
| The Wolfpack by Robert Taylor.
The 56th Fighter Group was led by some of Americas greatest fighter leaders of World War II and was home to many of its leading fighter Aces. Under successive commanders Hub Zemke, Robert Landry and David Schilling, the 56th destroyed more enemy aircraft in combat than any other fighter group in the Eighth Air Force. Arriving in England in January 1943 under the command of Colonel Hub Zemke, a master tactician and fearless leader, the 56th quickly emerged as an outstanding fighting unit. The only Eighth Air Force Group to fly P-47 Thunderbolts throughout the war, the 56th spawned more fighter Aces than any other USAAF group - legends such as Gabby Gabreski, Robert Johnson and the colourful Ace Walker Bud Mahurin. Under Hub Zemkes mercurial leadership they became known and feared as Zemkes Wolfpack. On 26 November, 1943, the P-47s of the 56th Fighter Group were tasked to escort B-24 Liberators of the 392nd Bomb Group on a dangerous mission to attack the heavily defended industrial.........
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| | Item Code : DHM1726 | The Wolfpack by Robert Taylor. - Editions Available | |
| | DESCRIPTION | SIZE | SIGNATURES | OFFERS | PRICE | PURCHASING | PACKS | | Signed limited edition of 400 prints. | Paper size 35 inches x 26.5 inches (88cm x 66cm) - Image size 24.5 inches x 22 inches (62cm x 56cm) | Mahurin, Walker Bud | | Colonel Walker Bud Mahurin (deceased) |
| Walker Melville 'Bud' Mahurin was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on 5th December 1918. He joined the Army reserves on 29th September 1941 and entered flight training, being commissioned as a pilot on the 29th of April 1942 at Ellington Field Texas. 'Bud' Mahurin gained a reputation as one of the USAAF's most colourful fighter Aces. Arriving in the European theatre, flying with the 56th Fighter Group at Boxted, England, on the 17th of August the 56th Fighter group flew escort |
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 Smith, Leslie C | | Brigadier General Leslie C Smith (deceased) |
| Les Smith was born on October 31, 1918, in Mitchell, South Dakota. He graduated from Fresno State College in May 1940, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on November 7, 1941. Smith was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on July 3, 1942, and then joined the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group, deploying with the group to England in January 1943. Arriving in England in February 1943, Les Smith flew two tours with t |
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 Adrianse, Lyle | | Brigadier General Lyle Adrianse |
| Joining the service in 1941, Lyle Adrianse was one of the early members of the 56th Fighter Group, arriving in England with them in early 1943 and flying P47s with the 63rd Fighter Squadron. He completed a total of 101 combat missions with the Group, and remained in Europe until the end of the war. |
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+ Artist : Robert Taylor | £45 Off! | Now : £210.00 | | In 2 Pairs and 1 Pack View | | Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. | Paper size 35 inches x 26.5 inches (88cm x 66cm) - Image size 24.5 inches x 22 inches (62cm x 56cm) | Rankin, Robert J (companion print) | | Colonel Robert J Shorty Rankin (deceased) |
| Robert James Rankin was born on 23rd October 1918 in Washington, D.C. Joining the Army Air Corps on 6th March 1941, he served in the enlisted ranks until he became an aviation cadet on 15th July 1942. He graduated from pilot training at Luke Field, Arizona on 11 April 1943. Posted to join the 56th Fighter Group, he arrived in based at Halesworth, England in April 1943 and was allocated to the 61st Fighter Squadron. His victories steadily mounted and by the end of the war his tally stood at 1 |
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 Groce, Walter | | Flying with the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, Walter Groce flew the first of his 73 combat missions shortly after D-Day, 1944. He flew the longest combat mission in a P-47 without landing, after bailing out on his return. Scoring 3.5 victories he was one of the rare breed of fighter pilots to have shot down an Me262 jet in combat, claiming a share of one on 1st November 1944. |
