Formidable Fortress by Robert Bailey

First In The 'BIG FRIENDS' Trilogy Featuring The 'Bloody Hundredth' In Action On December 31st., 1944.
With more than 100 Veterans Signatures And A Special Luftwaffe-Signed Edition!

These prints were signed with the artist in Oberauroff, Germany, and with the artist in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.

Formidable Fortress by Robert Bailey
235 Limited Edition with SEVEN aircrew signatures.	US $195

35 Artist's Proofs with TWENTY ONE aircrew signatures. (Including the Command Pilot on this mission, Major Charles A. Martin)	US $375

120 Group Edition with ONE HUNDRED and EIGHT aircrew/ground crew signatures. Each Group Edition comes with a list of signatories, printed on prime, acid-free paper and suitable for framing.	US $575

30 Combatants Edition with FOURTEEN aircrew signatures. (SIX Luftwaffe, EIGHT B-17 aircrew)	US $525

25 Remarqued Edition with SIXTEEN signatures. (SIX Luftwaffe, TEN B-17 aircrew)	US $695

Group Edition sheet size: 25" wide x 35" high.

Others: 23" wide x 34 1/4" high.

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 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 casualty experiences 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 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' was attacked by Fw-190's, Me109's and Me262 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 crewmembers and their formidable Fortresses.

Writer: Mike Coenen

GROUP EDITION SIGNATURES: (108 Total Signatures)

Staff Sgt. PAUL ZAK - 418th Squadron - (Bio)
Tech. Sgt. WILLIAM G. LEONARD - 350th Squadron
Staff Sgt. JIM SORENSON - 349th Squadron
Captain ARTHUR JUHLIN - 418th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. CALIN MILLER - 350th Squadron
Staff Sgt. JOHN DARR - 349th Squadron
Staff Sgt. JOE GRIEGO - 351st Squadron
1st. Lt. ED HANSEN - 350th Squadron
Captain FRANK D. MURPHY - 418th Squadron
Staff Sgt. JIM CASHEN - 349th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. AL LOCHRA - 351st Squadron - (Bio)
Tech. Sgt. BRUCE ALSHOUSE - 349th Squadron
Captain 'Hong Kong' WILSON - 350th Squadron - (Bio)
Tech. Sgt. BOB MUGRIDGE - 350th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. NELSON A. PARDEE - 350th Squadron
Captain FERD HERRES - 349th Squadron
1st. Lt. GEORGE W. McLEOD - 349th Squadron
Sgt. ANTHONY SCHIMMEL - 418th Squadron
Staff Sgt. JOHN J. O'NEAL - Detached
Staff Sgt. DALE E. FRANCIS - 418th Squadron
Staff Sgt. BILL DONDERO - 418th Squadron
Robert LaFONTAINE - 456th Squadron
Captain HAL SWITZER - 349th Squadron - (Bio)
Staff Sgt. RICHARD DALE LONG - 351st Squadron
Staff Sgt. LEROY KUBUSKE - 350th Squadron
Sgt. DAN RADICE - 349th Squadron
Staff Sgt. FRED WIEGMAN - 349th Squadron
Colonel E.A. CASSIMATIS - 418th Squadron
Major JOSEPH P. ARMANINI - 349th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. RICK ERICKSON - 350th Squadron
Master Sgt. D.R. CHRISTOPHER - 351st Squadron
Tech. Sgt. ROBERT KING - 350th Squadron
Sgt. MIKE GABOR - 350th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. CARL CARLSON - 418th Squadron
Lt. Colonel VICTOR FIENUP - 351st Squadron - (Bio)
Captain FRED CHAPIN - 351st Squadron
Major JOHN McLAUGHLIN - 418th Squadron
Staff Sgt. ROLAND GRUNSTEAD - 418th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. JAMES GROSSKOPF - 351st Squadron
1st. Lt. THEODORE DON - 349th Squadron
Captain JOHN SCHWARZ - H.Q. Squadron
Tech. Sgt. FRANK DeGEORGE - 349th Squadron
Staff Sgt. PAUL CALKIN - 349th Squadron
Staff Sgt. WILLIAM WIXOM - 349th Squadron
Staff Sgt. CHARLES KOONS - 351st Squadron
1st. Lt. LARRY WARD - 351st Squadron
Staff Sgt. LUTHER WISE - 350th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. WILLIAM BURKHART - 350th Squadron
1st. Lt. HAL HIGGS - 349th Squadron
1st. Lt. RAY LISCHER - 418th Squadron
Captain RUSSELL ENGEL - 349th Squadron
1st. Lt. BOB FITZGERALD - 350th Squadron
Staff Sgt. RINALDO BUSSINO - 350th Squadron
Major RED CARRILLO - 350th Squadron
Lt. Colonel BUTCH GOODWIN - 349th & 350th Squadrons

