Cranston Military Prints .com Home Page
Customer Helpline (UK) : 01436 820269
Subscribe to our Newsletter!

You currently have no items in your basket

Payment Options Display
Buy with confidence and security!
Publishing historical art since 1985

Navigation Menus
Military
Art Index 		Aviation
Art Index 		Naval
Art Index 		Artists
Index
Product Search         
Aviation
History Archive 		Naval
History Archive
HALF PRICE AND FREE PRINT SPECIAL OFFERS
ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS :
20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS
BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS
FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
D-Day The Airborne Assault by Robert Taylor. - Cranston Military Prints

D-Day The Airborne Assault by Robert Taylor.


D-Day The Airborne Assault by Robert Taylor.

It began in pitch darkness. June 6, 1944 was only a few minutes old when the Airborne Pathfinders drifted silently down from the sky above the fields of Normandy. At first their seemed nothing untoward about the drone of aircraft in the night sky. The German garrisons in Northern France were used to the noise of aircraft overhead after dark, but this night seemed particularly busy. Looking skyward a German sentry caught sight of parachutes floating down, clearly visible as the moon fleetingly broke through the clouds. For an instant he thought it was the crew jumping from a damaged bomber, but when he saw the mass of canopies floating earthwards, he knew it was no ordinary event. Within moments of raising the alarm the crackle of automatic gunfire confirmed his worst fears: The Invasion of France had begun. The first assault upon Hitlers Fortress Europe came from the sky. Shortly after midnight waves of aircraft and gliders delivered three Divisions of elite airborne troops into Normandy, their crucial objectives to seize vital bridges, secure strategic positions and clear the way for the coming aerial armada. As the first streaks of dawn came over the horizon on that historic day, and with American and British paratroops already engaged in furious fire fights, the mighty amphibious armada began landing on the beaches of Normandy. Above them waves of troop-carrying aircraft towing gliders stretched from the coast of France all the way back to England. Closely escorted by fighters, they delivered over 20,000 highly trained men into the battlefield of Northern France. By nightfall the first phase of the greatest military invasion in history was complete. Five Divisions were were ashore and the Allies had established a toehold in occupied Europe. For the Third Reich it was the beginning of the end. Without the advanced airborne assault, and the air supremacy achieved by the escort fighters, the amphibious landings could have been a disaster. Seen crossing the Normandy beaches are C-47 Dakotas of the 438th Troop Carrier Group towing CG-4 Waco gliders, closely escorted by P-51Bs of the 354 Fighter Group. Below, landing craft swarm ashore putting men and equipment on the beaches, and everything about this spectacular painting brings alive the events of that historic day a half a century ago.
Item Code : AX0003GSD-Day The Airborne Assault by Robert Taylor. - Editions Available
DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Signed limited edition of 1000 prints. Paper size 34 inches x 25 inches (86cm x 64cm)
Emerson, Warren
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Warren Emerson
P51 pilot who flew during the D-Day landings. 6 victories with the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group.
Signature Value : £25
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

King, William
William King
P51 pilot who flew during the D-Day landings. Serving with the 355th Fighter Squadron, he scored 5.5 victories, including 3 Fw190s in a single day.
Signature Value : £35
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Wagner, Miles
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2009
Miles Wagner (deceased)
Glider pilot, D-Day. Miles Channing Wagner was born in Urbana, Ohio on October 23rd, 1916, the second of five children. His father, M. Channing Wagner, was a teacher/coach in Columbus, Ohio before moving to Wilmington, Delaware to take a position as Principal at Wilmington H.S. Miles was four when they moved and he made Delaware his home until he graduated from the University of Delaware in 1936 and began a career with E.I. Dupont at locations such as Dallas, Houston and Little Rock. During thi
Signature Value : £25
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Gross, Clayton

