SCHWEINFURT - THE SECOND MISSION
by Robert Taylor

Briefing at 0500 hours on the morning of 14 October 1943 brought the crews of the 92nd Bomb Group news they didn't want to hear: "It's Schweinfurt again!" The same message was being repeated in USAAF bomb group briefing rooms all over eastern England in the early hours of what was to become forever known as "Black Thursday".

Responding to intelligence indicating increasing Luftwaffe fighter strength, the decision was taken to attack the ballbearing plant at Schweinfurt for the second time in three months. Over 400 Fortresses and Liberators would make the 920 mile, seven hour trip - 370 miles of the journey without fighter escort - in an all-out effort to stem the flow of new fighters reaching Luftwaffe front line units.

The 92nd Bomb Group's mission leader, Colonel Budd Peaslee knew the score: As soon as the escorting P-47 Thunderbolts reached their maximum range and turned for home, the loitering Luftwaffe fighters would pounce. And so it was on that crisp autumn day. The moment the fighters departed some 400 enemy fighters ripped into the vulnerable bomber formations spewing rockets and cannon; the B-17 gunners made valiant attempts to repel the onslaught, but the result was carnage.

For three hours the surviving bombers thundered on, their ranks thinning as continuing enemy attacks pressed home. Just 12 of the 92nd's 21 aircraft made it through to the target. Turning for home the weary crews knew they had to face the flak and enemy fighters all the way home until within range of Allied escort fighters. The USAAF's 1st Division alone lost 60 Fortresses with 600 men missing before the day was out.

Robert Taylor's majestic new painting shows Colonel Budd Peaslee's B-17 Equipose, piloted by Kemp McLaughlin, leading the Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group en-route to the vital ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt. High over Germany, beyond the range of Allied fighter cover, the unprotected B-17s come under relentless attack from enemy fighters. Losses are high. Undeterred, the valiant crews press on to the target, their determination and courage on that "Black Thursday" forever etched into aviation folk lore.

SCHWEINFURT - THE SECOND MISSION, by Robert Taylor

Each print in Robert Taylor's evocative new Limited Edition

SCHWEINFURT- THE SECOND MISSION, has been signed by the

following THREE pilots, all veterans of the second Schweinfurt mission on

14 October 1943, including the mission command pilot Every print is also

signed by the artist Robert Taylor, and individually hand numbered.

General J. KEMP McLAUGHLIN. As a Second Lieutenant in October 1942, Kemp McLaughlin had already brought a heavily damaged and burning B17 safely home whilst under heavy attack from German aircraft. It was a suitable prelude to the dangers that would face him and his crew a year later when on 14 Oct 1943, he was the pilot of the 92nd Bomb Group's B17 Equipose, the mission command plane during the second mission to attack the ball-bearing factory at Schweinfurt. Under constant attack from German fighters for almost six hours, he again brought the crew safely home. The following month he was deputy air commander on a bombing raid in Norway, when his aircraft lost oil pressure due to one engine overheating. The crew carried on to the target, but on the return to England were attacked by fighters. Unable to return fire because all guns had been thrown overboard to lighten the aircraft, he skilfully coaxed his plane safely back to base. His 'luck' continued when in December 1944 he was air commander on a raid during the Battle of the Bulge when shrapnel pierced his seat a few inches from him, he was uninjured.

First Lieutenant WILBUR 'BUD' KLINT. 'Bud' Klint joined the service in 1942, and after qualifying as a pilot was posted to England in July 1943. He flew the first of his tour of 25 combat missions in B 17s on 16 August 1943. The following day he went on the first mission to Schweinfurt, and then to Stuttgart on 6 September when he was forced to safely ditch his aircraft. On 14 October he went to Schweinfurt again - this time on the fateful second mission, but again brought his aircraft safely home. He finished his tour in Europe and after a period instructing on B 17s left the service in November 1945.