Sgt. EDGARD SMITH - 351st Squadron
Tech. Sgt. BUD VIETH - 351st Squadron
Staff Sgt. HERMAN HORENKAMP - 350th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. GENE BANKSTON - 349th Squadron
1st. Lt. ARNOLD WIMER - 350th Squadron
1st. Lt. GENE MULHOLLAND - 351st Squadron
Staff Sgt. FRANK VOLK - 349th Squadron
Staff Sgt. JOSEPH BLUME - 418th Squadron
1st. Lt. JACK FOGLE - 349th Squadron
Major THOMAS BARRETT - 418th Squadron - (Bio)
Captain BILL CULLY - 351st Squadron
Captain BOB SHOENS - 351st Squadron
Staff Sgt. GEORGE WINDISCH - 351st Squadron
Staff Sgt. ROBERT GUIDI - 418th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. NORMAN MILLER - 349th Squadron
1st. Lt. RICHARD AMES - 351st Squadron
Tech. Sgt. MERTON WILCH - 418th Squadron
Staff Sgt. GLEN J. ALLEN - 418th Squadron
1st. Lt. ERNIE ZAPF - 351st Squadron
Lt. Colonel CHARLES P. CRUIKSHANK - 418th Squadron
Captain TOM HUGHES - 351ST Squadron
Sgt. CHESTER SKIBA - 349th Squadron
1st. Lt. CHARLES R. HACKER - 349th Squadron
1st. Lt. HAROLD W. ESTILL - 350th Squadron
1st. Lt. BILL WOODS - 349th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. LOUIS BERARD - 418th Squadron
Staff Sgt. MARION CALTON - 418th Squadron
1st. Lt. DICK JOHNSON - 351st Squadron
Captain JAMES OLMSTEAD - 351st Squadron
Corporal LEROY E. WOLF - 350th Squadron
1st. Lt. BILL BROWN - 351st Squadron
Captain RAY MILLER - 350th Squadron
1st. Lt. GEORGE TUSSING - 349th Squadron
1st. Lt. CHUCK HARDING - 349th Squadron - (Bio)
1st. Lt. JOE MARTIN - 349th Squadron
Captain LLOYD COARTNEY - 418th Squadron
1st. Lt. CECIL DANIELS - 350th Squadron
Staff Sgt. EARL WILBUR - 350th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. JIM MACK - 418th Squadron
1st. Lt. ROBERT LANDINO - 351st Squadron
1st. Lt. JIM LANTZ - 351st Squadron
Captain ANDREW BURKHART - 349th & 351st Squadrons
Staff Sgt. ROBERT J. KENNEDY - 350th Squadron
Captain JERRY KANE - 418th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. ROBERT ANDERSON - 349th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. ROLAND ECKERT - 349th Squadron
Lieutenant HANK CERVANTES - 349th Squadron
1st. Lt. ROBERT CULP - 349th Squadron
Tech. Sgt. DON ATKINSON - 418th Squadron
Captain CHUCK HARRIS - 418th Squadron
Staff Sgt. EDWIN HOFFART - 418th Squadron
1st. Lt. DAN ZECK - 350th Squadron
Captain GLENN RAKE - 349th & 351st Squadrons

1st. Lieutenant Richard Ames was born in Greenville, Illinois. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet and after time on the P-40 Warhawk, was assigned as a co-pilot on B-17's. His crew was assigned to the 100th Bomb Group in August 1944. He was on the Hamburg raid. Lieutenant Ames was wounded in October 1944, having completed 33 missions. Awards include Air Medal, 5 clusters and the Purple Heart. Also awards from the Polish Home Army and Warsaw Resistance. His aircraft was 'Glory Bound'.

