"Steadfast Against All Odds" by Domenic DeNardo
On a patrol mission over France on June 14, 1944, Lt. George L.
Sutcliffe's P-47 from the 397th Fighter Squadron of the 368th Fighter
Group came under heavy attack.
After an exhaustive dogfight, and extensive damage to his aileron,
elevator trim tab, and rudder, Sutcliffe is seen, hanging on the prop
and about to stall. An Me-109 in the encounter pulled up no less
than 30 feet to him to bid farewell, as he flew into the clouds.
Co-signed by Lt. George L. Sutcliffe.
950 Limited Edition prints.
Print size 26" x 21"
Sutcliffe's P-47 from the 397th Fighter Squadron of the 368th Fighter
Group came under heavy attack.
After an exhaustive dogfight, and extensive damage to his aileron,
elevator trim tab, and rudder, Sutcliffe is seen, hanging on the prop
and about to stall. An Me-109 in the encounter pulled up no less
than 30 feet to him to bid farewell, as he flew into the clouds.
Co-signed by Lt. George L. Sutcliffe.
950 Limited Edition prints.
Print size 26" x 21"
On a patrol mission over France on June 14, 1944, Lt. George L. Sutcliffe's P-47 flight
from the 397th Fighter Squadron of the 368th Fighter Group came under attack.
Sutcliffe was flying wingman in a flight of four under the command of Lt. Col. John
Haesler when he sighted thirty plus Me 109s diving down. "Break Left," Sutcluffe
warned and the P-47s broke left and upwards. The left turn put the enemy fighters in
front. Sutcliffe fired bursts at two, turning with them. Two Me 109s broke downward
and two pulled upwards on Haesler's tail. The action was very fast and Sutcliffe didn't
see any strikes but saw a couple of holes in his left wing. Haesler made it into the
clouds but no. 4 was hit and went down. Sutcliffe put his Thunderbolt into a climbing
spiral in an attempt to reach the clouds but couldn't get there before being swarmed by
the Me 109s. The Messerschmitts were all over him, boxing him in and taking turns
shooting at him. At one point Sutcliffe broke into them and almost rammed one. With
full throttle and water injection, Sutcliffe racked his plane around, skidded, banked,
dove and swooped at top speed, always with an attacker coming in. At one point, two
Me109s got on his tail and scored cannon strikes that tore holes in his aileron, cut his
elevator trim tab, and tore a hole in the rudder. One 20mm shell exploded against the
armor at his back. Sutcliffe kept trying to reach the safety of the clouds as a
Messerschmitt zoomed right in on his right wing. The German pilot just stared at him
and Sutcliffe stared right back. Sutcliffe knew it was now or never. Hanging on the
prop, and about to stall, he staggered into the clouds. The German, less than 30 feet off
his wing tip, rolled away. After breaking out of the clouds, some 20 miles northwest,
Sutcliffe spotted two planes. They were the No. 3 Thunderbolt and Col. Haesler.
The oil painting was commissioned by the World War II pilot, Lt George L. Sutcliffe.
Above Text and Image may not be
reproduced
copyright 1997 2006 Domenic DeNardo
from the 397th Fighter Squadron of the 368th Fighter Group came under attack.
Sutcliffe was flying wingman in a flight of four under the command of Lt. Col. John
Haesler when he sighted thirty plus Me 109s diving down. "Break Left," Sutcluffe
warned and the P-47s broke left and upwards. The left turn put the enemy fighters in
front. Sutcliffe fired bursts at two, turning with them. Two Me 109s broke downward
and two pulled upwards on Haesler's tail. The action was very fast and Sutcliffe didn't
see any strikes but saw a couple of holes in his left wing. Haesler made it into the
clouds but no. 4 was hit and went down. Sutcliffe put his Thunderbolt into a climbing
spiral in an attempt to reach the clouds but couldn't get there before being swarmed by
the Me 109s. The Messerschmitts were all over him, boxing him in and taking turns
shooting at him. At one point Sutcliffe broke into them and almost rammed one. With
full throttle and water injection, Sutcliffe racked his plane around, skidded, banked,
dove and swooped at top speed, always with an attacker coming in. At one point, two
Me109s got on his tail and scored cannon strikes that tore holes in his aileron, cut his
elevator trim tab, and tore a hole in the rudder. One 20mm shell exploded against the
armor at his back. Sutcliffe kept trying to reach the safety of the clouds as a
Messerschmitt zoomed right in on his right wing. The German pilot just stared at him
and Sutcliffe stared right back. Sutcliffe knew it was now or never. Hanging on the
prop, and about to stall, he staggered into the clouds. The German, less than 30 feet off
his wing tip, rolled away. After breaking out of the clouds, some 20 miles northwest,
Sutcliffe spotted two planes. They were the No. 3 Thunderbolt and Col. Haesler.
The oil painting was commissioned by the World War II pilot, Lt George L. Sutcliffe.
Above Text and Image may not be
reproduced
copyright 1997 2006 Domenic DeNardo
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
mainly depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We
also deal with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are
from all the top national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of
our prints are signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking
for a specific plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be
reproduced without their consent.
reproduced without their consent.
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Ozark Airfield Artworks
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