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Nicolas Trudgian's amazing limited
edition depicting Colonel Don Strait - top scoring Ace of the
356th Fighter Group, together with his pilots, in action against
Luftwaffe Fw190s while escorting B17 bombers on their way back
from Germany, Winter 1944. From the day they began
their aerial campaign against Nazi Germany to the cessation
of hostilities in 1945, the USAAF bomber crews plied their
hazardous trade in broad daylight. This tactic may have enabled
better sighting of targets, and possibly less danger of mid-air
collisions, but the grievous penalty of flying daylight missions
over enemy territory was the ever presence of enemy fighters.
Though heavily armed, the heavy bombers of the American Eighth
Air Force were no match against the fast, highly manoeuvrable
Me109s, Fw190s and, late in the war, Me 262 jet fighters which
the Luftwaffe sent up to intercept them. Without fighter escort
they were sitting ducks, and inevitably paid a heavy price.
Among others, one fighter group earned particular respect,
gratitude, and praise from bomber crews for their escort tactics.
The 356th FG stuck rigidly to the principle of tight bomber
escort duty, their presence in tight formation with the bombers
often being sufficient to deter enemy attack. Repeatedly passing
up the opportunity to increase individual scores, the leadership
determined it more important to bring the bombers home than
claim another enemy fighter victory. As the air war progressed
this philosophy brought about an unbreakable bond between
heavy bomber crews and escort fighter pilots, and among those
held in the highest esteem were the pilots of the 356th.
Nicolas Trudgian pays tribute to the escort fighter pilots
of the USAAF Eighth Air Force, and in particular to those
who flew with the 356th, with his action packed aerial panorama
Ace of Diamonds. Top scoring ace Donald J Strait, flying his
P-51 D Mustang Jersey Jerk, together with pilots of the 356th
Fighter Group, are seen in action against Luftwaffe Me 109s
while escorting B-17 bombers returning from a raid on German
installations during the late winter of 1944. His fine rendition
brings home the devastating speed with which these attacks
were fought: One minute all is orderly as the mighty bombers
thunder their way homeward; the next minute enemy fighters
are upon them and all hell breaks loose.
A fine re-enactment created by a master painter, Nick’s
limited edition, signed by fighter pilots of the 356th FG,
will grace the collection of the finest aviation art portfolio.
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Overall print
size: 35 3/8" wide x 23 3/4" high.
Image size: 28 5/8" wide x 16"
high.
| Ace
of Diamonds by Nicolas
Trudgian |
| 500 s/n prints w/THREE
signatures. |
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Each print in this commemorative edition
is individually signed in pencil by three of the top pilots
from the 356th Fighter Group, including top-scoring ace Donald
Strait. Every print is also signed personally by the artist,
Nicolas Trudgian, and hand-numbered.
 Lieutenant
Colonel Charles E. Beck
Charles Beck joined the service in November 1942, and after
gaining his pilots wings, was posted to the 361st Fighter
Squadron, 356th Fighter Group at Martlesham Heath in July
1944. He flew his first combat mission with them, in a P47,
on 29 August 1944. He then flew Mustangs as the group converted
over to P51s from the P47. He took part in the group’s
big mission to Misbourg, Germany on 26 November, when the
Group scored 110 victories against a big Luftwaffe attack
on the bomber stream. Charles finished his combat tour on
7 May 1945, the last day of the war. He later served on active
duty in the Korean War, and during the Vietnam conflict.
 Captain
Clinton DeWitt Burdick
Clinton Burdick’s father – Lt. Howard Burdick,
had been an Ace with 8 victories during the First World War.
So perhaps it was natural that Clinton signed up for the service
on his 18th birthday in 1942. After pilot training he transferred
to join the 361st FS, 356th Fighter Group at Martlesham Heath
in England, in October 1944. Flying his first combat mission
in November, his first victory came quickly on 25th of that
month, and like his father, he too was to become an Ace. Clinton
flew 53 combat missions during his tour with the 356th, his
last coming on 20 February 1945, and with 6 victories was
one of only five aerial Aces in the 356th.
 Major
General Donald J. Strait
Don Strait received his pilots wings in January 1944. In August
he was posted with the 356th Fighter Group to Martlesham Heath,
Suffolk, as one of the original 361st Fighter Squadron pilots.
Flying first the P47, in which he claimed three victories,
he took part in long-range bomber escort and ground support
missions, taking part in the D-Day operations. Later in P51s,
he scored a further 10 ½ victories to make him the
top scoring Ace of the 356th Fighter Group. Don finished his
second tour in March 1945, and in his two combat tours he
had flown 122 missions, and commanded the 361st Fighter Squadron.
He later commanded the 108th Tactical Wing in Korea, and flew
F-86, F-84, and F-105 jets.
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