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Masters of the Sky by Richard Taylor.
They were an extraordinary group of men who flew their distinctive blue-nosed P-51 Mustangs fearlessly in the savage skies over war-torn Europe. They were the pilots of the 352nd Fighter Group - Masters of the Sky. The three squadrons of P-51 Mustangs that made up the 352nd Fighter Group contained a remarkable collection of fearless young aviators who, amongst other things, provided more Aces in a Day than any other P-51 Group in any theatre. These were pilots such as George Preddy - the highest scoring P-51 Mustang Ace in the Eighth Air Force - who downed 6 Me109s in a single day, and Don Bryan with 5 victories in a day. No less than twenty nine of the USAAF's top aerial Aces in Europe were also from the 352nd, and twelve 352nd pilots scored aerial victories over the revolutionary German jet fighters. To commemorate the men who flew with the 352nd Fighter Group during World War II, Richard Taylor has created his magnificent painting, Masters of the Sky. Led by their Commanding Officer Major George Preddy, the P-51 Mustang pilots of the 328th Fighter Squadron engage in a bitter struggle with Luftwaffe fighters in the cold winter air high over eastern Germany. They have been escorting B-17 Fortresses attacking the heavily defended synthetic oil plant at Merseberg, November 1944. As the B-17s turn safely towards home above them, Preddy skilfully manages to down one of the attacking Fw190s in the ensuing melee. |
| | Item Code : DHM1990E | Masters of the Sky by Richard Taylor. - Editions Available | Extra....Companion Print Preparing for Action :
Vital to any unit were the hardworking ground crews whose job it was to keep the mighty warbirds of the Eighth flying. Richard Taylor's wonderfully emotive drawing Preparing for Action features Major George Preddy's crew chief Art Snyder together with his crew as they work frantically to ready the P-51Ds of the 352nd in readiness for yet another sortie.
Detail Sections
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| | DESCRIPTION | SIZE | SIGNATURES | OFFERS | PRICE | PURCHASING | PACKS | | Signed limited edition of 100 prints. | Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm) Image size 25.5 inches x 16 inches (65cm x 41cm) |
Middleton, George | | Joining the 352nd Fighter Group in March 1944, George flew 85 combat sorties with them until the end of hostilities in May 1945. He flew P-51 'Worra Bird', and acted as wingman to both George Preddy and Don Bryan on many occasions. George is credited with 2 aerial victories. |
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Snyder, Art (companion print) | | Staff Sergeant Art Snyder |
| Serving with the 352nd Fighter Group from 1942 to 1945, Art Snyder was George Preddys greatly respected crew chief who kept his P-51 'Cripes A Mighty' flying to perfection, invaluable to Preddy as the highest scoring P-51 Ace in the Eighth Air Force. Art also doubled as the units barber, often decorating Preddys Mustang with a small barbers pole to the right hand engine nacelle. |
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+ Artist : Richard Taylor
 Signature(s) value alone : £45 | | £110.00 | | | Limited edition of 50 artist proofs.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item! | Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm) Image size 25.5 inches x 16 inches (65cm x 41cm) |
Middleton, George | | Joining the 352nd Fighter Group in March 1944, George flew 85 combat sorties with them until the end of hostilities in May 1945. He flew P-51 'Worra Bird', and acted as wingman to both George Preddy and Don Bryan on many occasions. George is credited with 2 aerial victories. |
|
Snyder, Art (companion print) | | Staff Sergeant Art Snyder |
| Serving with the 352nd Fighter Group from 1942 to 1945, Art Snyder was George Preddys greatly respected crew chief who kept his P-51 'Cripes A Mighty' flying to perfection, invaluable to Preddy as the highest scoring P-51 Ace in the Eighth Air Force. Art also doubled as the units barber, often decorating Preddys Mustang with a small barbers pole to the right hand engine nacelle. |
|
Diamond, Walter | | First Lieutenant Walter Jack Diamond |
| Jack Diamond joined the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group in October 1944 and flew P-51 Mustang 'Twyla Sue' with them until the end of the war. He was one of the few pilots who not only managed to get airborne during the Luftwaffes 1945 New Years Day onslaught of Operation Bodenplatte, but scored an aerial victory and damaged another as well. |
|
Bryan, Donald | | Lt Col Donald S Bryan (deceased) |
| Originally a P-40 instructor with the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, Don Bryan then transferred to the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group as a flight leader flying P-47s. Moving to Bodney, England, in June, he flew with the group on its first combat mission in September, flying his P-47 'Little One', named after his girlfriend Frances Norman. In April 1944, he transferred to P-51s, 'Little One II' and 'Little One III', and completed his first combat |
