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THE RISING MIST – Book & Print Portfolio
by Robert Taylor
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A tribute to the bomber crews of the U.S. Eighth Air Force
The Memphis Belle wasn’t the first
heavy bomber in the Eighth Air Force to
complete 25 missions; that honour fell to
Hot Stuff, a Consolidated B-24
Liberator with the 93rd Bomb Group who
completed her 25th mission on 7 February
1943. And the Memphis Belle wasn’t
the first B-17 Flying Fortress either;
Hell’s Angels, a B-17F flying out of
Molesworth with the 303rd Bomb Group, claimed
that distinction on 13 May. But the
Memphis Belle was by far the most
famous – thanks to the influence and glamour
of a well-oiled public relations machine.
Touching down at their base at Bassingbourne
on 19 May, six days after Hell’s
Angels, the Belle did have the
honour of being the first B-17 in the 91st
Bomb Group to complete her 25 missions,
ironically two days after her usual pilot,
Captain Robert K. Morgan and most of her crew
had done the same since they, like many
crews, occasionally flew other aircraft. Bob
Morgan was now ordered to bring the
Belle and her crew home to America
for a high-profile, morale-boosting, War-Bond
selling tour. The following year, the crew of
the Memphis Belle would feature in a movie
directed and produced by the acclaimed
Hollywood film director, William Wyler.
It is therefore no surprise that Robert has
chosen the Memphis Belle to
represent all the young bomber crews who flew
with the Eighth Air Force during WWII in his
detailed drawing ‘The Rising Mist’. Skilfully
crafted in his unmistakable style Robert
depicts the Memphis Belle at
Bassingbourn, her home base, whilst the crew
await the signal to start engines – once the
sun has burnt off an early morning mist.
Following the success of Robert’s high quality Giclée fine art print editions such as ‘Camaraderie’ commemorating the Luftwaffe Fighter Aces of WWII and ‘Major Missions’ in tribute to the crews of RAF’s famous 617 Squadron, this latest piece remembers the bomber crews of the U.S. Eighth Air Force.
Adding great authenticity, each print has been hand signed and personally titled by the artist and is issued mounted to full conservation standards to include the original autographs of some of the most famous names to serve on B-17s during WWII, such as the Pilot and Captain of the Belle, Bob Morgan. Completing each portfolio is a matching-numbered copy of the book ‘The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress – In Air Combat Paintings by Robert Taylor’ produced exclusively for the release and beautifully illustrated from the archives of the Military Gallery using a selection of memorable Robert Taylor pieces featuring this legendary aircraft.
The Collector's Edition
With FIFTEEN signatures of B-17 veterans!
Restricted to just FIFTEEN copies worldwide, each portfolio contains a copy of the book along with a matching-numbered print, conservation matted to include the signatures of fifteen highly-regarded veterans:
Colonel BOB MORGAN – 91st BG (Pilot of the Belle)
Lieutenant Colonel JIM BARKER – 351st BG
Captain ALVIN BROWN – 95th BG
Lieutenant Colonel ROBERT BURNS – 351st BG
Colonel WILLIAM LAWLEY MOH – 305th BG
Lieutenant Colonel HARRY MUMFORD – 95th BG
Lieutenant Colonel BOB GOSSMAN – 351st BG
First Lieutenant CHARLES ‘NORM’ STEVENS – 351st BG
Staff Sergeant PAUL CONSTANTINE ABRAHAMSON – 95th BG
Staff Sergeant RAY L. MOORE – 398th BG
First Lieutenant LEONARD SPIVEY – the 381st BG
Lieutenant Colonel ROB KLEYLA – 91st BG
Captain ROBERT SHOENS – 100th BG
Lieutenant Colonel RALPH NUTTER – 305th BG
Brigadier General JAMES KEMP McLAUGHLIN – 92nd BG
The Veteran's Edition
With TWENTY-FIVE signatures of B-17 veterans!
Featuring all components of the Collector’s Edition, this highly-prized Veteran's Edition is limited to only TEN copies worldwide and includes the additional autographs of a further ten B-17 veterans, creating a total of twenty-five signatures:
Lieutenant Colonel JIM VERINIS – 91st BG (Co-Pilot on the Belle)
Captain CHARLES LEIGHTON – 91st BG (Navigator on the Belle)
Technical Sergeant HAROLD LOCH – 91st BG (Top Turret Gunner on the Belle)
Staff Sergeant CASIMER NASTAL – 91st BG (Rear Waist Gunner on the Belle)
Staff Sergeant JOHN QUINLAN – 91st BG (Tail Gunner on the Belle)
Major General BOB LANDRY – 493rd BG
First Lieutenant ‘L.A.’ MITCHELL – 401st BG
First Lieutenant DENNY THOMPSON – 487th BG
Captain ROLLAND WHITED – 34th BG
Lieutenant Colonel ROBERT DEES – 34th BG
CLICK HERE to see an image of the Veteran’s Edition.
Image size: 19 ½” wide x 9 ¾” high
Collector’s Edition approx. matted size: 26” wide x 20 ¼” high
Veteran’s Edition approx. matted size: 26” wide x 21 ¼” high
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The Collectors Edition
US $835.00 UK £595.00
Edition Size - 15
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Sold Out |
The Veterans Edition
US $1395.00 UK £995.00
Edition Size - 10
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Sold Out |
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