Died : 2016
Captian Clayton Gross (deceased)
Clayton Gross was one of 12 original pilots to fly with the 355th fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group. He first saw combat in 1943, and took part in the great D-Day air operations on 6th June 1944. He flew over 100 combat missions in two combat tours on P51s, was credited with 6 confirmed kills (including an Me262 jet), 14 damaged, multiple ground vehicles destroyed, including 8 locomotives. He survived one bail-out behind enemy lines, and flew continuously in the ETO until VE Day. Captain (
Signature Value : £50
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Long, Maurice

Died : 2008
Colonel Maurice Long (deceased)
Maurice Long arrived in England in 1943, assigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group. Flying the P51B Mustang he served as a Flight Commander, operations Officer and Squadron Commander, achieving 8 and a half victories. In the ETO he took part in the vital D-Day missions over Normandy, later moving with the Squadron to French soil. In a long career he took part in 140 combat missions flying P51s in the ETO, and later F84s in Korea. Sadly, we have learned that Maurice Long pas
Signature Value : £50
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Harwell, Sid
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Colonel Sid Harwell
Col Sid Harwell. C-47 pilot who had more combat experience than most C-47 pilots, and participated in the Airborne assault during D-day with the 87th Troop Carrier Sqn dropping 101st Airborne Paratroopers into Ste-Mere-Eglise.
Signature Value : £40
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

+ Artist : Robert Taylor

Signature(s) value alone : £225		SOLD
OUT		NOT
AVAILABLE
Studio Proof Edition of 75 giclee canvas prints. Size 38 inches x 24 inches (96cm x 61cm)Artist : Robert Taylor£495.00

Quantity:


Some other related items available from this site.

Depicting Mustang aircraft escorting Flying Fortresses on a bombing raid over Germany.

Guardian Angel by Anthony Saunders. 		You are about to embark on the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other fronts, you will bring the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. These were the final words of Supreme Commander Eisenhower to the huge force assembled in June of 1944 on the eve of D-Day. Parachute infantry units would play an important role on D-Day. Although Billy Mitchell had contemplated forming airborne military forces during WW I, it was not until May of 1939 that the United States commenced a study regarding the feasibility of creating an air infantry. By 1940 an all-volunteer test platoon had been organized at Ft. Benning, Georgia. As the threat of War continued, the Army began experimenting with gliders in mid-1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Army established Parachute Infantry Battalions, and by early 1943 an Airborne Command was organized as well as an Air Transport Command to facilitate the training of air crews necessary for the deployment of airborne forces. By mid-1942 authorization was received to form two airborne divisions the 82nd and the 101st. With a strength of about 8,000 men, these divisions were about half the normal strength of an infantry division. The first major test for Americas new airborne forces came in North Africa during operation TORCH where the 1st Battalion of the 503rd Infantry was deployed. The 82nd Airborne was later successfully deployed during the invasion of Sicily. Operation OVERLORD, the code name for the D-Day invasion, included both of Americas Airborne Divisions as well as the British 6th Airborne Division. The plan called for numerous parachute jumps and glider landings during the evening prior to the invasion. Supplemental jumps or landings would take place later during daylight hours to reinforce these troops and bring in supplies. Although eighteen aircraft were utilized as pathfinders, the evening jumps were highly scattered and off target in many cases. Despite the massive difficulty in reassembling, the troops of the 101st and 82nd performed their missions with distinction. By June 9 nearly all airborne objectives had been secured despite heavy casualties. Both the 101st and the 82nd each lost about 1,200 men killed-in-action. By occupying German forces behind the invasion front, these airborne forces saved the lives of many on the beaches at Normandy. The 101st and 82nd Divisions continued fighting until mid-July when they were pulled back to England. During these hectic weeks of fighting casualty rates were in excess of 50%. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting, which is dedicated to all those who participated in the Great Crusade, a C-47 Skytrain (bearing white and black invasion stripes) passes over the beaches of Normandy following a drop behind enemy lines on June 6, 1944.

D-Day Invaders by Stan Stokes.		British paratroopers board a Dakota in preparation for Operation Market Garden, the assault on Arnhem.

