A POWERFUL TRIBUTE TO THE ESCORT FIGHTER PILOTS OF THE USAAF EIGHTH AIR FORCEACE OF DIAMONDS by Nicolas TrudgianDon Strait, top scoring Ace of the 356th Fighter Group, flying his P-51 D Mustang Jersey Jerk together with his pilots, intercept Luftwaffe Fw190s while escorting B17 bombers on their way back from Germany in the winter of 1944.From the day they began their aerial campaign against Nazi Germany to the end of hostilities in 1945, the USAAF bomber crews flew their hazardous missions in broad daylight. This tactic may have enabled better sighting of targets, and less danger of mid-air collisions, but the grievous penalty of flying daylight missions over enemy territory was the ever present danger of enemy fighters.Though heavily armed, the heavy bombers of the American Eighth Air Force were no match against the fast, highly maneuverable Luftwaffe Me109s, Fw190s and Me 262 jet fighters, and without fighter escort they were sitting ducks. The 356th Fighter Group earned particular respect, gratitude, and praise from bomber crews for its escort tactics. They stuck rigidly to the principle of tight bomber escort duty and their presence was often being sufficient to deter enemy attack.Nicolas Trudgian’s powerful piece pays tribute to the escort fighter pilots of the USAAF Eighth Air Force, and in particular to those who flew with the 356th, illustrating the devastating speed with which these attacks were fought.THE SIGNATURES The print is individually signed in pencil by by the artist and three of the top pilots from the 356th Fighter group, including top-scoring ace Donald Strait:Lieutenant Colonel CHARLES E. BECK Captain CLINTIN DeWITT BURDICK Major General DONALD J. STRAIT Published in 2003 this print is now long sold out and a great piece for aviation art collectors and autograph hunters alike.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 over 20 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.