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The Collectors Edition of The Wolfpack comes with the companion print A Pack of Wolves taken from a Robert Taylor pencil drawing.
The 56th Fighter Group was led by some of America's greatest fighter leaders of World War II and was home to many of its leading fighter Aces. Under successive commanders Hub Zemke, Robert Landry, and David Schilling the 56th destroyed more enemy aircraft in combat than any other fighter group in the Eighth Air Force.
Arriving in England in January 1943 under the command of Colonel 'Hub' Zemke, a master tactician and fearless leader, the 56th quickly emerged as an outstanding fighting unit. The only Eighth Air Force Group to fly P-47 Thunderbolts throughout the war, the 56th spawned more fighter Aces than any other USAAF group - legends such as Gabby Gabreski, Robert Johnson and the colourful ace Walker 'Bud' Mahurin. Under 'Hub' Zemke's mercurial leadership they became known and feared as "Zemke's Wolfpack".
On 26 November, 1943, the P-47s of the 56th Fighter Group were tasked to escort B-24 Liberators of the 392nd Bomb Group on a dangerous mission to attack the heavily defended industrial and dockyard facilities in the German port of Bremen. Zemke knew the Luftwaffe would be waiting for them as they approached the target, and they were - in force! It was to become a day of high drama. With the Luftwaffe throwing all the fighters they could muster at the American heavy bombers, a massive aerial battle ensued. In the running dogfights high over Bremen, the "Wolfpack" claimed their most successful action of the war with 23 confirmed kills, 3 probables, and 9 damaged, creating an all-time record in the European Theatre. The 392nd's B-24 Liberators could not have been in safer hands on that eventful day.
Robert Taylor's masterful portrayal of "The Wolfpack" evokes the menacing, raw power of the 56th Fighter Group's P-47 Thunderbolts as they climb through majestic cloud formations stretching as far as the eye can see. With 'Bud' Mahurin in the lead aircraft and 'Bunny' Comstock off his tail, they are already high above the east coast of England, in moments they will link up with the B-24's to begin the perilous journey deep into Germany. A classic Robert Taylor painting, with all the hallmarks that have earned him the title of the world's foremost aviation artist over nearly three decades. Adding great credence to this exceptional new limited edition, each print has been signed by some of the most distinguished veterans of Zemke's famous 'Wolfpack'.
Each print in Robert Taylor’s Limited Edition, The Wolfpack (Collectors Edition), has been signed by:
Colonel WALKER 'BUD' MAHURIN
Brigadier General LESLIE C. SMITH
Brigadier General LYLE ADRIANSE
Lieutenant JOHN BRADSHAW (Companion Print)
Colonel BILLY GENE EDENS (Companion Print)
Captain WALTER GROCE (Main Print)
Chief Warrant Officer RUSSELL KYLER(Companion Print)
Colonel ROBERT 'SHORTY' RANKIN (Companion Print)
Lieutenant Colonel EDGAR WHITLEY (Main Print).
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