Dawn Departure, Arnhem by Geoff Lea. 		The aircraft in the foreground bears the name Alabama Rammer Jammer, the personal mount of 2/Lt Arthur Cundy ,352nd FS, 353rd FG. The 353rds yellow and black chequered nose bands were one of the most distinctive recognition features of all the Eighths fighter groups.

Little Friends by Simon Smith.
Signatures on these products
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature and is for the unmatted version where available. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
NameInfo
Warren Emerson
*Signature Value : £25

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1000 prints.


Emerson, Warren
(Warren Emerson)

P51 pilot who flew during the D-Day landings. 6 victories with the 354th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group.


William King
*Signature Value : £35

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1000 prints.


King, William
(William King)

P51 pilot who flew during the D-Day landings. Serving with the 355th Fighter Squadron, he scored 5.5 victories, including 3 Fw190s in a single day.
Miles Wagner (deceased)
Died : 2009
*Signature Value : £25

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1000 prints.


Wagner, Miles
(Miles Wagner (deceased))

Glider pilot, D-Day. Miles Channing Wagner was born in Urbana, Ohio on October 23rd, 1916, the second of five children. His father, M. Channing Wagner, was a teacher/coach in Columbus, Ohio before moving to Wilmington, Delaware to take a position as Principal at Wilmington H.S. Miles was four when they moved and he made Delaware his home until he graduated from the University of Delaware in 1936 and began a career with E.I. Dupont at locations such as Dallas, Houston and Little Rock. During this period he earned his private pilot's license which he used while serving in the U.S. Army during WW II. He enlisted in 1942 and was assigned to glider pilot school. Miles participated in the D-Day invasion and later was severely injured while flying in troops at a landing in southern France. He spent a half a year recuperating and was honorably discharged in May, 1945, and earned a Purple Heart medal. Miles Channing Wagner died 26th September 2009




Captian Clayton Gross (deceased)
Died : 2016
*Signature Value : £50

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1000 prints.


Gross, Clayton
(Captian Clayton Gross (deceased))

Clayton Gross was one of 12 original pilots to fly with the 355th fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group. He first saw combat in 1943, and took part in the great D-Day air operations on 6th June 1944. He flew over 100 combat missions in two combat tours on P51s, was credited with 6 confirmed kills (including an Me262 jet), 14 damaged, multiple ground vehicles destroyed, including 8 locomotives. He survived one bail-out behind enemy lines, and flew continuously in the ETO until VE Day. Captain (Air Corps) Clayton Kelly Gross (ASN: 0-663512), United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action against the enemy as a P-51 Mustang Fighter Pilot of the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group, NINTH Air Force, in action against the enemy in aerial combat in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army Air Forces. Clayton Gross died on 10th January 2016.




Colonel Maurice Long (deceased)
Died : 2008
*Signature Value : £50

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1000 prints.


Long, Maurice
(Colonel Maurice Long (deceased))

Maurice Long arrived in England in 1943, assigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group. Flying the P51B Mustang he served as a Flight Commander, operations Officer and Squadron Commander, achieving 8 and a half victories. In the ETO he took part in the vital D-Day missions over Normandy, later moving with the Squadron to French soil. In a long career he took part in 140 combat missions flying P51s in the ETO, and later F84s in Korea. Sadly, we have learned that Maurice Long passed away on 31st March 2008.


Colonel Sid Harwell
*Signature Value : £40

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1000 prints.


Harwell, Sid
(Colonel Sid Harwell)

Col Sid Harwell. C-47 pilot who had more combat experience than most C-47 pilots, and participated in the Airborne assault during D-day with the 87th Troop Carrier Sqn dropping 101st Airborne Paratroopers into Ste-Mere-Eglise.
Squadrons Related to This Print
354th Fighter Group
Aircraft Related to This Print
Dakota
Waco

Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

Sign Up To Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with all our latest offers, deals and events as well as new releases and exclusive subscriber content!

This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts.  Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE

Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269.  Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com

Return to Home Page