|
Powell, Robert | | Captain Robert Punchy Powell (deceased) |
| Punchy Powell joined the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group in August 1943 and flew 83 combat missions with them in P-47s and P-51s until the end of his tour in December 1944. His P-51 was 'The West by gawd Virginian'. He was credited with sharing in the destruction of 2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 3 damaged, and destroying 3.5 enemy aircraft on the ground, plus 2 probables while strafing enemy airfields. He died on 22nd June 2016. |
|
Mitchell, Raymond | | Lt Col Raymond R Mitchell |
| Ray Mitchell flew 69 combat missions with the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group from August 1944 until late April 1945, his P-51 was 'Carol'. He flew as George Preddys wingman many times and was in his flight on 25th December 1944 when Preddy was killed by friendly ground fire chasing after an enemy aircraft. ray is credited with 1 aerial victory. |
|
Price, Charles | | Assigned to the 486th Fighter Squadron at Bodney, Charles Price arrived in England in December 1944. He undertook his first combat mission in his P-51 'Little Skunk' on 6th February 1945, and went on to complete a total of 27 before the end of hostilities. He is credited with 3 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. |
|
Bleidner, James | | Staff Sergeant James Bleidner |
| James Bleidner was an armourer in the 487th Fighter Squadron in England from July 1943 to August 1945. |
|
McLain, Ralph | | Master Sergeant Ralph McLain |
| Ralph McLain was attached to the 352nd Fighter Group as a Radar Operator from their arrival in England until the end of the war. After the war he flew as aircrew on P-36s and B-52s as a Radar and Electronic Countermeasure specialist. |
|
Straub, Bill | | Staff Sergeant Bill Straub |
| Deploying to England in July 1943, Bill Straub was assigned to the 487th Fighter Squadron, where he served as an aircraft and engine mechanic until September 1945. |
|
Polin, Howard | | Howard deployed to England in April 1944, and was posted to Bodney as part of the 18th Weather Squadron, attached to the 352nd Fighter Group, where he served until the end of the war. |
|
McKibben, Donald | | Captain Donald Mac McKibben |
| Don McKibben was one of the original cadre of pilots with the 352nd Fighter Group. He flew 80 combat missions with the 486th Fighter Squadron in P-47s and P-51s until September 1944. He flew the famous P-51 'Miss Lace' and with the others of the 486th took part in the first shuttle mission to Russia led by Don Blakeslee of the 4th Fighter Group. McKibben is credited with 2 aerial victories and 1 probable. |
|
+ Artist : Richard Taylor
 Signature(s) value alone : £315 | | £235.00 | | | | Collectors edition of 150 prints. | Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm) Image size 25.5 inches x 16 inches (65cm x 41cm) |
Middleton, George | | Joining the 352nd Fighter Group in March 1944, George flew 85 combat sorties with them until the end of hostilities in May 1945. He flew P-51 'Worra Bird', and acted as wingman to both George Preddy and Don Bryan on many occasions. George is credited with 2 aerial victories. |
|
Snyder, Art (companion print) | | Staff Sergeant Art Snyder |
| Serving with the 352nd Fighter Group from 1942 to 1945, Art Snyder was George Preddys greatly respected crew chief who kept his P-51 'Cripes A Mighty' flying to perfection, invaluable to Preddy as the highest scoring P-51 Ace in the Eighth Air Force. Art also doubled as the units barber, often decorating Preddys Mustang with a small barbers pole to the right hand engine nacelle. |
|
Diamond, Walter | | First Lieutenant Walter Jack Diamond |
| Jack Diamond joined the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group in October 1944 and flew P-51 Mustang 'Twyla Sue' with them until the end of the war. He was one of the few pilots who not only managed to get airborne during the Luftwaffes 1945 New Years Day onslaught of Operation Bodenplatte, but scored an aerial victory and damaged another as well. |
|
Bryan, Donald | | Lt Col Donald S Bryan (deceased) |
| Originally a P-40 instructor with the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, Don Bryan then transferred to the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group as a flight leader flying P-47s. Moving to Bodney, England, in June, he flew with the group on its first combat mission in September, flying his P-47 'Little One', named after his girlfriend Frances Norman. In April 1944, he transferred to P-51s, 'Little One II' and 'Little One III', and completed his first combat |
|
+ Artist : Richard Taylor
Signature(s) value alone : £110 | | £140.00 | | | Blue Nose edition of 100 prints.
