 Colonel
Herbert M. Childress
Herbert Childress was posted to England,
joining the 27th Photo Recon Squadron, 7th Photographic Group
flying the F5 - a specially adapted photo-recon version of
the P38 with cameras and no guns. Herbert flew his first combat
mission on New Year's Eve 1943, and was heavily involved in
many reconnaissance missions prior to D-Day. He also flew
the Spitfire MkIXs on several operations. He flew 58 combat
missions and later commanded the 7th Photographic Group (R).
 Lt
Colonel Frank D. Hurlbut
Frank Hurlbut joined the National
Guard in early 1940 before being activated following the Japanese
attack at Pearl Harbor. He was posted to the 82nd Fighter
Group, 96th FS flying P38s in Europe. He became a P38 Ace
on 10 July 1943 during a notable fighter sweep in which his
Group was credited with 10 kills. Frank Hurlbut flew over
50 combat missions and scored nine confirmed victories, all
in Europe, making him the second highest Ace in the 12th Air
Force.
 First
Lieutenant Richard Ostronik
Joining the service at the end of
1942, Dick Ostronik was posted to the 82nd Fighter Group in
Italy, in the summer of 1944, where he flew P38s with the
96th FS. Attacking targets of opportunity and strafing trains,
the squadron escorted the heavy bombers that attacked aircraft
factories and industrial targets, and flew defending photo-reconnaisance
missions - once against a pair of Me262s. Dick flew over 30
combat missions, finishing his stint in Europe in May 1945.
 First
Lieutenant Mel Roalsvig
Already in the Reserves, Mel Roalsvig
was activated for full service in August 1941, and was posted
overseas to join the 97th FS, 82nd Fighter Group, by then
operating in Italy. Flying the P38 Lightning in it's main
role of bomber escort, he also took part in dive-bombing operations
in Czechoslovakia, and hitting targets of opportunity, including
strafing an ammunition train which exploded, the debris seriously
damaging his aircraft.
 Colonel
Richard Willsie
Joining up in 1942, Dick Willsie
was posted to North Africa with the 414th Night-fighter Squadron,
where he flew 31 missions on the Beaufighter. He transferred
to the 96th FS, 82nd Fighter Group, flying the P38 Lightning
on 82 day missions through to the end of hostilities in Europe.
He notched up a large number of ground attack victories, as
well as three aerial victories in his P38 'Snake Eyes'. He
later served in both Korea and Vietnam, and retired in 1974.
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THE D-DAY PORTFOLIO
Issued with Brigadier General Robin Olds
signature, and artist-signed matching-numbered copies of ‘Double
Trouble’ pencil drawing.
 Brigadier
General Robin Olds
After leaving West Point in June
1943, Robin Olds was posted to the 479th Fighter Group in
England. Based at Wattisham in East Anglia, and flying P38s,
he was involved in heavy bomber escort duties and fighter
sweeps until the Normandy invasion, soon after which his Squadron
converted to P51 Mustangs. By early 1945 Robin Olds was in
command of 434 Squadron taking part in the Battle of the Bulge,
flying escort missions, and providing air support to the airborne
attack across the Rhine. At the end of World War II Robin
Olds had 24 1/2 victories, of which 13 were in the air. Later
in Vietnam, Robin Olds commanded the 8th TFW, gaining four
more air victories flying the F4 Phantom. Robin Olds retired
in 1973 after 30 years service.
Double Trouble by
Robert Taylor
Overall proof size: 19" wide x 14
3/4" high.
A pilot of the 386th Fighter Squadron,
365th Fighter Group, guides his P47 Thunderbolt back to a
landing strip at Beaulieu in England, after suffering severe
damage during the squadron's low-level bombing run against
ground targets behind the Normandy beach-head on the morning
of D-Day - 6 June 1944. Another pilot from the 386th keeps
his P47 close at hand to help his colleague return safely.
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