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September 11th., 1944. B-17's of the
'Bloody Hundredth' attack a target at Ruhland, Germany.
Main subject is 'Mason and Dixon.'
One of a few full color pictures shot
at Thorpe Abbots. The Officer in the jeep is John Schwartz,
Commanding Officer of the Photo Lab. (100th Photo Archives)
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Sheet size:
33" wide x 21 1/2" high.
| America's
Century by Robert Bailey
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100
Century Edition w/ OVER ONE HUNDRED AND TEN SIGNATURES.
(Comes with complete list of men
who signed, showing name, rank and squadron, on acid-free
paper and suitable for framing with the print.) |
US
$575 |
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| High over the
European continent lies a battlefield of immense size that has
no markers, no monuments and no evidence that any struggle between
men and nations ever took place just sixty short years ago.
It has no borders or road signs to enlighten anyone where these
battles raged, battles involving young men from opposing forces
that exacted a toll of a quarter million casualties and changed
the course of humanity forever.
Among the young American men who rose to the challenge, no
finer examples can be found than those in the 100th Bomb Group,
or as they came to be known, ‘The Bloody Hundredth’.
Facing overwhelming odds, particularly in 1942-43, when aircrews
could not expect to survive more than 10 missions, the Hundredth
faced the worst that the Germans could throw at them. Raging
flak and Luftwaffe tactics aside, they faced the fear of the
unknown, often unescorted by fighters.
Despite all of this, the result was a victory that reverberates
around the world to this day. As memories fade and the ranks
grow fewer and fewer, their legacy lives on, and stands as
a marker for future generations. |
Depicted in Robert Bailey’s
newest air combat painting is a mission flown by the 100th Bomb
Group on September 11th, 1944, to Ruhland, Germany. Elements
of the aircraft emerge from the bomb run, having delivered their
payloads over the target.
The official group history reads: "At 26,000 feet the
C Squadron was attacked by approximately 40 enemy aircraft,
Fw190s and Me109s. The e/a came in a ‘schwarm’
from 6 o’clock, opening fire with 20mm from 400 yards.
After this one mass attack, a few single e/a broke away from
the ‘schwarm’ and made a 360-degree turn and again
attacked crippled aircraft in the 100th C Squadron. In a few
moments, all but one of our aircraft disappeared beneath the
under-cast, about half of them appearing to be under control.”
This attack destroyed the Low Squadron of B-17’s, and
then German fighters returned to attack from the front and
rear. Many of these fighters were shot down, but the 100th
lost twelve crews this day. It is this second wave attack
by the Luftwaffe which is depicted here. Valiant ‘Mason
and Dixon’, shown in America’s Century was in
the B (High) Group, low element, and is seen fending off an
attack by a Fw190. She claimed four German fighters during
her missions over Europe. |
