America's entrance into war-torn Europe in 1942 was immediately at a strategic and tactical disadvantage. Germany had absorbed most of her neighbors into the Third Reich. Had it not been for England, who stood defiant and largely alone, the scene that greeted the Americans would have been far more difficult. Europe by then was a fortress that had been carefully crafted by Germany's architects of war. The continent and coastline bristled defensively in an 'Atlantic Wall' that defied breaching. To combat 'Fortress Europa,' America and England adopted an air war doctrine that was designed to soften up the expected German resistance and entrenchment, prior to the allied invasion. The heart of the air doctrine was centered on a bombing campaign that consisted of heavy bomber groups of both British and American design, that addressed both day and night bombing of industrial and population centers throughout the occupied territories. America chose to follow the philosophy of daylight precision bombing, which was inherently more dangerous than night bombing, exposing both aircraft and crews alike to the onslaught of German day fighters. The casualties experienced in 1942-43 brought that philosophy to the brink of cancellation. Yet the aircrews and bombers like the B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator kept rising daily to do battle against the best that the Luftwaffe could muster. Time, effort and increased fighter escort proved to be the catalyst needed to change the picture of the air war. By the end of 1944, the Luftwaffe was losing ground to the mighty bomber streams that devastated their heartland. In Robert Bailey's latest painting, elements of the 100th Bomb Group are seen just after their bomb release above an oil refinery near Hamburg. Surprisingly, the aircrews reported no snow in or near the target area, even though it was the end of December. The mission lacked fighter cover, which had been diverted to another B-17 raid that day The 'Bloody Hundredth' were attacked by Fw-190s, Me-109s and Me-262 jets. The fighters had been vectored to the scene by a captured B-17 flown by the Germans, who monitored the bomber stream, reporting height, speed and heading. The Hundredth lost 12 planes this day, but they had destroyed their target and then thundered home with an abiding faith in their fellow crew members and their formidable Fortresses. |
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235 Limited Edition, featuring SEVEN aircrew signatures. |
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135 The Complete Aircrew Edition with 10 aircrew signatures (Pilot, co-Pilot, Navigator, Air Gunners, etc.). |
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35 Artists Proofs, featuring 21 aircrew signatures (including the Command Pilot on this mission, Major Charles A. Martin). |
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120 Group Edition, with 108 aircrew/groundcrew signatures. |
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30 Combatants Edition with 14 aircrew signatures (six Luftwaffe, eight B-17 aircrew). |
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25 Remarqued Edition with 16 signatures (six Luftwaffe, 10 B-17 aircrew). |
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50 Studio Edition (signed by artist only). |
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140 Veteran's Edition (signed by artist only) NOT FOR SALE. |
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