When I begin an art piece, I start researching for pinnacle moments in time to set the stage for the viewer. As I begin to uncover the layers of history through crew member log books, family stories, or the printed record, I find myself wondering what these soldiers and airmen must have gone through.
"High-Tailed Lady" started this same way, until I discovered a story set on Christmas Eve 1944. Crack elements of the Luftwaffe's IV. (Sturm)/JG 3 from Baubenhausen, Germany, FW 190 pilots were to intercept the inbound 'heavies' just before Christmas Day. Having difficulty intercepting the bombers due to weather, after about an hour aloft, the FW 190s spotted them near Liege, Belgium. Interestingly, this fighter unit rarely flew outside of German borders to intercept the enemy at this stage in the air war. The B-17 "High Tailed Lady" (43-38028) of the 487th BG, 838th BS was among the bombers this fateful Christmas Eve to engage the Luftwaffe. With a clash at over 25,000 feet in the air, this would prove to be JG3 final, large-scale success against the U.S. 8th Air Force.
10 B-17s were shot down on this mission - That's 100 airmen whose bunks were empty that following Christmas morning.
This Christmas Eve in 1944 would prove to be a dramatic turning point in the air war over Europe.
Click Here to see the Relic Canvas Print of "High Tailed Lady"
"High-Tailed Lady" started this same way, until I discovered a story set on Christmas Eve 1944. Crack elements of the Luftwaffe's IV. (Sturm)/JG 3 from Baubenhausen, Germany, FW 190 pilots were to intercept the inbound 'heavies' just before Christmas Day. Having difficulty intercepting the bombers due to weather, after about an hour aloft, the FW 190s spotted them near Liege, Belgium. Interestingly, this fighter unit rarely flew outside of German borders to intercept the enemy at this stage in the air war. The B-17 "High Tailed Lady" (43-38028) of the 487th BG, 838th BS was among the bombers this fateful Christmas Eve to engage the Luftwaffe. With a clash at over 25,000 feet in the air, this would prove to be JG3 final, large-scale success against the U.S. 8th Air Force.
10 B-17s were shot down on this mission - That's 100 airmen whose bunks were empty that following Christmas morning.
This Christmas Eve in 1944 would prove to be a dramatic turning point in the air war over Europe.
Click Here to see the Relic Canvas Print of "High Tailed Lady"
Latest Stories
Ira Kepford and the Story of the Jolly Rogers - "Fighting 17"
On February 19, 1944, Ira "Ike" Kepford of VF-17 downed a Japanese Rufe fighter near Cape Siar, marking the start of a harrowing solo battle against 20 enemy Zekes that tested his skill and resolve. Despite overwhelming odds, Kepford returned victorious, adding three kills to his tally and cementing his place as one of the Pacific's most daring aces.
TADLUR and the Story behind "Through Danger Let Us Ride"
19 August 1943 - B-17F 41-29595 TADLUR (Through Danger Let Us Ride), piloted by Lt. A.L. Nelson with Bombardier Lt. Thomas F. Morris, flew with the 20th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group, on Mission 57 to Foggia, Italy. The crew carried out a precise and highly effective bombing run on the transformer station and marshalling yards, a critical target for disrupting enemy logistics. On the return flight, the 20th Bomb Squadron, endured a ferocious attack from Luftwaffe fighters, with TADLUR shooting down two aircraft and likely destroying a third. Despite sustaining damage and heavy losses within the formation, TADLUR successfully navigated the onslaught and returned safely to base.
This fine art print by artist Craig Tinder depicts a flight of three B-17E Flying Fortresses rounding the landing pattern to deliver much needed supplies and equipment - one of the first landings after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This limited edition canvas series includes an actual fragment of B-17E 41-2443.
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