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Ace of Diamonds by Nicolas Trudgian.
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. 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 Fw
190s while escorting B-17 bombers returning from a raid on German installations
during the late winter of 1944. 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. |
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Ace of Diamonds by Nicolas Trudgian
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. 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 Fw 190s while escorting B-17 bombers returning from a raid on German installations during the late winter of 1944. 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.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 35 inches x 24 inches (89cm x 61cm). Price £165.00 Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Charles E Beck (deceased), Captain Clinton DeWitt Burdick and Major General Donald J Strait, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 35 inches x 24 inches (89cm x 61cm). Price £215.00 Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Charles E Beck (deceased), Captain Clinton DeWitt Burdick and Major General Donald J Strait, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 25 remarques. Paper size 35 inches x 24 inches (89cm x 61cm). Price £ Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Charles E Beck (deceased), Captain Clinton DeWitt Burdick and Major General Donald J Strait, in addition to the artist.
** (Ex Display) Signed limited edition of 500 prints. (Two copies reduced to clear) Paper size 35 inches x 24 inches (89cm x 61cm). Price £110.00 Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Charles E Beck (deceased), Captain Clinton DeWitt Burdick and Major General Donald J Strait, in addition to the artist.
ITEM CODE NT0008
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Ace of Diamonds by Nicolas Trudgian
- The Signatures
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 | Lieutenant Colonel Charles E Beck (deceased)
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 the, in a P47, on 29th August 1944. He then flew Mustangs as the group converted over to P51s from the P47. He took part in the Groups big mission to Misbourg, Germany, on 26th November, when the Group scored 110 victories against a big Luftwaffe attack on the bomber stream. Charles finished his combat tour on 7th May 1945, the last day of the war. He returned home and continued his service, flying with the Van Nuys Air National Guard, flying P-51, F-86 Sabre and F-102 Delta Dagger aircraft. He was one of the first people to break the sound barrier, using an F-86 Sabre. He later served on active duty in the Korean War, and during the Vietnam conflict. He served for three years with the US Navy as a liaison officer on the F4U Corsair. Sadly, Charles Beck died on 25th March 2009.
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 | Captain Clinton DeWitt Burdick
Clinton Burdicks 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 Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group at Martlesham Heath in England, in October 1944. Flying his first combat mission in Noveber, his first victory came quickly on the 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 20th February 1945, and with 6 victories was one of only five aerial Aces in the 356th.
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 | Major General Donald Strait
Born in April 1928, Don Strait received his pilots wings in January 1943. In August of that year he transferred with the 356th Fighter Group to Martlesham Heath in England flying first the P-47 Thunderbolt. He took part in long range bomber escort and ground support missions, taking part in all the D-Day operations, before converting to P51s. In two combat tours he flew a total of 122 missions, commanded the 361st Fighter Squadron, and became the Group's leading fighter Ace with 13 and a half air victories, all but three of these flying the P51. He later commanded the 108th Tactical Wing in Korea, where he flew the F86, F84, and F105 jet.
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