Captain Thomas M. Barrett flew 30 combat missions with the 100th Bomb Group. He was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. Captain Barrett became the Lead Bombardier with the 418th Squadron and on one mission was wounded over Mainz, Germany. On the Hamburg raid, he was the Group Lead Bombardier. Decorations include Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, Air Medal with 4 O.L.C.'s, E.T.O. Ribbon, (6 Bronze Battle Stars), American Theater Ribbon and Polish Freedom Medal. He retired with the rank of Major.

2nd Lieutenant Ralph Bradley was born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He enlisted in the Army Air Force Cadet Program in December 1942, at the age of 18. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant as a bombardier on May 21st, 1944. He and his crew joined the 100th Bomb Group in September of 1944 and flew their first mission, to Bonlen, on October 7th. He completed 31 missions including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Mannheim, Munich, Duisburg and Cottbus. When he returned to the U.S.A., he became instructor to retrain bombardiers and Chinese army officers. He retired from the Air Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel. Decorations include Air Medal with 5 Clusters, E.T.O., American Defense Medal and Unit Citation.

Major Harry Crosby was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1942. He flew 37 missions, mostly as the Lead Navigator, including the longest missions to the north (Trondheim, Norway), east (Berlin, landing in Russia), and south (Regensberg, landing in North Africa). Decorations include D.F.C. (three times), Air Medal (seven times), Bronze Star, two Presidential Citations and the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star (two times). He retired as a Lt. Colonel. He is also author of the book 'On a Wing and a Prayer'. (HarperCollins).

Lieutenant Victor E. Fienup was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a B-17 pilot with the 351st Squadron, 100th Bomb Group. On his 15th and last mission to a target near Paris, France, his b-17 'Janie' is said to have collided with another b-17 flown by 2nd Lieutenant Charles Floyd Jr. in 'Barker's Burden'. Another report says that a bomb dropped on 'Janie'. In any event, she went down, burning. Lt. Fienup tried to exit through the pilot's window, but became stuck. The aircraft then blew up, and he descended by parachute, becoming a P.O.W. He has the D.F.C., ETO and Purple Heart.

1st. Lieutenant Grant Fuller was co-pilot of the lead ship of the lead squadron, the plane featured in FORMIDABLE FORTRESS. During the attack, he sat in the tailgunner's position and reported back his observations to the pilot. Born in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico, he trained in San Antonio, Perrin Field, Hicks Field, Ellington Field (all in Texas) and Rapid City, South Dakota. He completed 30 combat missions. Awards include Air Medal with O.L.C.'s, Unit Citation and Polish Home Army Cross.

1st. Lieutenant Chuck Harding was born in Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, training in California, Texas, New Mexico and Tennessee. Chuck was a B-17 pilot with the 100th Bomb Group and flew the D-Day mission, Russian Shuttle mission (both led by Colonel, now General, Tom Jeffrey). Chuck was shot down on his 17th mission over Augsburg, Germany. He got to Switzerland, where he was interned but escaped and returned to American forces. His escape plan was adopted by Army Intelligence and over 100 men were later able to escape, using the plan. Decorations: Air Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Sergeant Albert P. Lochra was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Training was in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, South Dakota. He served in the 100th Bomb Group, 351st Squadron as a Radio Operator/Gunner. Combat missions total 19, plus a mission to Holland where food was dropped to civilians. Decorations include Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Ribbon, Victory WWII Ribbon, American African-Middle East Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars and Air Medal, with 2 O.L.C.'s.

