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Fighting Red Tails by Robert Taylor.
With their distinctive red tails, P-51 Mustangs of the 332nd Fighter Group – the
famed Tuskegee Airmen, climb to operational height as B17 Fortresses from the
483rd Bomb Group manoeuvre into formation at the start of another long and
dangerous mission over Germany, Oct 1944. A welcome sight for the Fortress
crews, the renowned all-black Tuskegee pilots were credited for never losing an
escorted bomber to enemy aircraft. For the first time ever Robert pays tribute
to the Tuskegee Fighter Pilots in this stunning portrait of one of the most
famous fighter units of WWII. |
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Fighting Red Tails by Robert Taylor.
With their distinctive red tails, P-51 Mustangs of the 332nd Fighter Group – the famed Tuskegee Airmen, climb to operational height as B17 Fortresses from the 483rd Bomb Group manoeuvre into formation at the start of another long and dangerous mission over Germany, Oct 1944. A welcome sight for the Fortress crews, the renowned all-black Tuskegee pilots were credited for never losing an escorted bomber to enemy aircraft. For the first time ever Robert pays tribute to the Tuskegee Fighter Pilots in this stunning portrait of one of the most famous fighter units of WWII.
Signed limited edition of 800 prints. Print paper size 33 inches x 23.5 inches (84cm x 60cm). Price £200.00 Signatories: Col Charles McGee, 2nd Lt Elbert Hudson, 2nd Lt Lowell Steward, First Lieutenant Arthur Sherman, Stf Sgt Leon Walden.
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Print paper size 33 inches x 23.5 inches (84cm x 60cm). Price £325.00 Signatories: Col Charles McGee, 2nd Lt Elbert Hudson, 2nd Lt Lowell Steward, First Lieutenant Arthur Sherman, Stf Sgt Leon Walden.
ITEM CODE DHM2596
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Fighting Red Tails by Robert Taylor
- The Signatures
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Colonel Charles McGee
Charles McGee graduated from flight school and shipped out to Italy in December 1943 as a flight Lieutenant in the 302nd fighter Squadron, 332nd Fighter Group. He flew missions in North Africa, Italy and Germany, and got his first victory on 24th August flying escort in the Ploesti oil field raid. After the war this outstanding flyer commanded fighter squadrons throughout the United States, Italy, the Philippines and Germany, logging up more than 6,100 hours in 409 combat missions spanning World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Serving in the armed forces for 30 years he holds the record of flying more combat missions than any other USAF pilot in history.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1919, Charles MeGee, who was to become a Command Aviator who would fly combat missions in three different military conflicts, spent his childhood in Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa. Following two years attending the University of Illinois, WW 11 began, and McGee was sworn into the US Army enlisted reserves on October 26, 1942. He was accepted for pilot training in November and entered the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet Training Program. McGee earned his wings and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in June 1943, as a member of Class 43-F at Tuskegee Army Air Field. He was assigned along with many of the other black pilots who had earned their wings at Tuskegee to the 332 nd Fighter Group in Italy. With the 302nd Fighter Squadron McGee trained in the P-40 and would later fly more than 82 tactical missions in the P-39. His fighter group was then transferred into the Fifteenth Air Force and he first flew the P-47 and several weeks later the P-51 Mustang. In this duty, along with other "Tuskegee Ainnen," McGee performed admirably surmounting many of the unfortunate hurdles placed in their path. The Tuskegee Ainnen became known for their superlative effort at protecting allied bombers from attacking German fighters. McGee is credited with downing one Fw- 190, and the destruction or damage of many others on the ground. He became a flight leader, was promoted to Captain, and after flying 54 more combat missions, returned to Alabama as a twin engine flight instructor. In 1950 McGee flew 100 more combat missions with the 67 h Fighter Bomber Squadron of the 18,h Fighter Group. He was then made Commander of the 44 h Bomber Squadron flying out of Clark Field in the Philippines. Later he would serve with an F-89 Interceptor Squadron, and following a number of interesting operational and staff assignments he would serve as Commander of the 16 h Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron deployed in Vietnam. In his year in Vietnam, McGee would fly another 173 missions. Later assignments included Air Liason Officer for USAEUR and 7'h Army, Chief of Maintenance for the 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Director of Maintenance Engineering for AF Communication Service, and Commander of Richards-Gebaur AFB, and the 1840 Air Base Wing. He retired from the USAF in 1973 with 6,300 flying hours, including 1,100 hours flown on fighter combat missions. Col. McGee earned a BA Degree in Business Administration and worked for many years in the real estate business with ISC Financial Corporation. He also served as Director of Administration forthe city of Prairie Village, Kanasas, and as Manager of the downtown Kansas City Airport. Now fully retired Charles lives with his wife, the former Frances Nelson of Champaign, Illinois. The McGees have three children, ten grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. His numerous decorations include the Legion of Merit with one cluster, the Distinguished Flying Cross with two clusters, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with 25 clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one cluster, a Presidential Unit Citation, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, to name only a few.
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Second Lieutenant Elbert Hudson
In September 1942 elbert Hudson joined up and went for pilot training at the Tuskegee flight school, graduating as a fighter pilot on P51Bs. He soon found himself posted to the 332nd fighter Group in Europe, where he undertook the first of many combat missions in June 1944. Elbert flew combat with the 332nd right through until the end of hostilities in May 1945.
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Second Lieutenant Lowell Steward
Entering the Tuskegee flight school for training in july 1942, Lowell steward graduated as a fighter and was posted to Europe to join the 100th Fighter Squadron, 332nd fighter Group flying P51s. During his service Lowell flew 143 combat missions with the 100th FS, and remained in the service until July 1946.
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First Lieutenant Arthur Sherman
Arthur Sherman joined up as soon as he could on 10th April 1942, and after training was posted to the 15th Air force in Italy, joining the 779th bomb Squadron, 464th Bomb Group flying B25s. He flew his first combat mission on 2nd May 1944. Transferring to the 483rd Bomb Group he flew B17 Fortresses and was regularly escorted by the 332nd Tuskegee Fighter Group. Among his numerous strategic bombing missions were included the momentous raid to Memingen airfield to destroy the factory where over 600 Me109s were being made every month, together with the new Me262 jet fighter.
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Staff Sergeant Leon Walden
Joining up in November 1942 Leon Walden trained to become a waist gunner on B17 fortress, being posted to Europe, joining the 840th bomb Squadron, 483rd bomb Group in Italy. Going into combat on 12th April 1944, Leon flew 50 combat missions with the 483rd, including the heroic raid on the Me262 jet fighter factory at Memingen Airfield on 18th July 1944, when the group was attacked by a force of over 75 Luftwaffe fighters.
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