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A limited-number of prints are available autographed by two heroes from the legendary 8th Air Force

A limited-number of prints are available autographed by two heroes from the legendary 8th Air Force: Fred Wiese, a 35 mission veteran and pilot of the B-17 "The Little One" a Mischler, a 25 mission veteran and gunner on the B-17 "Pride of the Yanks." 





With two editions already sold out, get yours today before they are gone forever at ValorStudios.com, link in bio!

"Black Thursday" by Gareth Hector

October 14, 1943: Deep into Germany and with their fighter escort gone, the bomber boys of the 8th Air Force are in the fight of their lives. More than three hundred “unrelenting” Luftwaffe fighters are trying to make them do the unthinkable: to turn back. 

The ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt lay ahead, it’s a crucial target, and that leaves the 8th with one option: to fight their way through the maelstrom. 

Jousts ensue at 23,000 feet as JG 3 ace Alfred Surau attacks in his Bf-109G. Sixty bombers will fall, including this B-17, “Wabbit-Twacks III,” of the 96th Bomb Group. 

Today, “Black Thursday,” will be the costliest mission in 8th Air Force history, but in a mere six days the “Mighty Eighth” will be back in action, and within five months American bombs will rain on Berlin.

The Schweinfurt-Regensburg mission, more commonly known as “Black Thursday”, was the deadliest single day for the 8th Air Force as well as one of the largest aerial engagements of the war. 

It was a double target raid, aimed at the crucial war production plants located deep in Germany at the cities of Schweinfurt and Regensburg respectively. 

The 4th Bombardment Wing, led by Curtis LeMay, participated in this double-mission to Schweinfurt Regensburg and suffered dearly. The bombers were under constant attack from the moment they crossed over the Channel and until they returned home. 

Crews that survived the ordeal remembered the path to the target being marked by parachutes gliding earthwards. By the days end, 55 bombers had been shot down and 550 crew lost- nearly doubling the previous deadliest day. 

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