Great value : Value of signatures exceeds price of item! | Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm) Image size 25.5 inches x 16 inches (65cm x 41cm) |
Middleton, George | | Joining the 352nd Fighter Group in March 1944, George flew 85 combat sorties with them until the end of hostilities in May 1945. He flew P-51 'Worra Bird', and acted as wingman to both George Preddy and Don Bryan on many occasions. George is credited with 2 aerial victories. |
|
Snyder, Art (companion print) | | Staff Sergeant Art Snyder |
| Serving with the 352nd Fighter Group from 1942 to 1945, Art Snyder was George Preddys greatly respected crew chief who kept his P-51 'Cripes A Mighty' flying to perfection, invaluable to Preddy as the highest scoring P-51 Ace in the Eighth Air Force. Art also doubled as the units barber, often decorating Preddys Mustang with a small barbers pole to the right hand engine nacelle. |
|
Diamond, Walter | | First Lieutenant Walter Jack Diamond |
| Jack Diamond joined the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group in October 1944 and flew P-51 Mustang 'Twyla Sue' with them until the end of the war. He was one of the few pilots who not only managed to get airborne during the Luftwaffes 1945 New Years Day onslaught of Operation Bodenplatte, but scored an aerial victory and damaged another as well. |
|
Bryan, Donald | | Lt Col Donald S Bryan (deceased) |
| Originally a P-40 instructor with the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, Don Bryan then transferred to the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group as a flight leader flying P-47s. Moving to Bodney, England, in June, he flew with the group on its first combat mission in September, flying his P-47 'Little One', named after his girlfriend Frances Norman. In April 1944, he transferred to P-51s, 'Little One II' and 'Little One III', and completed his first combat |
|
Powell, Robert | | Captain Robert Punchy Powell (deceased) |
| Punchy Powell joined the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group in August 1943 and flew 83 combat missions with them in P-47s and P-51s until the end of his tour in December 1944. His P-51 was 'The West by gawd Virginian'. He was credited with sharing in the destruction of 2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 3 damaged, and destroying 3.5 enemy aircraft on the ground, plus 2 probables while strafing enemy airfields. He died on 22nd June 2016. |
|
Mitchell, Raymond | | Lt Col Raymond R Mitchell |
| Ray Mitchell flew 69 combat missions with the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group from August 1944 until late April 1945, his P-51 was 'Carol'. He flew as George Preddys wingman many times and was in his flight on 25th December 1944 when Preddy was killed by friendly ground fire chasing after an enemy aircraft. ray is credited with 1 aerial victory. |
|
Price, Charles | | Assigned to the 486th Fighter Squadron at Bodney, Charles Price arrived in England in December 1944. He undertook his first combat mission in his P-51 'Little Skunk' on 6th February 1945, and went on to complete a total of 27 before the end of hostilities. He is credited with 3 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. |
|
Bleidner, James | | Staff Sergeant James Bleidner |
| James Bleidner was an armourer in the 487th Fighter Squadron in England from July 1943 to August 1945. |
|
McLain, Ralph | | Master Sergeant Ralph McLain |
| Ralph McLain was attached to the 352nd Fighter Group as a Radar Operator from their arrival in England until the end of the war. After the war he flew as aircrew on P-36s and B-52s as a Radar and Electronic Countermeasure specialist. |
|
Straub, Bill | | Staff Sergeant Bill Straub |
| Deploying to England in July 1943, Bill Straub was assigned to the 487th Fighter Squadron, where he served as an aircraft and engine mechanic until September 1945. |
|
Polin, Howard | | Howard deployed to England in April 1944, and was posted to Bodney as part of the 18th Weather Squadron, attached to the 352nd Fighter Group, where he served until the end of the war. |
|
+ Artist : Richard Taylor
Signature(s) value alone : £290 | | £195.00 | | | | Limited edition of 25 remarques. | Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm) Image size 25.5 inches x 16 inches (65cm x 41cm) |
Middleton, George | | Joining the 352nd Fighter Group in March 1944, George flew 85 combat sorties with them until the end of hostilities in May 1945. He flew P-51 'Worra Bird', and acted as wingman to both George Preddy and Don Bryan on many occasions. George is credited with 2 aerial victories. |
