Gunfighters of the Eighth
by John D. Shaw
While escorting a formation of B-17s back from their target in Germany, 2nd Lt Clinton Burdick and P-51D Mustangs of the 356th Fighter Group intercept an attacking Schwarm of Fw190s south of Dümmer, 14 January 1945. During the savage dogfight the Luftwaffe Fighters are completely overwhelmed, and Burdick claims two Fw190’s in quick succession, putting him on the verge of Ace status. |
Overall size: 24½" x 32¼" * | Available in the following editions | Image size: 16½" x 25½" |
50 | Artist's Reserve | Signed by the artist - * overall size 19¼" x 28¼" (gallery edition only) | $175 |
160 | Mustang Aces edition | Signed by seven P-51 Mustang Aces who flew in the E.T.O. | $345 |
20 | Artist's Proof | As above | $420 |
5 | Remarque | As above with a single remarque drawing in the lower border | $995 |
10 | Double remarque | As above with a double remarque drawing in the lower border | $1795 |
5 | Artist's Special remarque | As above with a very large remarque drawing across the lower border | $2995 |
Canvas edition (50 copies total) | |||
24" x 36” | Giclée on canvas - signed by the artist and hand varnished | $795 | |
27" x 40" | $895 | ||
35" x 50" | $1095 | ||
40" x 60" | $1295 |
The Signatories |
Captain Clinton DeWitt Burdick 356th Fighter Group / 5½ victories It was natural that Burdick would join the Air Force on his 18th birthday as his father, Lt Howard Burdick, was a Fighter Ace during the First World War, scoring 8 victories. In October 1944 “Clint” joined the 356th Fighter Group at Martlesham Heath in England initially flying P-47s with the 361st Fighter Squadron and flew his first combat mission in the November. The Group converted to P-51 Mustangs later that month and Burdick excelled in his new fighter bearing the name "DoDo", immediately scoring his first victory over an Fw190 on |
Lieutenant Colonel Clyde East 10th Photo Recon Group / 14 victories Volunteering to join the RCAF in 1941 he flew P-51 Mustangs on photographic reconnaissance operations from England with 414 Squadron RCAF. Clyde transferred to the USAAF In January 1944, joining the 10th PRG, flying Spitfires and then P-51 F6s. Flying missions throughout the Normandy invasion, he scored his first victory over an Fw190, becoming the first American Pilot to shoot down a German aircraft on D-Day. Flying until the end of the War, he completed over 200 combat missions and was the highest scoring Ace in the Group with 14 victories. He later flew a further 130 combat missions in RF-80s during the Korean War and in 1962 he was decorated for recon missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis. |
Captain James Brooks 31st Fighter Group / 13 victories After flying P-39s and P-40s with the 52nd Fighter Squadron in the Panama Canal region, he joined the 31st Fighter Group in Italy in 1944, flying Spitfire MK IXs and then P-51s over the Mediterraneanvand Germany. Scoring his first victory on 18 May 1944 while escorting B-24s to Ploesti he also shot down Me109s, Fw190s, Italian Macchi Mc202s and even Ju87 Stukas during a shuttle mission to Russia. Flying in the European Theater until the end of the War he flew 55 combat missions and scored 13 ½ aerial victories. Flying F-86s with the 4th Fighter Group during the Korean War, he was one of four Sabers which in December 1950 participated in the first major jet-versus-jet air battle over the Yalu River, against 12 MiG-15s. |
Colonel Bob Goebel 31st Fighter Group / 11 victories After joining the Army Reserves in 1942 he flew P-39s in the Panama Canal region alongside Jim Brooks before transferring to the Mediterranean, joining the 31st Fighter Group in North Africa in December 1943. He initially flew Spitfires before converting to P-51 Mustangs and moved with the unit to Italy where his victories soon accumulated, shooting down a staggering 11 Me109s during the summer of 1944. He flew 62 combat missions throughout Europe, which included 16 hazardous trips to the Romanian oilfields, and led his squadron into combat seven times, and his entire Group twice, all at the tender age of 21. |
Lieutenant Colonel Robert "Bob" Karr 52nd Fighter Group / 6 victories Bob joined the Army reserves in 1942 and after training on P-47s initially joined the 87th Fighter Group, before transferring to the 52nd Fighter Group at Madna Airfield in Italy in May 1944. Flying P-51Cs with the 5th Fighter Squadron he immediately scored his first victory on 9 June and more victories followed throughout 1944 and he achieved Ace status with three victories in one mission on December 17 over southern Poland. He flew with the 52nd over Europe from North Africa and Italy until June 1945 and scored 6 confirmed aerial victories, all of which were Bf109 Fighters. |
Major Bill Allen 55th Fighter Group / 5 victories Gaining his pilots wings in November 1943, Bill was posted to fly P-38 Lightings with the 55th Fighter Group based at Wormingford in England on May 15, 1944. Joining the 343rd Fighter Squadron the following day, he flew his first combat mission on June 14 in his P-38J “Pretty Patty”. The unit converted to Mustangs in July and while flying his P-51D “Pretty Patty II” he became an Ace in a Day on September 5th, when he shot down five German aircraft in one mission, finishing the war with five confirmed victories. |
Colonel Steve Pisanos 4th Fighter Group / 10 victories Born in Greece, he made his way to the US in 1938, earning a private pilot's license. After Greece was attacked in 1940 he volunteered for the RAF and joined 71 Squadron, the first Eagle Squadron, flying Spitfire Vbs. After America entered the War, his unit transferred to the USAAF as part of the 4th Fighter Group, and he became the first individual in US history to be naturalized outside the United States. He scored victories in both the P-47 and P-51 but in March 1944, after shooting down two Bf109s, he suffered an engine failure over France. Evading capture he served behind enemy lines with the French Resistance, the OSS, and the SOE. Returning to England in September 1944 he finished the war with 10 aerial victories. |
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