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Bradshaw, John (companion print) | | Volunteering to fly with the RAF, John Bradshaw flew Spitfires with 41 Squadron. An experienced pilot, he transferred to the USAAF in 1943 and was immediately posted to the 56th Fighter Group, flying with the 63rd Fighter Squadron. He flew a total of 126 combat missions, flew on D-Dat, belly-landed twice in Holland, and downed 1.5 enemy aircraft. |
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Whitley, Edgar | | Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Whitley |
| Posted to fly P-47s with the 56th Fighter Group in England, ed Whitley was an original cadre member of the 63rd Fighter Squadron. His first combat mission came in April 1943, and another 35 were to follow. He was credited with two air victories, one of which came on 17th August 1943 - the famous Double Strike mission when the 8th Air Force bombed Schweinfurt and Regensberg. |
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Edens, Billy Gene (companion print) | | Born on January 21st, 1923, in Cassbille, Mo., Billy Edens graduated form school on June 1st, 1942, and on the 27th of June Billy Edens joined the Army Air Corp. On May 3rd 1943 Edens became an aviation cadet and received all his flight training in Alabama, receiving his wings and commission on November 3rd 1943. Second Lieutenant Edens was assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group in England in April 1944. On the 8th of June 1944, while defending flight leader Mark Mos |
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Kyler, Russell (companion print) | | Chief Warrant Officer Russell Kyler |
| Joining up in September 1942, Russell Kyler flew 57 combat missions in P-47s with the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, from September 1944 until the end of World War II. Enlisting in the army after the war, he then flew two tours on Huey helicopters during the conflict in Vietnam. |
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Comstock, Harold Bunny | | Colonel Harold Bunny Comstock |
| Commissioned in 1942, Bunny Comstock qualified as a fighter pilot in July 1942. He joined the 56th Fighter Group, and in December sailed for England with the Group in the Queen Elizabeth. Bunny scored his first victory, over an Me109, just four days after the Groups first combat mission, and during his two tours with the 56th Fighter Group, he completed a total of 136 combat missions, and a final tally of 5 aerial victories. |
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Gladych, Michael B | | After flying with the Polish Air Force, Michael Gladych eventually escaped to England after the final fall of France, joining 303 Squadron RAF on Spitfires. With 17 victories to his credit, he rammed his eighteenth and final victory in June 1941 and was in hospital for several months afterwards. In 1943 he was posted to 302 Squadron, but then loaned himself to serve with Gabreski and the 56th Fighter Group. |
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Ulch, Shirley | | Captain Shirley Ulch (deceased) |
| Flying as a replacement pilot with the 62nd Fighter Squadron, he was one of the few pilots to fly the P-47M Thunderbolt. During his time with the 62nd he flew wingman to several of the squadrons top scoring Aces. |
|
 Mahurin, Walker Bud | | Colonel Walker Bud Mahurin (deceased) |
| Walker Melville 'Bud' Mahurin was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on 5th December 1918. He joined the Army reserves on 29th September 1941 and entered flight training, being commissioned as a pilot on the 29th of April 1942 at Ellington Field Texas. 'Bud' Mahurin gained a reputation as one of the USAAF's most colourful fighter Aces. Arriving in the European theatre, flying with the 56th Fighter Group at Boxted, England, on the 17th of August the 56th Fighter group flew escort |
|
 Smith, Leslie C | | Brigadier General Leslie C Smith (deceased) |
| Les Smith was born on October 31, 1918, in Mitchell, South Dakota. He graduated from Fresno State College in May 1940, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on November 7, 1941. Smith was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on July 3, 1942, and then joined the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group, deploying with the group to England in January 1943. Arriving in England in February 1943, Les Smith flew two tours with t |
|
 Adrianse, Lyle | | Brigadier General Lyle Adrianse |