First Lieutenant JOHN P. NOACK. Joining the service in March 1942, John trained as a pilot before being posted to England joining the 369th Bomb Squadron, 306th Bomb Group flying B17s from their base at Thurleigh in Bedfordshire. He undertook his first mission in anger on 12 August 1943, and on 14 October went on the second mission to Schweinfurt. On 11 December 1943, after completing 15 combat missions, his B17 was shot down over Europe and he was forced to ditch, and taken prisoner by the Germans, remaining in captivity until liberated on 30 April 1945.

THE LIMITED EDITION SOLD OUT!
Individually numbered 1 - 500
500 signed & numbered prints US$ 320
 

_{THE SCHWEINFURT EDITION
by Robert Taylor}

In addition to the three veterans who have signed the Limited Edition, each print in the SCHWEINFURT EDITION has been individually signed byan additional seven veterans from the second Schweinfurt mission. There are a total of TEN signatures in this edition, together with the artist Robert Taylor.

First Lieutenant FREDERICK J. BIRD
_{Navigator with the 326th BS, 92nd Bomb Group, Fred Bird flew 14 combat missions on B17 Fortresses, his first being on 26 August 1943. Following the second raid on Schweinfurt he was later shot down and taken prisoner of war. He remained captive until liberated on 29 April 1945.}

Technical Sergeant JACK R. GOETZ
_{Jack Goetz served with the 544th BS, 384th Bomb Group, flying B17s from Grafton Underwood. Top turret gunner, his full tour of 25 missions took in the second Schweinfurt raid, raids on Berlin, Bremen, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart, and included a crash landing at his home base, and a ditching in the North Sea.}

Captain MALCOLM H. HIGGENS
_{Pilot Malcolm Higgins flew with the 100th Bomb Group on the Anklam raid of 9 Oct 1943, and was with the 351st Bomb Group on the second Schweinfurt raid, 14 October 1943. During this mission his aircraft came under heavy attack and he was shot down. Taken by the Germans, he remained a POW until 10 May 1945.}

Technical Sergeant BILL E. MARTIN
_{Bill Martin was a Fortress waist gunner with the 384th Bomb Group, flying his first combat operation in June 1943. He took part in many of the Groups main raids, including the second Schweinfurt operation. After completing 21 missions his aircraft was shot down and he bailed out, escaping captivity via Switzerland.}

Chief Master Sergeant ROY C. McGINNIS
_{Joining up in November 1940, Roy McGinnis was the right waist gunner on a B17 of the 339th BS, 96th Bomb Group. His first mission was in October 1943 to Emden and after a couple of other major raids, he was shot down during the 14 October Schweinfurt mission and taken prisoner by the Germans.}

Captain JAMES A. 'PETE' MULLINAX
_{Pilot James Mullinax flew B17 Flying Fortresses with the 332nd BS, 94th Bomb Group, undertaking his first combat mission in September 1943. He had completed eight operations before his aircraft was attacked and shot down during the 14 October Schweinfurt mission. Bailing out, he was taken POW by the Germans.}

Staff Sergeant BEN ROBERTS
_{Flying with the 364th BS, 305th Bomb Group, Ben Roberts was a B17 ball turret gunner. Flying his first mission on 5 October 1943, his fifth mission was the 14 October raid to Schweinfurt, during which his aircraft was shot down. Bailing out he was captured and taken to Stalag Luft 17B until the war's end.}

THE SCHWEINFURT EDITION
Individually numbered 1 - 325

325 Schweinfurt Edition prints with TEN signatures US$395

The Schweinjurt Edition: Overall Print Size:36" wide x24" high \ Acid Free Permanent Paper [

THE ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES:

First Lieutenant EARL G. BASON
_{Pilot with the 96th Bomb Group, Earl Bason was shot down on the Schweinfurt raid, and taken to Stalag Luft I as a Prisoner of War.}

First Lieutenant JAY G. COBERLY
_{Bombardier with the 94th Bomb Group, Jay Cpberly was shot down on the 14 October mission, his ninth combat operation. He remained in captivity until April 1945.}

First Lieutenant ROY G. DAVIDSON jnr.
_{Pilot with the 94th BG, he was shot down on the Schweinfurt mission, crash-landing in France. Initially interrogated by the Gestapo as a spy, he was eventually sent to Stalag Luft HI as a POW.}

