he would spend six days in
a life raft.
Nine-o-Nine by Stan Stokes.
One of only
fourteen B-17s that still fly, the Collings Foundation is the proud
owner and operator of B-17G serial no. 44-83575. This aircraft was built
on April 7, 1945 in Long Beach, CA by Douglas Aircraft under license
from Boeing. She served as part of the Air/Sea 1st Rescue
Squadron and in the Air Transport Service. She was subject to three
separate nuclear explosions. After a thirteen-year cool down period the
aircraft was sold for scrap. The Aircraft Specialties Company began a
restoration of the aircraft. Named Yucca Lady the aircrafts skin was
fabricated and replaced on site; engines and props were stripped,
cleaned, repaired and tested. For the next twenty years 44-83575 served
without incident as a fire bomber dropping water and borate on wild
fires throughout the West. In 1986 the Collings Foundation of Stow
Massachusetts purchased the aircraft and had her restored to her wartime
configuration by Tom Reilly Vintage Aircraft. She was considered one of
the finest B-17 restorations and has received numerous awards. In 1987
at an airshow at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, the aircraft was struck by
a severe cross wind while landing. This resulted in a severe
non-fatality accident, that necessitated another substantial
restoration. With the support of many individuals and corporations, and
support from many folks from Beaver Falls 44-83575 rose again like a
Phoenix. The aircraft is named in honor of Nine-O-Nine, a B-17 that flew
140 successful combat missions with the 323rd Squadron of the
91st Bomb Group. The original Nine-O-Nine did not lose a
crewman, and did not have to abort a single mission. This amazing record
was attained between February 1944 and April 1945. During this time the
Nine-O-Nine participated in eighteen raids on Berlin and flew an amazing
1129 combat hours. She underwent 21 different engine changes, 4 wing
replacements, and fifteen main gas tank replacements due largely to
heavy damage from flak. The Nine-O-Nine had six hundred patches in her
fuselage and wings when the War ended in Europe. She was flown home, but
later succumbed to the scrappers guillotine. In Stan Stokes highly
detailed painting, that is a tribute to both the original Nine-O-Nine,
and her present namesake flown by the Collings Foundation, the original
Nine-O-Nine is readied for another mission to Berlin at its airfield in
England in 1945.
Those Golden Moments by Philip
West. As the
sun slowly begins to rise this wintry morning over Thorpe Abbots,
Norfolk, ground crew prepare B-17G The All American Girl in an almost
surreal setting, for her 99th dangerous mission over enemy territory. On
10th January 1945, 19-year-old pilot, 1st Lt. John Dodrill and his crew
went missing on a combat sortie to Cologne. Like many other crews, they
made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom, with the Bloody
Hundredth Bombardment Group playing its full part with courage and
honour.
Thunderheads Over Ridgewell by
Robert Taylor Robert's emotive painting shows 381st Bomb Group B-17
Fortresses returning to Ridgewell on a summer afternoon in 1944 during a
period when the Group reached the peak of its effectiveness - for
several months it was top ranked outfit in the Eighth. Between June 1943
and the end of hostilities the 381st completed 297 combat missions, hit
almost every important target in German hands, and was credited with the
destruction of 223 enemy aircraft. One aircraft more than any other came
to symbolise the great daylight bombing campaign of the USAAF in Europe
during World War Two, the B-17 Flying Fortress.
Out of Fuel and Safely Home by Robert Taylor
Damaged by flak and enemy fighters, and almost out of fuel, after a
gruelling eight hour mission the pilot of this B-17 Fortress makes a
forced landing in the safety of an English cornfield. A pair of P-51
Mustangs have escorted the damaged aircraft back across the North Sea,
and peel off as they see their charge safely back on friendly sight Signatories: Jim Barker, Richard
Headrick, Bill Lawley, D Litsinger,
LA Mitchell
Legend of Colin Kelly by Robert Taylor
December 10th 1941, Just three days after the Japanese attack on
Pearl harbor, captain Colin Kelly's 19th BG B-17C is heavily outnumbered
by Zeros as it returns to Clark Field after completing a successful
bombing attack. With his aircraft on fire. Kelly remained at the controls
whilst his crew bailed out. Seconds later the B-17 exploded. Colin Kelly
gave his life and was posthumously awarded the DFC. A legend was born.
Signed by Robert Altman, James Halkyard |
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Fortress under Attack by
Robert Taylor published 1995 22nd
Bomb group B17's under attack by Mitsubishi Zero fighters over Rebaul
November 1942 signed by two pilots. This
sold out edition print has been remarked with a Super Fortress One secondary market print being sold on behalf of
a major collector's estate. No. 150/1250 Price
£650 Order Code AX43 |
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Return from Schweinfurt by Robert Taylor
published in 1990 B-17 Fortresses of the
American 8th Air Force's 1st Wing, fighting their way back from
Schweinfurt on 17th August 1945, signed by Adolf Galland, Johnnie
Johnson, Curtis LeMay, Hub Zemke One secondary market print being sold on behalf of
a major collector's estate. No. 910/1250 Price
£450 Order Code AX39 sold |
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The Belle Under Attack by Simon Atack
First, just small specks in the clear blue sky, high
and to the right; then a shape; then in the flicker of an eye, a big
enemy fighter with black crosses, orange flashes blinking along the
leading edge, hurtling down at 400mph. Barely enough time for the most
alert gunner to draw a bead. Then gone! All in the space of a few
seconds. More seconds pass, then "hold her steady skip, there's
another one coming in!" Then another, and another.
The 91st Bomb Group's target on Dec 20th 1942 was a
larger German fighter base and nearby aircraft factory south-east of
Paris. The B-17 crews expected an unusually hot fighter reception and
they were not to be disappointed!
Simon's painting recreates the moment when 324th Bomb
Squadron come under attack just short of the target. Memphis Belle
skipper, Bob Morgan holds his B-17 steady for his gunners, as an Fw190
comes flashing through his formation. Today the Belle's gunners will
score at least one confirmed air victory, hit the target and make it
back home to Bassingbourn.
Bob Morgan and his Memphis Belle crew will go on to
make history, becoming the first 8th Air Force bomber to complete a 25 combat mission tour over the skies above occupied Europe and Nazi
Germany.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints plus 25 artists proofs.
Serial number DHM2187. Overall print size 31¼" x 23½". Print
price £80 ($145). sold out
Artists proof price £120 ($200). Sold out
Signatories: Colonel Robert Morgan - the 24 year old
Captain and pilot Bob Morgan skippered the Memphis Belle on every one of
her 25 missions. His renowned skill as a B-17 pilot, his courage under
fire, and his leadership welded his crew into one of the best fighting
units in the 8th Air Force. Bob Morgan later commanded a squadron of
B-29s in the Pacific and led the first B-29 raid on Tokyo. He completed
a total of 26 missions against Japan, and became the most celebrated
American bomber pilot of WWII. |
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