|
Snyder, Art (companion print) | | Staff Sergeant Art Snyder |
| Serving with the 352nd Fighter Group from 1942 to 1945, Art Snyder was George Preddys greatly respected crew chief who kept his P-51 'Cripes A Mighty' flying to perfection, invaluable to Preddy as the highest scoring P-51 Ace in the Eighth Air Force. Art also doubled as the units barber, often decorating Preddys Mustang with a small barbers pole to the right hand engine nacelle. |
|
Diamond, Walter | | First Lieutenant Walter Jack Diamond |
| Jack Diamond joined the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group in October 1944 and flew P-51 Mustang 'Twyla Sue' with them until the end of the war. He was one of the few pilots who not only managed to get airborne during the Luftwaffes 1945 New Years Day onslaught of Operation Bodenplatte, but scored an aerial victory and damaged another as well. |
|
Bryan, Donald | | Lt Col Donald S Bryan (deceased) |
| Originally a P-40 instructor with the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, Don Bryan then transferred to the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group as a flight leader flying P-47s. Moving to Bodney, England, in June, he flew with the group on its first combat mission in September, flying his P-47 'Little One', named after his girlfriend Frances Norman. In April 1944, he transferred to P-51s, 'Little One II' and 'Little One III', and completed his first combat |
|
Powell, Robert | | Captain Robert Punchy Powell (deceased) |
| Punchy Powell joined the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group in August 1943 and flew 83 combat missions with them in P-47s and P-51s until the end of his tour in December 1944. His P-51 was 'The West by gawd Virginian'. He was credited with sharing in the destruction of 2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 3 damaged, and destroying 3.5 enemy aircraft on the ground, plus 2 probables while strafing enemy airfields. He died on 22nd June 2016. |
|
Mitchell, Raymond | | Lt Col Raymond R Mitchell |
| Ray Mitchell flew 69 combat missions with the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group from August 1944 until late April 1945, his P-51 was 'Carol'. He flew as George Preddys wingman many times and was in his flight on 25th December 1944 when Preddy was killed by friendly ground fire chasing after an enemy aircraft. ray is credited with 1 aerial victory. |
|
Price, Charles | | Assigned to the 486th Fighter Squadron at Bodney, Charles Price arrived in England in December 1944. He undertook his first combat mission in his P-51 'Little Skunk' on 6th February 1945, and went on to complete a total of 27 before the end of hostilities. He is credited with 3 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. |
|
Bleidner, James | | Staff Sergeant James Bleidner |
| James Bleidner was an armourer in the 487th Fighter Squadron in England from July 1943 to August 1945. |
|
McLain, Ralph | | Master Sergeant Ralph McLain |
| Ralph McLain was attached to the 352nd Fighter Group as a Radar Operator from their arrival in England until the end of the war. After the war he flew as aircrew on P-36s and B-52s as a Radar and Electronic Countermeasure specialist. |
|
Straub, Bill | | Staff Sergeant Bill Straub |
| Deploying to England in July 1943, Bill Straub was assigned to the 487th Fighter Squadron, where he served as an aircraft and engine mechanic until September 1945. |
|
Polin, Howard | | Howard deployed to England in April 1944, and was posted to Bodney as part of the 18th Weather Squadron, attached to the 352nd Fighter Group, where he served until the end of the war. |
|
McKibben, Donald | | Captain Donald Mac McKibben |
| Don McKibben was one of the original cadre of pilots with the 352nd Fighter Group. He flew 80 combat missions with the 486th Fighter Squadron in P-47s and P-51s until September 1944. He flew the famous P-51 'Miss Lace' and with the others of the 486th took part in the first shuttle mission to Russia led by Don Blakeslee of the 4th Fighter Group. McKibben is credited with 2 aerial victories and 1 probable. |
|
+ Artist : Richard Taylor
Signature(s) value alone : £315 | | £395.00 | | | | Limited edition of 10 double remarques. | Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm) Image size 25.5 inches x 16 inches (65cm x 41cm) |