| Joining the service in 1941, Lyle Adrianse was one of the early members of the 56th Fighter Group, arriving in England with them in early 1943 and flying P47s with the 63rd Fighter Squadron. He completed a total of 101 combat missions with the Group, and remained in Europe until the end of the war. |
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+ Artist : Robert Taylor | | SOLD OUT | NOT AVAILABLE | | Collectors edition of 350 prints. Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item! | Paper size 35 inches x 26.5 inches (88cm x 66cm) - Image size 24.5 inches x 22 inches (62cm x 56cm) | Rankin, Robert J (companion print) | | Colonel Robert J Shorty Rankin (deceased) |
| Robert James Rankin was born on 23rd October 1918 in Washington, D.C. Joining the Army Air Corps on 6th March 1941, he served in the enlisted ranks until he became an aviation cadet on 15th July 1942. He graduated from pilot training at Luke Field, Arizona on 11 April 1943. Posted to join the 56th Fighter Group, he arrived in based at Halesworth, England in April 1943 and was allocated to the 61st Fighter Squadron. His victories steadily mounted and by the end of the war his tally stood at 1 |
|
 Groce, Walter | | Flying with the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, Walter Groce flew the first of his 73 combat missions shortly after D-Day, 1944. He flew the longest combat mission in a P-47 without landing, after bailing out on his return. Scoring 3.5 victories he was one of the rare breed of fighter pilots to have shot down an Me262 jet in combat, claiming a share of one on 1st November 1944. |
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Bradshaw, John (companion print) | | Volunteering to fly with the RAF, John Bradshaw flew Spitfires with 41 Squadron. An experienced pilot, he transferred to the USAAF in 1943 and was immediately posted to the 56th Fighter Group, flying with the 63rd Fighter Squadron. He flew a total of 126 combat missions, flew on D-Dat, belly-landed twice in Holland, and downed 1.5 enemy aircraft. |
|
Whitley, Edgar | | Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Whitley |
| Posted to fly P-47s with the 56th Fighter Group in England, ed Whitley was an original cadre member of the 63rd Fighter Squadron. His first combat mission came in April 1943, and another 35 were to follow. He was credited with two air victories, one of which came on 17th August 1943 - the famous Double Strike mission when the 8th Air Force bombed Schweinfurt and Regensberg. |
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Edens, Billy Gene (companion print) | | Born on January 21st, 1923, in Cassbille, Mo., Billy Edens graduated form school on June 1st, 1942, and on the 27th of June Billy Edens joined the Army Air Corp. On May 3rd 1943 Edens became an aviation cadet and received all his flight training in Alabama, receiving his wings and commission on November 3rd 1943. Second Lieutenant Edens was assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group in England in April 1944. On the 8th of June 1944, while defending flight leader Mark Mos |
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Kyler, Russell (companion print) | | Chief Warrant Officer Russell Kyler |
| Joining up in September 1942, Russell Kyler flew 57 combat missions in P-47s with the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, from September 1944 until the end of World War II. Enlisting in the army after the war, he then flew two tours on Huey helicopters during the conflict in Vietnam. |
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Mahurin, Walker Bud | | Colonel Walker Bud Mahurin (deceased) |
| Walker Melville 'Bud' Mahurin was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on 5th December 1918. He joined the Army reserves on 29th September 1941 and entered flight training, being commissioned as a pilot on the 29th of April 1942 at Ellington Field Texas. 'Bud' Mahurin gained a reputation as one of the USAAF's most colourful fighter Aces. Arriving in the European theatre, flying with the 56th Fighter Group at Boxted, England, on the 17th of August the 56th Fighter group flew escort |
|
 Smith, Leslie C | | Brigadier General Leslie C Smith (deceased) |
| Les Smith was born on October 31, 1918, in Mitchell, South Dakota. He graduated from Fresno State College in May 1940, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on November 7, 1941. Smith was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on July 3, 1942, and then joined the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group, deploying with the group to England in January 1943. Arriving in England in February 1943, Les Smith flew two tours with t |
