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Doolittle's D-Day by Robert Taylor.
By any military standards, it is difficult to imagine the Supreme Commander of
the largest air force of the day, piloting himself over the battlefront during
the early moments of one of historys greatest military operations. But General
Jimmy Doollittle was no ordinary commander. Already awarded Americas highest
decoration for valour, General Doolittle was, by the summer of 1944, in command
of the American 8th Air Force. On the morning of 6 June, D-Day, he dispatched
1350 bombers together with his entire fighter force to attack enemy ground
installations near the beachheads. Sitting around waiting for intelligence
reports was not Jimmy Doolittles style. He was going to see for himself what was
happening! With Pat Partridge as wingman, they took off flying P-38 Lightnings -
chosen for their distinctive profile in the hopes they would deter friendly fire
- and climbed above the overcast. Having observed the 8th Air Forces operations
at first hand, as they turned for home, Doolittle spotted a hole in the clouds,
flick-rolled through it and disappeared beneath the cloud layer. Pat Partridge
had his head in the cockpit, probably changing his gas tanks, and when he looked
up there was no sign of his Supreme Commander, he circled around for a while,
then headed for home. Beneath the clouds Doolittle saw - the most impressive and
unforgettable sight I could have possibly imagined - . As some 5000 ships of all
shapes and sizes landed 176,000 troops on the enemy held beaches of Northern
France, Doolittle flew up and down the battlefront assessing how the invasion
was progressing, and after a two and a half hour sortie, headed back to base.
After landing, Doolittle hurried over to General Eisenhowers headquarters to
provide the first report Eisenhower received, beating his own intelligence
information by several hours. |
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Doolittles D-Day, 6th June 1944 by Robert Taylor.
By any military standards, it is difficult to imagine the Supreme Commander of the largest air force of the day, piloting himself over the battlefront during the early moments of one of historys greatest military operations. But General Jimmy Doollittle was no ordinary commander. Already awarded Americas highest decoration for valour, General Doolittle was, by the summer of 1944, in command of the American 8th Air Force. On the morning of 6 June, D-Day, he dispatched 1350 bombers together with his entire fighter force to attack enemy ground installations near the beachheads. Sitting around waiting for intelligence reports was not Jimmy Doolittles style. He was going to see for himself what was happening! With Pat Partridge as wingman, they took off flying P-38 Lightnings - chosen for their distinctive profile in the hopes they would deter friendly fire - and climbed above the overcast. Having observed the 8th Air Forces operations at first hand, as they turned for home, Doolittle spotted a hole in the clouds, flick-rolled through it and disappeared beneath the cloud layer. Pat Partridge had his head in the cockpit, probably changing his gas tanks, and when he looked up there was no sign of his Supreme Commander, he circled around for a while, then headed for home. Beneath the clouds Doolittle saw - the most impressive and unforgettable sight I could have possibly imagined - . As some 5000 ships of all shapes and sizes landed 176,000 troops on the enemy held beaches of Northern France, Doolittle flew up and down the battlefront assessing how the invasion was progressing, and after a two and a half hour sortie, headed back to base. After landing, Doolittle hurried over to General Eisenhowers headquarters to provide the first report Eisenhower received, beating his own intelligence information by several hours.
Limited edition of 500 prints. Image szie 32 inches x 16 inches 81cm x 41cm). Price £285.00 Signed by Colonel Hubert M. Childress, Lt Colonel Frank D Hurlbut, First Lieutenant Richard Ostronik, First Lieutenant Mel Roasvig and Colonel Richard Willsie.
ITEM CODE RT0313
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Doolittle's D-Day by Robert Taylor
- The Signatures
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 | Colonel Hubert M. Childress
Hubert Childress was posted to England, joining the 27th Photo Recon Squadron, 7th Photographic Group flying the F5 - a specially adapted photo-recon version of the P38 with cameras and no guns. Hubert flew his first combat mission on New Year's Eve 1943, and was heavily involved in many reconnaissance missions prior to D-Day. He also flew the Spitfire MkIXs on several operations. He flew 58 combat missions and later commanded the 7th Photographic Group (R)
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 | Lt Colonel Frank D Hurlbut
Frank Hurlbut joined the National Guard in early 1940 before being activated following the Japanese Attack at Pearl Harbor. He was posted to the 82nd Fighter Group, 96th FS flying P38s in Europe. He became a P38 Ace on 10th July 1943 during a notable fighter sweep in which his Group was credited with 10 kills. Frank Hurlbut flew over 50 combat missions and scored nine confirmed victories, all in Europe, making him the second highest Ace in the 12th Air Force. In Italy, in the summer of 1944, where he flew P38s with the 96th FS. Attacking targets of opportunity and strafing trains, the squadron escorted the heavy bombers that attacked aircraft
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 | First Lieutenant Richard Ostronik
Joining the service at the end of 1942, Dick Ostronik was posted to the 82nd Fighter Group in Italy, in the summer of 1944, where he flew P38s with the 96th FS. Attacking targets of opportunity and strafing trains, the squadron escorted the heavy bombers that attacked aircraft factories and industrial targets, and flew defending photo reconnaissance missions - once against a pair of Me262s. Dick flew over 30 combat missions, finishing his stint in Europe in May 1945.
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 | First Lieutenant Mel Roasvig
Already in the Reserves, Mel Roasvig was activated for full service in August 1941, and was posted overseas to join the 97th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group, by then operating in Italy. Flying the P38 Lightning in its main role of bomber escort, he also took part in dive bombing operations in Czechoslovakia, and hitting targets of opportunity, including strafing an ammunition train which exploded, the debris seriously damaging his aircraft.
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 | Colonel Richard Willsie
Joining up in 1942, Dick Willsie was posted to North Africa with the 414th Night Fighter Squadron, where he flew 31 missions on the Beaufighter. He transferred to the 96th FS, 82nd Fighter Group, flying the P38 Lightning on 82 day missions through to the end of hostilities in Europe. He notched up a large number of ground attack victories as well as three aerial victories in his P38 'Snake Eyes'. He later served in both Korea and Vietnam, and retired in 1974.
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