Staff Sergeant MARSHALL L. FISHER
_{Gunner with the 379th Bomb Group, Marshall completed a full tour of 25 missions, including the Schweinfurt raid, finishing his tour in February 1 944.}

Technical Sergeant EDWARD K. FOX
_{Top turret gunner with the 306th Bomb Group. He took part in both of the Schweinfurt missions, but was badly wounded during the second raid of 14 October, his thirteenth and final mission.}

Colonel ED MILLSON
Flying with the 379th Bomb Group, Ed flew 47 missions on B 17s, most as lead bombardier. He went on the 14 Oct raid, and in Feb 1945 led the 8rn Air Force to Berlin.

Captain THOMAS A. PARKS
_{Pilot with the 96th Bomb Group, Tom flew 9 missions with the 339th Squadron, including the second Schweinfurt raid. On 29 Nov 43 he was shot down and taken prisoner in Stalag I.}

Staff Sergeant ROBERT RICKEL
_{Left waist gunner with the 379th Bomb Group, Robert flew a full tour of 25 missions on B17s. Amongst many missions, he participated in both of the Schweinfurt raids.}

Technical Sergeant GEORGE G. ROBERTS
_{Radio operator / gunner serving with the 306th Bomb Group, he flew his first operation on 8 October 1943, went to Schweinfurt, and four times to Berlin, completing a total of 31 missions.}

First Lieutenant JOHN SCARBOROUGH
_{Joining the 96th Bomb Group at Snetterton, John was on only his third mission when he was shot down on the Schweinfurt raid and taken POW.}

Colonel ROBERT M. SLANE
_{Pilot with the 91st Bomb Group, Robert was shot down on the 14 Oct raid. He spent the rest of the war a POW in Stalag Luft ffl. After the war he flew over 118 combat missions in Korea and Vietnam.}

First Lieutenant DONALD SPRINGER
_{Navigator with the 96th Bomb Group, Don was shot down and taken POW on his second mission, the second Schweinfurt raid.}

Lieutenant Colonel HENRY E. TESSIEN
_{Completing a tour of 25 missions as a bombardier with the 96th Bomb Group, Henry took part in the Regensburg and Schweinfurt missions.
He later flew in Korea.}

_{Feldwebel ADOLF DENZ (Companion Drawing)
Adolf Denz flew Mel 10 Tankbusters' with their huge 37mm anti-tank guns on the Russian Front with much success.
Returning to the West with ZG76, on 14 Oct flew Me 110s in defence of Schweinfurt.}

_{* In addition, a number of prints in the edition are also signed by the following three veterans of the second Schweinfurt mission, making a total
of 27 signatures. These are issued at no extra charge to the first orders received, so please order early to avoid disappointment.}

Lieutenant Colonel ARVID O. DAHL_*
Completed 50 combat missions in 2 full tours of duty as a pilot with the 379th Bomb Group.

Sergeant MATHIAS J. KREMER*
Ball turret gunner with the 303rd Bomb Group. Shot down and taken POW on 14 Oct 43.

Captain FOSTER 'FOSS' RODDA*
Completed 25 combat missions as navigator with the 561st BS, 388th Bomb Group.

_{BLACK THURSDAY
by Robert Taylor}

_{Honouring the men who undertook the historic 14 October 1943 mission, the Military Gallery has specially published this historically important Commemorative Proof Edition. Issued with Robert Taylor's quite outstanding companion drawing 'Black Thursday', signed by a Luftwaffe veteran of the second Schweinfurt raid; this significant tribute edition is also signed by additional USAAF B17 veterans who flew and fought on the mission.}

_{In total there are at least TWENTY-FOUR signatures on the edition.}

THE COMMEMORATIVE PROOFS indivdually numbed 1-125

125 Proofs with TWENTY-FOUR signatures US$ 795 SOLD OUT!

^{A'l editions: Image Size: 29 1/2" wide x 16" high
Companion print overall size: 20 3/4" widex 14 3/8" high
The Commemorative Proofs: Overall Print Size: 36". wide x 24" high Acid Free permanent paper}

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Sovereign Art Company, Inc.
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