|
 Adrianse, Lyle | | Brigadier General Lyle Adrianse |
| Joining the service in 1941, Lyle Adrianse was one of the early members of the 56th Fighter Group, arriving in England with them in early 1943 and flying P47s with the 63rd Fighter Squadron. He completed a total of 101 combat missions with the Group, and remained in Europe until the end of the war. |
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+ Artist : Robert Taylor | £45 Off! | Now : £275.00 | | In 4 Pairs View | | Wolfpack Tribute Proof edition of 50 prints. | Paper size 35 inches x 26.5 inches (88cm x 66cm) - Image size 24.5 inches x 22 inches (62cm x 56cm) | Rankin, Robert J (companion print) | | Colonel Robert J Shorty Rankin (deceased) |
| Robert James Rankin was born on 23rd October 1918 in Washington, D.C. Joining the Army Air Corps on 6th March 1941, he served in the enlisted ranks until he became an aviation cadet on 15th July 1942. He graduated from pilot training at Luke Field, Arizona on 11 April 1943. Posted to join the 56th Fighter Group, he arrived in based at Halesworth, England in April 1943 and was allocated to the 61st Fighter Squadron. His victories steadily mounted and by the end of the war his tally stood at 1 |
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 Gabreski, Gabby (matted on companion print) | | Colonel Gabby Gabreski (deceased) |
| Gabby Gabreski was the top scoring 8th Air Force fighter Ace in Europe with 28.5 victories in World War II, plus further 6.5 in Korea. Flying P47s with the 56th Fighter Group, his illustrious career in Europe came to a spectacular end, when, strafing an airfield his aircraft touched the ground. He crash landed and was taken prisoner. The story of this American hero from Oil City, Pennsylvania begins in 1942. Gabreski dropped out of his pre-med studies at the University of Notre Dame to become |
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 Johnson, Robert S (matted on companion print) | | Lt Col Robert S Johnson (deceased) |
| Robert Johnson arrived in England in 1943 and was quickly in the thick of the action, scoring his first aerial victory within a month of his initial combat flying. A year later, having flown 91 combat missions, he had taken his total of aerial victories to 27. Died 27th December 1998. |
|
 Zemke, Hub (matted on companion print) | | Colonel Hub Zemke (deceased) |
| Best known as leader of the legendary Zemkes Wolfpack, Hub Zemkes famous 56th Fighter Group was the top scoring Fighter Group in the European Theater of operations. Zemke pioneered the use of the P-38 Droop Snoot as a bomb aiming aircraft which led the bomb-loaded P-47s on to the target with great accuracy and success. He later commanded the 479th Fighter Group P-38s. One of the outstanding fighter leaders of the war, Hub Zemkes personal tally 17.5 victories. Sadly, he passed awway on 30th A |
|
 Groce, Walter | | Flying with the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, Walter Groce flew the first of his 73 combat missions shortly after D-Day, 1944. He flew the longest combat mission in a P-47 without landing, after bailing out on his return. Scoring 3.5 victories he was one of the rare breed of fighter pilots to have shot down an Me262 jet in combat, claiming a share of one on 1st November 1944. |
|
Bradshaw, John (companion print) | | Volunteering to fly with the RAF, John Bradshaw flew Spitfires with 41 Squadron. An experienced pilot, he transferred to the USAAF in 1943 and was immediately posted to the 56th Fighter Group, flying with the 63rd Fighter Squadron. He flew a total of 126 combat missions, flew on D-Dat, belly-landed twice in Holland, and downed 1.5 enemy aircraft. |
|
Whitley, Edgar | | Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Whitley |
| Posted to fly P-47s with the 56th Fighter Group in England, ed Whitley was an original cadre member of the 63rd Fighter Squadron. His first combat mission came in April 1943, and another 35 were to follow. He was credited with two air victories, one of which came on 17th August 1943 - the famous Double Strike mission when the 8th Air Force bombed Schweinfurt and Regensberg. |
|
