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06 - WWII - Americans In Europe
Final Encounter by Philip West
Returning from a raid over Lorient, France on the 17th May 1943 the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress "Memphis Belle" came under close attack from Fw190s and Me109s. Fortunately no aircraft were lost and very little damage sustained to the 91st Bomb Group aircraft during this mission - the 25th and final one in the "Memphis Belle" for Captain Robert Morgan
Named after Capt. Morgan's wartime sweetheart, Miss Margaret Polk, the "Memphis Belle" was based at Bassingbourn, England and was the first B-17 to complete 25 combat missions and keep her entire crew alive - this at a time when eight out of ten aircraft were being shot down over Europe. During ten months of service the "Memphis Belle" dropped over 60 tons of bombs on France, Belgium and Germany, shot down eight enemy fighters, and covered over 20,000 combat miles. The "Memphis Belle" is now on display in Memphis, Tennessee.
Moments after take off, the mighty Avro Vulcan bomber begins her majestic climb through storm clouds, our over the British countryside towards the North Sea. A masterpiece of British engineering 'excellence', she acted as a nuclear deterrent throughout the cold war until the arrival of Polaris. Prior to her retirement in 1993 she had thrilled many in air displays nationwide
Edition size: 350 signed and numbered by the artist
Image size: 28"w x 20" h
