On July 20th the 91st Bomb Group attacked an airfield near Leipzig, suspected of harboring the Luftwaffe’s revolutionary Messerschmitt Me262 jet. As the formation spread out for the bomb run, the 401st squadron took the low position – the most vulnerable to fighter attack. 

As the crew of the B-17 ‘The Peacemaker’ steadied the ship to sight the target, the squadron was attacked by Focke-Wulf 190s. As a Fw190 flashed past within 200 feet, its guns blazing cannon shells ripped into Peacemaker and the B-17 began to slip below the rest of the formation. She was a long way from home. 

Robert Taylor’s dramatic portrayal picks up the story as the injured bird limps towards the sanctuary of the English coast. That she has gotten this far is a miracle, due in no small part to the close attentions of escorting P-51B Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group.

To keep her flying, the crew jettisoning everything possible. The front hatch is open and bombardier Marion Havelaar has reluctantly dispatched his 20lb bomb sight to the ocean below – for him, an act of total sacrilege, The Peacemaker made it back to Bassingbourne that day.

THE SIGNATURES
The print has been hand signed by the Artist along with aircrew personally involved in this actual mission, and in fighter escort:

Colonel 'Bud' Anderson - Fighter Ace with 16 ¼ victories
|Lt Colonel James Fletcher - Co-Pilot of the B17 'Peacemaker'
Colonel Steve Pisanos - Fighter Ace with 10 victories
Lt Colonel Marion 'Curly' Havelaar - Bombardier on B-17 'Peacemaker'

This is a classic Robert Taylor and some of the autographs are from veterans that were actually involved in this mission, making it really significant.