Edens, Billy Gene (companion print) | | Born on January 21st, 1923, in Cassbille, Mo., Billy Edens graduated form school on June 1st, 1942, and on the 27th of June Billy Edens joined the Army Air Corp. On May 3rd 1943 Edens became an aviation cadet and received all his flight training in Alabama, receiving his wings and commission on November 3rd 1943. Second Lieutenant Edens was assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group in England in April 1944. On the 8th of June 1944, while defending flight leader Mark Mos |
|
Kyler, Russell (companion print) | | Chief Warrant Officer Russell Kyler |
| Joining up in September 1942, Russell Kyler flew 57 combat missions in P-47s with the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, from September 1944 until the end of World War II. Enlisting in the army after the war, he then flew two tours on Huey helicopters during the conflict in Vietnam. |
|
Comstock, Harold Bunny | | Colonel Harold Bunny Comstock |
| Commissioned in 1942, Bunny Comstock qualified as a fighter pilot in July 1942. He joined the 56th Fighter Group, and in December sailed for England with the Group in the Queen Elizabeth. Bunny scored his first victory, over an Me109, just four days after the Groups first combat mission, and during his two tours with the 56th Fighter Group, he completed a total of 136 combat missions, and a final tally of 5 aerial victories. |
|
Gladych, Michael B | | After flying with the Polish Air Force, Michael Gladych eventually escaped to England after the final fall of France, joining 303 Squadron RAF on Spitfires. With 17 victories to his credit, he rammed his eighteenth and final victory in June 1941 and was in hospital for several months afterwards. In 1943 he was posted to 302 Squadron, but then loaned himself to serve with Gabreski and the 56th Fighter Group. |
|
Ulch, Shirley | | Captain Shirley Ulch (deceased) |
| Flying as a replacement pilot with the 62nd Fighter Squadron, he was one of the few pilots to fly the P-47M Thunderbolt. During his time with the 62nd he flew wingman to several of the squadrons top scoring Aces. |
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 Batdorf, Gordon (companion print) | | Gordon Batdorf was one of the original cadre members of the 63rd Fighter Squadron, and flew several of the 56th Fighter Groups earliest missions after their arrival in England. He was credited with one damaged Luftwaffe aircraft on 20th October 1943. |
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Winters, Robert (companion print) | | On 17th April 1945 Robert Winters flew escort with the 56th Fighter Group on the very last USAAF bombing mission to Berlin. It was also the last of his 65 combat missions with the 62nd Fighter Squadron. During this time he had notched up 2 kills, 3 probables and 3 damaged Luftwaffe fighters. |
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Mahurin, Walker Bud | | Colonel Walker Bud Mahurin (deceased) |
| Walker Melville 'Bud' Mahurin was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on 5th December 1918. He joined the Army reserves on 29th September 1941 and entered flight training, being commissioned as a pilot on the 29th of April 1942 at Ellington Field Texas. 'Bud' Mahurin gained a reputation as one of the USAAF's most colourful fighter Aces. Arriving in the European theatre, flying with the 56th Fighter Group at Boxted, England, on the 17th of August the 56th Fighter group flew escort |
|
 Smith, Leslie C | | Brigadier General Leslie C Smith (deceased) |
| Les Smith was born on October 31, 1918, in Mitchell, South Dakota. He graduated from Fresno State College in May 1940, and entered the Aviation Cadet Program of the U.S. Army Air Forces on November 7, 1941. Smith was commissioned a 2d Lt and awarded his pilot wings at Kelly Field, Texas, on July 3, 1942, and then joined the 61st Fighter Squadron of the 56th Fighter Group, deploying with the group to England in January 1943. Arriving in England in February 1943, Les Smith flew two tours with t |
|
 Adrianse, Lyle | | Brigadier General Lyle Adrianse |
| Joining the service in 1941, Lyle Adrianse was one of the early members of the 56th Fighter Group, arriving in England with them in early 1943 and flying P47s with the 63rd Fighter Squadron. He completed a total of 101 combat missions with the Group, and remained in Europe until the end of the war. |
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+ Artist : Robert Taylor | | SOLD OUT | NOT AVAILABLE | |
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