Raising Havoc In The Ardennes by Nicolas Trudgian

It is January 1945, and it's cold. The German advance in the Ardennes is nearly over, but the Panzer Army is desperately throwing more troops into the breach who try to keep their momentum going in The Battle of the Bulge.

Tasked with preventing German reinforcements from reaching the battle front, the Ninth Air Force launched a series of low-level attacks on enemy ground forces as they wind their way through the Ardennes. Flying conditions were not easy, cloud bases were low, and snow was in the air.

Nicolas Trudgian's painting recreates an attack on January 23, 1945, by Douglas A-20 Havocs of the 410th Bomb Group. Locating an enemy convoy in open space near the German town of Blankenheim, the Havoc pilots make a swift attack diving from 8000 feet, catching the German force by surprise: Hurtling down the line of vehicles at 320mph they release their parafrag bombs from 300 feet then, dropping just above the roofs of the army trucks continue down the column blasting everything in sight with their forward-firing .50mm caliber machine guns. In the space of a few minutes the attack is completed and the convoy decimated.

With ammunition expended and fuel running low the A-20 Havocs climb out of the zone and head for base in France. A 20mm shell has hit the lead aircraft wounding the Bombardier/Navigator Gordon Jones, which will seriously hamper their return through a blizzard, but all aircraft make it safely home - the lead aircraft, on landing, counting over 100 holes of various sizes. For their part in leading the successful attack the Lead Pilot Russell Fellers and Bombardier/Navigator Gordon G. Jones received the Silver Star.

Nick's fine rendering of the mission pays tribute to the Ninth Air Force pilots and crews who flew the tough missions during the Battle of the Bulge and, with each copy signed by so many A-20 Havoc aircrews, the limited edition prints provide collectors with a unique and valuable addition to add to their portfolios.

Overall Print Size: 26" wide x 20 5/8" high.

Image Size: 20 1/8" wide x 13 1/2" high.

An important limited edition from the studio of Nicolas Trudgian, endorsed with the original signatures of A-20 Havoc combat aircrews, including 2 Silver Star recipients, from World War II.

Raising Havoc In The Ardennes by Nicolas Trudgian
The Collectors Edition (Individually numbered 1 - 500)
500 s/n prints w/EIGHT signatures.	US $150

25 Artist's Proofs w/ELEVEN signatures.	SOLD OUT
The Portfolio Edition (Individually numbered 1 - 100)
Issued w/matching numbered Companion print 'VE Day - Heading Home'
100 s/n prints w/EIGHTEEN signatures.	SOLD OUT
25 Portfolio Remarques w/NINETEEN signatures.	SOLD OUT

The Collectors Edition:
Each print in The Collectors Edition has been signed by the artist Nicolas Trudgian together with no less than EIGHT pilots and aircrew who flew combat with the 410th Bomb Group during the Battle of the Bulge.

Major Howard B. Aines Lead Bombardier/Navigator with the 644th Sqn. Flew the first of his 65 combat missions in the A-20 on 4 May 1944.		Staff Sergeant Karl Haeuser Turret Gunner with the 644th Sqn. First combat mission July 1944. Shot down and taken POW August 44.
Staff Sergeant Donald Bjornson Aerial Gunner with the 645th Sqn. 65 combat missions on the A-20 Havoc, including the Blankenheim strike.		Captain John L. Minech Pilot with the 647th Sqn. Flew the first of his many combat missions in May 1944, including 2 on D-Day.
Captain Jerome M. Coe Lead Pilot with the 647th Sqn. Flew the first of his 61 combat missions in the A-20 on 15 Aug 1944.		Major James R. Nicols Bombardier/Navigator with the 644th Sqn. Flew his first mission Aug 15, 1944 against Chantilly fuel dump in France.
Captain Narval F. Davis Pilot with the 647th Sqn. 72 combat missions on both the A-20 and A-26, the first on D-Day June 1944.		Lt. Colonel J. Duane Wethe Pilot with the 646th Sqn. 65 mission pilot over occupied Europe. Awarded the Silver Star for heroism in action.

Artist's Proofs and Portfolio Remarques are additionally signed by:

Lt. Colonel James F. Barkalow
49 combat mission A-20 Lead Pilot in the ETO.

Lt. Colonel Gordon G. Jones
410th Bomb Group - Bombardier/Navigator with the 644th Squadron. Gordon Jones was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on the Blankenheim Mission.

Major Charles D. LaMond
Pilot with the 644th Squadron. 41 combat missions in the A-20.

The Portfolio Edition:
Just 100 Portfolio copies of 'Raising Havoc in the Ardennes', with the additional signatures of Jim Barkalow and Gordon Jones, are issued with a matching numbered 8 signature Companion print 'VE Day - Heading Home'.

Overall print size: 15" wide x 12 1/4" high.

Douglas A-26 Invaders of the 409th BG, low over the French countryside having just buzzed Paris on VE-Day, 7 May, 1945, return to their base. En-route, they are joined by aircraft from their sister outfit, the veteran 416th BG, for the trip home.

Flight Officer J. Frank Bell 409th Bomb Group A-26 pilot, flew his first combat mission Dec. 15, 1944. Shot down and taken POW April 16, 1945.		Lt. Colonel Arthur R. Milow 409th Bomb Group C.O. of 643rd Squadron, commanded 66 combat missions in the A-20 & A-26 including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge.
Captain Ralph F. Conte 416th Bomb Group Navigator/Bombardier, Ralph flew 65 combat missions in the A-20 & A-26.		First Lt. Arthur J. Schuler - 409th Bomb Group 37 mission A-26 pilot, buzzed Paris with other Group planes on VE Day, and told us 'We blew the dust off the Arc de Triumph!'
First Lt. Wayne E. Downing 416th Bomb Group A-20 & A-26 pilot on 86 combat missions.		Colonel Daniel F. Shea - 416th Bomb Group Graduate of West Point. 65 missions as A-20 & A-26 pilot.
First Lt. Leonard R. McBride 416th Bomb Group A-20 & A-26 pilot on 65combat missions.		Colonel Dick Wheeler - 416th Bomb Group Graduate of West Point. A-20 & A-26 combat pilot in the ETO from January '44 to August '45.