Middleton, George | | Joining the 352nd Fighter Group in March 1944, George flew 85 combat sorties with them until the end of hostilities in May 1945. He flew P-51 'Worra Bird', and acted as wingman to both George Preddy and Don Bryan on many occasions. George is credited with 2 aerial victories. |
|
Snyder, Art (companion print) | | Staff Sergeant Art Snyder |
| Serving with the 352nd Fighter Group from 1942 to 1945, Art Snyder was George Preddys greatly respected crew chief who kept his P-51 'Cripes A Mighty' flying to perfection, invaluable to Preddy as the highest scoring P-51 Ace in the Eighth Air Force. Art also doubled as the units barber, often decorating Preddys Mustang with a small barbers pole to the right hand engine nacelle. |
|
Diamond, Walter | | First Lieutenant Walter Jack Diamond |
| Jack Diamond joined the 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group in October 1944 and flew P-51 Mustang 'Twyla Sue' with them until the end of the war. He was one of the few pilots who not only managed to get airborne during the Luftwaffes 1945 New Years Day onslaught of Operation Bodenplatte, but scored an aerial victory and damaged another as well. |
|
Bryan, Donald | | Lt Col Donald S Bryan (deceased) |
| Originally a P-40 instructor with the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, Don Bryan then transferred to the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group as a flight leader flying P-47s. Moving to Bodney, England, in June, he flew with the group on its first combat mission in September, flying his P-47 'Little One', named after his girlfriend Frances Norman. In April 1944, he transferred to P-51s, 'Little One II' and 'Little One III', and completed his first combat |
|
Powell, Robert | | Captain Robert Punchy Powell (deceased) |
| Punchy Powell joined the 328th Fighter Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group in August 1943 and flew 83 combat missions with them in P-47s and P-51s until the end of his tour in December 1944. His P-51 was 'The West by gawd Virginian'. He was credited with sharing in the destruction of 2 enemy aircraft in aerial combat plus 3 damaged, and destroying 3.5 enemy aircraft on the ground, plus 2 probables while strafing enemy airfields. He died on 22nd June 2016. |
|
Mitchell, Raymond | | Lt Col Raymond R Mitchell |
| Ray Mitchell flew 69 combat missions with the 328th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group from August 1944 until late April 1945, his P-51 was 'Carol'. He flew as George Preddys wingman many times and was in his flight on 25th December 1944 when Preddy was killed by friendly ground fire chasing after an enemy aircraft. ray is credited with 1 aerial victory. |
|
Price, Charles | | Assigned to the 486th Fighter Squadron at Bodney, Charles Price arrived in England in December 1944. He undertook his first combat mission in his P-51 'Little Skunk' on 6th February 1945, and went on to complete a total of 27 before the end of hostilities. He is credited with 3 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. |
|
Bleidner, James | | Staff Sergeant James Bleidner |
| James Bleidner was an armourer in the 487th Fighter Squadron in England from July 1943 to August 1945. |
|
McLain, Ralph | | Master Sergeant Ralph McLain |
| Ralph McLain was attached to the 352nd Fighter Group as a Radar Operator from their arrival in England until the end of the war. After the war he flew as aircrew on P-36s and B-52s as a Radar and Electronic Countermeasure specialist. |
|
Straub, Bill | | Staff Sergeant Bill Straub |
| Deploying to England in July 1943, Bill Straub was assigned to the 487th Fighter Squadron, where he served as an aircraft and engine mechanic until September 1945. |
|
Polin, Howard | | Howard deployed to England in April 1944, and was posted to Bodney as part of the 18th Weather Squadron, attached to the 352nd Fighter Group, where he served until the end of the war. |
|
McKibben, Donald | | Captain Donald Mac McKibben |
| Don McKibben was one of the original cadre of pilots with the 352nd Fighter Group. He flew 80 combat missions with the 486th Fighter Squadron in P-47s and P-51s until September 1944. He flew the famous P-51 'Miss Lace' and with the others of the 486th took part in the first shuttle mission to Russia led by Don Blakeslee of the 4th Fighter Group. McKibben is credited with 2 aerial victories and 1 probable. |
|
+ Artist : Richard Taylor
Signature(s) value alone : £315 | | £625.00 | | |
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