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Return to Rattlesden by Nicolas Trudgian.
With their crews, the 447th Bomb Group B-17 Fortresses arrived at Rattlesden in
late 1943, the East Anglian base from which the group flew all its missions
until the end of the war. Entering combat on December 24, the 447th targeted
submarine pens, naval installations, ports and missile sites, airfields and
marshalling yards in France, Belgium and Germany in preparation for the Normandy
invasion. In the thick of the bomber offensive, the 447th took part in the
Big-Week raids, supported the D-Day landings, aided the breakthrough at St. Lo,
pounded enemy positions during the airborne invasion of Holland, and dropped
supplies to the Free French forces fighting behind enemy lines. During the
Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945, the group attacked
marshalling yards, railroad bridges and communications centers in the combat
zone, later resuming their offensive against targets deep inside Germany. When
the war ended the 447th had flown over 257 individual missions, with one of
their aircrew, Robert Femoyer, being awarded the Medal of Honor. Theirs was
typical of the action packed campaigns flown by the American Eighth Air Force
bomb groups in Europe during WWII. |
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Return to Rattlesden by Nicolas Trudgian.
With their crews, the 447th Bomb Group B-17 Fortresses arrived at Rattlesden in late 1943, the East Anglian base from which the group flew all its missions until the end of the war. Entering combat on December 24, the 447th targeted submarine pens, naval installations, ports and missile sites, airfields and marshalling yards in France, Belgium and Germany in preparation for the Normandy invasion. In the thick of the bomber offensive, the 447th took part in the Big-Week raids, supported the D-Day landings, aided the breakthrough at St. Lo, pounded enemy positions during the airborne invasion of Holland, and dropped supplies to the Free French forces fighting behind enemy lines. During the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945, the group attacked marshalling yards, railroad bridges and communications centers in the combat zone, later resuming their offensive against targets deep inside Germany. When the war ended the 447th had flown over 257 individual missions, with one of their aircrew, Robert Femoyer, being awarded the Medal of Honor. Theirs was typical of the action packed campaigns flown by the American Eighth Air Force bomb groups in Europe during WWII.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 37 inches x 22 inches (94cm x 56cm). Price £150.00 Signed by T/Sgt John C Bitzer, T/Sgt Norman Bussel, Colonel Edward A Dingivan, First Lt Frank Frision, S/Sgt John H Osbah, S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo, Sgt Byron Schlag and S/Sgt Don Sherman, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 37 inches x 22 inches (94cm x 56cm). Price £210.00 Signed by T/Sgt John C Bitzer, T/Sgt Norman Bussel, Colonel Edward A Dingivan, First Lt Frank Frision, S/Sgt John H Osbah, S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo, Sgt Byron Schlag and S/Sgt Don Sherman, in addition to the artist.
Limited edition of 25 publishers proofs. Paper size 37 inches x 22 inches (94cm x 56cm). Price £180.00 Signed by T/Sgt John C Bitzer, T/Sgt Norman Bussel, Colonel Edward A Dingivan, First Lt Frank Frision, S/Sgt John H Osbah, S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo, Sgt Byron Schlag and S/Sgt Don Sherman, in addition to the artist.
ITEM CODE DHM2176
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Return to Rattlesden by Nicolas Trudgian
- The Signatures
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T/Sgt John C Bitzer
John Bitzer joined the service in 1942 before tramsferring to England. On 30th December 1943 flying the B-17G Fortress 'Maid to Please', on his very first combat mission his aircraft was shot down and he had to bail out. John was taken prisoner by the Germans and remained in captivity until May 1945.
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T/Sgt Norman Bussel
As Radio Operator on the B-17 'Mississippi Lady', Norman Bussel flew his first combat mission in March 1944 to Frankfurt. On 29th April 1944 his aircraft was shot down over Berlin, the worst day for losses for the 447th during the entire war. Bailing out with his clothes on fire, four of his crew died that day. Norman was taken PoW for the rest of the war.
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Colonel Edward A Dingivan DFC
Edward Dingivan was pilot of 'Brass Wagon', flying his first combat mission to Neuminster , Germany in September 1944. He completed a tour of 30 combat missions in the B-17. after the war, Director of Traffic during the Berlin Airlift and Commander of the 35th Air Transport Squadron. Later Military Executive to the Assistant Secretary of the US Air Force, he retired in 1969.
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First Lt Frank Frision
Frank Frision was Bombardier on the Fortress 'Bouncin Baby' flying his first mission on 2nd November 1944 when the Luftwaffe mounted one of their largest fighter operations of the war. He flew the last of his 35 combat missions on 22nd March 1945, supporting the Rhine Crossings.
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S/Sgt John H Osbahr
John Osbahr flew his first combat mission on 2nd November 1944, flying to Merseberg, Germany. He was Ball-Turret Gunner in the B-17 'Bouncin Baby'. John completed the last of his 32 missions in March 1945 on a mission to Dresden.
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S/Sgt Orlando Pete Petrillo
Pete Petrillo was a Waist Gunner on the B-17 'Bit o' Lace'. He flew his first combat mission to Caen, France in August 1944, and the last of his 35 missions was in December 1944 to Mainz in Germany. One of his memorable trips was a supply drop to the French Maquis.
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Sgt Byron Schlag
Byron Schlag was the Tailgunner of B-17 'Ol Scrapiron', flying his first combat mission on 26th February 1945 to Berlin. On 23rd March his B-17 collided mid-air with another B-17, cutting the tail off. He managed to bail out at just 400ft; his ball-turret gunner fell in his turret from 23,000ft and survived. The rest of the crew died. Byron Schlag was taken PoW; he escaped and was recaptured four times.
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S/Sgt Don Sherman
Don Sherman was the ball-turret Gunner on the B-17 'Buddy Buddy'. The first of his 31 combat missions was in December 1944 to Mainz in Germany. His final mission was flown in April 1945 against German targets holding out a Royan in France.
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