Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. In a moving 50th Anniversary tribute to the 1700 intrepid aircrew who flew the epic Ploesti Raid, the world's foremost aviation artist, Robert Taylor, has created a masterpiece in air combat art. As Suzy Q emerges from the maelstrom, with 44th Bomb Group Commander Leon Johnson clearly visible in the co-pilot's seat, the gripping spectacle of that historic raid is brought to life with vivid, awesome reality. This award winning print sold out immediately and has been a very rare and highly desired piece in the secondary market since. This example is unframed and is numbered 724/1250.

Colonel Leon Johnson aboard the damaged ‘Suzy Q’ emerges through an inferno of exploding bombs, intense ground fire, and dense palls of acrid burning oil. More seriously hit and smoking, another B-24 Liberator completes its bombing run. By the end of that historic first day of August 1943, the Poesti oil-fields were in ruins, and the B-24 crews of the 8th and 9th Air Forces had dealt a vital blow to the Axis war Machine

The signatures include:

- Major General PHILLIP ARDREY
- Colonel WILLIAM CAMERON
- Lieutenant Colonel KEITH K. COMPTON
- Major General RAMSAY POTTS
- Major ROBERT W. STERNFELS

On 1 August 1943, B-24 Liberators based in Libya and Southern Italy attacked nine oil refineries around Ploești, Romania. The mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 air crewmen lost. Five Medals of Honor and 56 Distinguished Service Crosses along with numerous other decorations were awarded to aircrew. It was one of the bloodiest and most heroic missions of all time.

This is a fantastic print, ready to be framed and displayed!