Return to Gallery > Bailey, Robert
Bailey, Robert
Tuskegee Junction
Second in the 'Little Friends' Trilogy.
July, 1944. 1st. Lieutenant Charles E. McGee and squadron mates are shown in a spectacular strafing attack on a railyard north of Vienna. (302nd. Fighter Squadron, 332nd. Fighter Group). They have just escorted a bombing raid and are striking targets of opportunity on the way home to their base in Italy. A goods train full of ammunition recieves a direct hit from 50mm calibers, while another train attempts to escape at high speed.
All prints signed by:
1st Lieutenant Charles E. McGee was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He enlisted in the army in October 1942 and entered aviation cadet training in class 43-F, receiving Silver Wings and 2nd Lieutenant commission on June 30, 1943. Assigned to 302 Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group, he flew 82 missions in the P39 Airacobra for the 12th Tactical Air Force. He also flew 54 missions in the P47 Thunderbolt and P51 Mustang for the 15th Strategic Air Force. His combat missions were flown from bases in Italy from January to November 1944. He had one victory, and received thirteen air medals. His aircraft 'Kitten' is featured in TUSKEGEE JUNCTION.
2nd Lieutenant Harry T. Stewart Jr. was born in Newport News, VA. He entered service in March 1943 as an aviation cadet and flew 43 combat missions with the 15th Air Force from Italy. 2nd Lt. Stewart Jr. was with the 332nd Fighter Group, 301 and 302 Fighter Squadrons. His aerial victories total three. He remained on active duty as a fighter pilot until 1950 and stayed in the Reserves until retirement as a Lieutenant Colonel. He flew the P40, P47 and P51. Decorations include DFC, Air Medal with six OLC's.
1st Lieutenant Alexander Jefferson was born in Detroit, MI. He graduated from Tuskegee Army Air Field and after combat training, joined the 'Red Tail' 332nd Fighter Group, 301 Fighter Squadron at Ramitelli, Italy. He flew 18 long range escort missions for B17 and B24 bombers. On August 12., 1944, three days prior to the invasion of southern France, he was shot down by ground fire while strafing coastal radar installations. He spent the rest of the war as a POW and was liberated by General Patton's 3rd Army. He visited Dachau concentration camp and returned to the USA as an instrument instructor at Tuskegee Field. Decorations include the Purple Heart and Air Medal. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
1st Lieutenant John F. Briggs was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He flew 125 combat sorties in the P39 Bell Airacobra over Naples and the Anzio beach head in the 12th Air Force Tactical Air Command. He also flew 70 combat missions in the P47 Thunderbolt and P51 Mustang in the 15th Air Force Strategic Air Command. He served with 99 and 100 Fighter Squadrons. He retired as Major and was decorated with the DFC and Air Medal with 7 Oak Leaf Clusters. 1st. Lieutenant Briggs has an Me109 to his credit.
All prints but Limited Edition also signed by:
1st Lieutenant Harry A. Sheppard was with 99 Pursuit Squadron, 302 Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. He enlisted in April 1941 and was subsequently based in Naples, Italy. He flew 87 tactical missions and 36 long-range missions. He retired as a Colonel in June 1974 with over 33 years of honorable service. Decorations include Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.
Lieutenant Hiram E. Mann is originally from New York, NY. He completed Single-Engine Combat Pilot Training at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, on June 27, 1944 (Class 44-F). He served in 302 and 100 Fighter Squadrons of the 332nd Fighter Group, 477th Composite Group. Decorations include Air Medal with 3 Bronze OLC's, European Air Medal, AMC, WWII V, APR and Korean Service Medals with Presidential Unit Citation. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He also co-authored the book Forever Dreaming, to impress upon minority youth the need to set goals and to persevere.
Captain Howard L. Baugh was born in Petersburg, VA. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in March of 1942. He was with 99 Fighter Squadron in Sicily in July 1943 and flew 135 operational sorties in P40's and P51's. He struck artillery batteries, truck convoys and radar installations. Other duties were escorting B17 and B24 formations. He shared a FW190 victory and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Lieutenant James H. Harvey is originally from Montclair, NV. In April of 1944 he was within one hour of embarking to join the 332nd in Italy, when his group received word that the Italians had surrendered. He joined the 99th in June 1945, at Goodman Field, KY. They were slated to go to Okinawa to escort bombers attacking Japan. But the A-bomb was dropped and the war ended. He flew the P40, P47 and P51. He retired from the force as a Lieutenant Colonel. Awards include DFC, Air Medal with 10 OLC's, and the Distinguished Unit Citation with 10 OLC's.
Also signing:
1st Lieutenant Bill Holloman was born in St. Louis, MO. He flew P51's with 99 Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, during early 1945. After World War II he flew P47's with 301 Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, and during the Korean War was a MATS pilot. On one mission he was flying the wounded back to the States from the far east and Korea. He was also the first black helicopter pilot in the Air Force. Bill Holloman later flew with Pacific Western Airlines in Canada. He was recalled to active duty in 1966, serving in Vietnam and later in Europe. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Staff Sergeant James A. Sheppard is originally from New York, NY. He enlisted in the Air Force in October 1942 and was assigned to the Tuskegee Army Airfield with the 332nd Fighter Group, as an Aviation Maintenance Technician. He served with 100 Fighter Squadron and later with 301 Fighter Squadron in the USA and in Europe as a Mechanic and Crew Chief. Sheppard holds the following certificates: Aviation Mechanic, Senior Parachute Rigger and Airplane Pilot SEL. He retired in 1987 from the FAA where he was a Supervisory Aviation Safety Inspector.
2nd Lieutenant Christopher W. Newman received his training at the Tuskegee Institute, Alabama, and Selfridge Airfield, Michigan. He flew 24 patrol missions with 100 Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, over Naples Harbor and Anzio beach head in Italy, before being injured in a fiery crash. But he returned to 100 Fighter Squadron and flew 66 combat missions before the war ended. He also flew 97 more combat missions in the Korean War. Christopher Newman holds the DFC, Purple Heart, Air Medals with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, plus 3 more Oak Leaf Clusters from Korea.
Captain Walter McCreary was born in San Antonio, TX. He joined the Service in 1942 as an Air Cadet at Tuskegee, Alabama. He is one of the original pilots with 100 Fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group, which was based in Italy. Walter McCreary flew 89 missions and holds the Air Medal (5 Oak Leaf Clusters) and the POW Medal.
Studio edition has artist signature only.
Edition size: 120 (limited); 120 (Group); Remarque (20); 20 (studio)
Print size: 33 1/2"w x 23 1/2"h