Major Charles A. Martin was born in Plaindealing, Louisiana, and trained at Randolph and Kelly Fields, Texas. He flew 8 combat missions over Germany in B-24's with the 458th Bomb Group before being transferred to the 100th Bomb Group as Commander of the 349th Bomb Squadron. He was the COMMAND PILOT on the Hamburg mission. (The main aircraft in FORMIDABLE FORTRESS). Decorations include D.F.C., Air Medal with 4 O.L.C.'s and the Commendation Medal with 3 O.L.C.'s.

Tech. Sergeant James M. McCullough was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He served in the 349th and 350th Squadrons, 100th Bomb Group. He flew 26 missions as Top Turret Gunner with the following pilots: George Fowler, 'Hong Kong' Wilson, and Joe King. His missions include Berlin, Chemnitz marshalling yards, Nuremburg, Bremen, Brunswick (tank factory), Ulm marshalling yard, Jena (Car Zeiss Optical Works), Ahlhorn (jet field), Kiel docks, Leipzig and many others. Decorations include Victory Medal, Air Medal (5 clusters), and Presidential Citation with O.L.C.

Captain Glenn H. Rojohn was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He received his training in the eastern States, and was Pilot-in-Command of 'The Little Skipper' on the Hamburg raid with the 100th Bomb Group this day. After bombing the target and on the way home, another B-17 came up from underneath and collided with his aircraft. The two planes left the formation locked together, with Captain Rojohn controlling both planes with throttles. Some aircrew baled out, and Captain Rojohn crash-landed both aircraft on enemy territory. The Gestapo interrogated him for a few days, believing that he had commanded a new, 8-engined secret weapon. Awards include the D.F.C. Air Medal, Purple Heart and P.O.W. Medal.

Lieutenant Robert Rosenthal enlisted on December 8th, 1941 and joined the Hundredth Bomb Group in 1943 as a pilot. On his third mission, 'Rosie' flew the strike to Munster. Only Rosenthal and his crew in 'Royal Flush' returned to base at Thorpe Abbotts. During the Bremen raid, he was a 2nd. Lieutenant. He went on to complete 52 missions and was on his third tour when the war ended. He was awarded sixteen decorations, including the D.S.C., Silver Star (twice), D.F.C. (twice), Air Medal with Seven Clusters, two Purple Hearts and British and French decorations.

Captain Harold Switzer joined the service in 1943 and took basic training in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His wings were received at Freeman Field. He then took transitional training to fly B-17's and joined the 100th Bomb Group. His most memorable mission was Magdeburg in April 1945. Flying in the slot (Purple Heart corner) his squadron was attacked by 262 jets. Second and Third Element Leads were knocked out, so he moved up to Second. His tail gunner (Dan Radice) and ball turret gunner (Pete Yarnot) shot down two jets and received full credit. The lead ship dropped out, and Captain Switzer led the squadron back to Thorpe Abbotts. He flew ten missions during the war, and was decorated with the Air Medal, Group Citation and Presidential Citation.

Staff Sergeant Edward F. Tatro was born in Joliet, Illinois. He trained in Minnesota, Nevada and Florida, becoming a Waist Gunner with the 100th Bomb Group, 418th Squadron. Decorations include Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, European Campaign, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Medal.

1st Lieutenant 'Hong Kong' Wilson was born in Dublin, Texas. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was trained in Prince Albert, (Saskatchewan), in Manitoba and at Prince Edward Island. After service flying over the North Atlantic, he joined the 100th Bomb Group and flew missions to Germany from England. On the Hamburg raid, 'Hong Kong' was leading the High Squadron, (B) with Major Harry Cruver as Command Pilot. They were flying deputy lead for the 100th Bomb Group that day. 'Hong Kong's' Awards include the D.F.C. and Air Medal.

1st. Lieutenant Robert H. Wolff was born in San Francisco and trained in Boise, Idaho and Casper, Wyoming. Eventually assigned to the 100th Bomb Group at Thorpe Abbotts, England. He flew many missions to Germany and France, including the famous 'Shuttle Mission', landing in Africa. His aircraft, 'Wolf Pack', was too badly damaged to fly the return mission. On a later mission he had three engines shot out on a raid to France and ditched offshore, becoming a prisoner of war. Awards include the D.F.C., Air Medal and Distinguished United Citation.

