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Includes companion print of Robert Bailey’s pencil drawing Andover Crossing featuring P38s of the 370th FG – 3 signatures – overall size 16 x 25 inches.
One of the largest air battles of World War 2 occurred on August 19, 1942 over the French port of Dieppe. The planned amphibious assault, code named 'Operation Jubilee' was initiated in the early morning hours of August 19 and lasted less than nine hours. But in that short time the British attempt at testing Hitler's 'Atlantic Wall' and new battle doctrines, turned into a disaster for the ground forces, costing the Allies substantial casualties. Of a nearly 6,100 assault force made up of mostly Canadian troops (4,963), 3,367 became casualties, either killed in action or taken prisoner. 2,210 returned to England with many wounded among them.
In the air, over 49 Spitfire and Hurricane squadrons, some with American pilots, faced off against three hundred Me109s and FW-190s of JG-2 (Richtofen) and JG-26 (Schlageter). Nearly 1,000 aircraft from both sides engaged in a raging air melee in the relatively confined air space over the city of Dieppe. Not since the summer of 1940 and the Battle of Britain had so many planes and aircrew been embroiled in such a conflict. Though outnumbered by nearly 3 to 1, the German defenders lost 48 aircraft to the Allies' 106.
On the surface, 'Operation Jubilee' was nothing short of a disaster of monumental proportions that did not bode well for the Allies or the war in Europe. The raid on Dieppe left little for them to claim as a victory, when reviewing the stark figures in the loss of men and material. Fortress Europa seemed to remain impregnable. This would be true for the time being, except for the invaluable lesson learned from the failed mission. For out of the ashes of the Dieppe raid came tried and tested battle doctrines, both on the ground and in the air. These doctrines would serve the Allies well a few years later, less than 100 miles south of the beaches of Dieppe in a new operation with the code name 'Overlord.'
In Robert Bailey's action packed painting, a Spitfire from the 309th. Squadron (American) zooms past a mortally wounded Messerschmitt 109 'Gustav,' whose pilot attempts to exit his flaming aircraft near the beach head. In the heat of battle, there is an undeniable air of defiance amongst the combatants as dozens of planes from both
sides jockey for a position of advantage
Each print in Robert Bailey's Limited Edition, Defiance at Dieppe, is signed by:
2nd Lt. Leonard H Brown
2nd Lt. Jerry D Collinsworth
FO Don Murchie
FO Douglas Gaudin
Flight Sgt. Douglas R Matheson.
Companion print Andover Crossing is signed by:
Staff Sgt. Emil Mutcher
Tech. Sgt. Harold W Bergquist
Staff Sgt. Kenneth E Sangmaster.
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