Hell Hawks Over Utah by Robert Taylor. (B)

Without air supremacy D-Day and the invasion of north-west Europe would never have happened, and the tactical Ninth Air Force played a huge part in securing that position. The Ninth had fought with distinction from the deserts of North Africa to the invasion of Sicily and the fighting in Italy. They had spearheaded the assault on Ploesti and, from humble beginnings, had grown into one of the finest and most formidable Air Forces in the USAAF. Then, in October 1943, the Ninth were sent to England for their greatest challenge so far - providing air support for the US First Army during the forthcoming invasion of Normandy. By the morning of 6th June 1944 the Ninth was the largest and most effective tactical air force in the world, with over a quarter of a million personnel and more than 3,500 fighters, bombers and troop-carriers under its command. Amongst them were the P-47s of the 365th Fighter Group - the fearsome Hell Hawks - a unit that by the end of World War Two would become legendary. Amongst the first to use P-47s as fighter-bombers, the Hell Hawks were hard at work softening up the enemy in the build up to D-Day, dive-bombing bridges, rail lines, gun positions and airfields. With two 1,000-pound bombs below their wings along with ten 5-in rockets and eight .50 calibre machine guns, their enormous firepower devastated the German defenses on D-Day. The Hell Hawks supported the army throughout the Normandy campaign, all the way across northern France to the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, and beyond. It was a harsh nomadic life, eating and sleeping in tents and moving from one temporary strip to the next. By the end of hostilities in May 1945 the Hell Hawks had moved through 11 different airfields, more than any other fighter-bomber group in the Ninth Air Force.

Supplied with companion print Plans and Preparations

Signed by 1st Lieutenant Edward J Lopez DFC,
Lieutenant Colonel Archie F Maltbie DFC,
1st Lieutenant John H Fetzer Jr,
Lieutenant Colonel Ralph F Kling,
1st Lieutenant Jay A Harrington,
Major Allen V Mundt,
Colonel Herbert L Prevost DFC,
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas E Stanton,
1st Lieutenant Lavern R Alcorn (companion print),
Lieutenant Colonel Carl R Riggs (companion print)
and
1st Lieutenant Matt Ruper DFC (companion print).

Collectors edition of 250 prints.

Image size 24 inches x 16.5 inches (61cm x 42cm), Paper size 30.5 inches x 24 inches (75cm x 61cm)