Staff Sergeant Paul Zak is originally from Tourage, Lithuania. Trained at Army Air Field, Las Vegas, he joined the 418th Squadron with the 100th Bomb Group. He flew with Harold Bucklew's crew in 'Silver Dollar,' as the ball turret gunner. On the Hamburg raid, he disabled an Fw-190, causing its engine to catch fire. On the return journey, he witnessed Glenn Rojohn's B-17 collide with McNabb's, and both B-17's began a wide descending circle, drifting towards the coast. He reported the tail numbers at debriefing. Awards include Air Medal (5 O.L.C.'s), Polish Flying Cross, and Russian Victory Medal.

Luftwaffe Signatures: Signed in Germany with Robert Bailey

Feldwebel Oscar Boesch joined the Luftwaffe in 1942. He volunteered for Sturm Staffel One, a special unit that attacked daylight four-engine bombers. During his first mission in April 1944, he crash landed his Fw190, which flipped onto its back. He was shot down in May, but went on to score 18 victories, including a Spitfire, Mustang, 6 B-17's, 2 B-24's, 4 IL-2's, 2 Lagg 5's and 2 Yak 9's. Oscar logged 120 combat missions, which ended in April 1945 when his Fw190 collided with a Yak 9 over Berlin. He was captured by the Russians, but escaped and walked 1,000km. back home to Austria.

Unteroffizier Heinz Kern was born in 1922 on a farm in the Taunus region of Germany. He was interested in aviation from his childhood on reading books about famous pilots like the Red Baron. After flying gliders, receiving his pilot's license (1943) and fighter pilot training, he flew the Me109 and Fw190 in France, Austria, Finland and Norway. He owns a hotel north of Frankfurt where his old friends of JG-5 meet for their annual reunion.

Leutnant Heinrich Frieherr von Podewils joined the Luftwaffe in 1939. He flew Me109's and Fw190's in Bulgaria, Norway, and Finland and in the 'Home Defence'. (Reichsverteidigung). His victories include a Hurricane, a B-17 and a Beaufighter. He was shot down twice, once over Germany by a P-47 Thunderbolt. In 1945 he commanded 8./JG-5 in Norway, where he became a P.O.W. of the Americans. He was turned over to the French. In January 1947, he escaped from a P.O.W. camp in France but was caught near the German border. He remained a prisoner in France until June 1947, two years after the end of the war.

Oberleutnant Ernst Scheufele was born in Walldorf, Germany. He joined the Luftwaffe in October 1940 and later flew the Me109 with 4./JG-4, on 'Defense of the Reich' missions. He also flew the Me109 with JG-5 from Norway. On December 3rd, 1944, he was shot down by American ground fire near Aachen. He has a total of 18 victories, including 3 four-engine bombers and 2 Mustangs. Ernst Scheufele flew 200 missions and holds the Frontflugspange in Gold.

Oberleutnant Walter Schuck joined the Luftwaffe in 1937. He scored his first victory while with 7./JG-5 based at Petsamo on the Polar Sea. On June 5th, 1942, he shot down 4 Russian fighters. His rate of victories increased steadily. During March, 1944, he shot down 7 Boston bombers and by April had 84 victories. On June 15th he scored 6 more, and on the 17th, 12 more victories in 24 hours! By August he had 150. Later in the war he flew the Me.262 jet with JG-7. He shot down 4 B-17's in the 262, with 8 victories. His all-up score was 206 confirmed aerial victories. His awards include the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves.

Feldwebel Dieter Weinitschke was born in 1920 in Berlin. He volunteered for the Luftwaffe in 1941 and was stationed in Finland with JG-5. He was soon recognized as an excellent fighter pilot in the Me109. He also flew reconnaissance missions for Ju-87 and Ju-88 strikes against the Russian harbor of Murmansk. In 1942 he was shot down behind Russian lines, but three days later he was rescued by a Fiessler Storch. A year later he parachuted from his Me109 and became a P.O.W. in Russia. He is credited with 19 victories. With his many poems and writings he still has a special place in the hearts of his old friends of the Jg-5 Eismeerjager.