Briefing at 0500 hours on the morning of 14 October 1943 brought the crews of the 92nd
Bomb Group news they didn’t want to hear: “It’s Schweinfurt again!” The same message was
being repeated in USAAF bomb group briefing rooms all over eastern England in the early
hours of what was to become forever known as “Black Thursday’~

Responding to intelligence indicating increasing Luftwaffe fighter strength, the decision was taken to attack the ball-bearing plant at Schweinfurt for the second time in three months. Over 400 Fortresses and Liberators would make the 920 mile, seven hour trip - 370 miles of the journey without fighter escort - in an all-out effort to stem the flow of new fighters reaching Luftwaffe front line units.

The 92nd Bomb Group’s mission leader, Colonel Budd Peaslee knew the score: As soon as the escorting P-47 Thunderbolts reached their maximum range and turned for home, the loitering Luftwaffe fighters would pounce. And so it was on that crisp autumn day. The moment the fighters departed some 400 enemy fighters ripped into the vulnerable bomber formations spewing rockets and cannon; the B- 17 gunners made valiant attempts to repel the onslaught, but the result was carnage. For three hours the surviving bombers thundered on, their ranks thinning as continuing enemy attacks pressed home. Just 12 of the 92nd’s 21 aircraft made it through to the target. Turning for home the weary crews knew they had to face the flak and enemy fighters all the way home until within range of Allied escort fighters. The USAAF’s 1st Division alone lost 60 Fortresses with 600 men missing before the day was out.

Robert Taylor’s majestic new painting shows Colonel Budd Peaslee’s B-17 Equipose, piloted by Kemp McLaughlin, leading the Fortresses of the 92nd Bomb Group en-route to the vital ball-bearing factories at Schweinfurt. High over Germany, beyond the range of Allied fighter cover, the unprotected B-17s come under relentless attack from enemy fighters. Losses are high. Undeterred, the valiant crews press on to the target, their determination and courage on that “Black Thursday” forever etched into aviation folklore.

All editions: Overall Print Size: 36" wide x 24" high (Image Size: 29 1/2" wide x 16" high)



THE LIMITED EDITION Individually numbered 1 - 500
Each print has been signed by the following THREE pilots, all veterans of the second Schweinfurt mission on 14 October 1943, including the mission command pilot Kemp Maclaughlin. Every print is also signed by the artist Robert Taylor, and individually hand numbered.

General J. KEMP MACLAUGHLIN
First Lieutenant WILBUR ‘BUD’ KLINT
First Lieutenant JOHN P. NOACK

500 signed & numbered prints - £ 200 inc vat (£170.21+vat)
25 Artist Proofs - £ 325inc vat (£276.60 +vat)


THE SCHWEINFURT EDITION Individually numbered 1 - 325
The SCHWEINFURT EDITION has also been individually signed by
an additional seven veterans from the second Schweinfurt mission. There are a
total of TEN signatures in this edition, plus the artist Robert Taylor.

First Lieutenant FREDERICK J. BIRD
Technical Sergeant JACK R. GOETZ
Captain MALCOLM H. HIGGINS
Technical Sergeant BILL E. MARTIN
Chief Master Sergeant ROY C. McGINNIS
Captain JAMES A. 'PETE' MULLINAX
Staff Sergeant BEN ROBERTS

325 Schweinfurt Edition prints with TEN signatures £250 inc vat (£212.77+vat)


THE COMMEMORATIVE PROOFS Individually numbered 1 – 125
Honouring the men who undertook the historic 14 October 1943 mission, the Military Gallery has specially published this historically important Commemorative Proof Edition. Issued with Robert Taylor’s quite outstanding companion drawing print ‘Black Thursday’, signed by a Luftwaffe veteran of the second Schweinfurt raid; this significant tribute edition is also signed by additional USAAF B17 veterans who flew and fought on the mission. In total there are no less than TWENTY-FOUR signatures on the edition.

Companion print overall size: 20 3/4" wide x 14 3/8" high

First Lieutenant EARL G. BASON
First Lieutenant JAY G. COBERLY
First Lieutenant ROY G. DAVIDSON Jnr
Staff Sergeant MARSHALL L. FISHER
Technical Sergeant EDWARD K. FOX
Colonel ED MILLSON
Captain THOMAS A. PARKS
Staff Sergeant ROBERT RICKEL
Technical Sergeant GEORGE G. ROBERTS
First Lieutenant JOHN SCARBOROUGH
Colonel ROBERT M. SLANE
First Lieutenant DONALD SPRINGER
Lieutenant Colonel HENRY E. TESSIEN
Feldwebel ADOLF DENZ (Companion Drawing)


125 Proofs with TWENTY-FOUR signatures £ 495 inc vat (£421.28+vat)

Acid Free Permanent Paper

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