Sheet Size: 23" x 33"
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| Ozark Airfield Artworks |
"Sting of the Yellow Jackets"
This Scenario
Spring of 1944. P51D
Mustangs of the 361st
Fighter Group defend a
crippled B17 high over
Germany.
Spring of 1944. P51D
Mustangs of the 361st
Fighter Group defend a
crippled B17 high over
Germany.
Signatures
Lt. Colonel Joe Kruzel's military career bega as an Aviation Cadet in May
1940. His first assignment was to the Philippines, where he flew P40's in
17 Pursuit Squadron when the Japanese attacked in December 1941. Lt.
Colonel Joe Kruzel flew 'Vi,' the Mustang featured in STING OF THE
YELLOW JACKETS.During the first year of war, he was credited with
destroying 3 Japanese fighters. On his return to the USA as a Captain, he
became a P47 Squadron Commander at Richmond, Virginia, where he
was later chosen to be the Executive Officer of the 361st Fighter Group,
which went to England in November 1943. In Europe, he was credited with
destroying 31/2 German fighters. He became Fighter Group Commander
of the 361st in September 1944. Other commands include F-100 Fighter
Wing and an F-100 Air Division. Key staff posts were in Operations at
Headquarters PACAF and at Headquarters USAF, Pentagon. Medals
awarded were Silver Star with 2 OLC's, DFC with OLC, Distinguished
Service Medal and Presidential Unit Citation. He retired in August 1970 as
a Major General.
1st Lieutenant Leslie W. 'Bill' May enlisted in the Army Air Corps in March
1942. He graduated from Foster Field, Texas, in May of 1943. 1st
Lieutenant Bill May's aircraft is the second Mustang, as seen in STING OF
THE YELLOW JACKETS.After transition to fighters he was transferred to
376 Fighter Squadron at Langley Field, Virginia. Bill was one of the
original pilots of the 361st, arriving at Bottisham, England, in November
1943. He flew 93 missions, including escort on the first trip to Berlin and
fighter cover during the DDay invasion of Europe. He completed his tour
of 300 hours of combat with the group in August of 1944. 1st Lieutenant
May was awarded the DFG with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal
with three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Captain George Lichter joined the 361st Fighter Group, 374 Fighter
Squadron, at Richmond Army Base in May 1943. The Group departed for
overseas in November 1943 on the liner Queen Elizabeth. Captain Lichter
flew 88 combat missions and was credited with destroying 2 enemy
aircraft, 1 probable and 3 damaged. He was awarded the DFG and Air
Medal and attained the position of Squadron Flight Leader. After returning
to the States in December 1944 upon completing his tour of combat,
Captain Lichter joined the Israeli Air Force in 1948 where he flew combat
in the Messerschmitt 109 and Supermarine Spitfire. This was during the
Israeli War of Independence. When this war ended, he trained fighter pilots
and was head of the Israeli Advanced Flying School. He became chief
instructor in 1950 and returned to the States again in 1951.
1st Lieutenant Robert C. 'Chuck' Wright was born in Williston, North
Dakota. He received his pilot's wings in April 1943 and was assigned to
375 Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group and was one of their original
pilots. He flew 83 combat missions. Score was 31/2 aircraft destroyed in
the air, and 4 on the ground. Chuck was awarded the Silver Star, DFC with
2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. His service
career lasted 20 years, the last 7 of which were with the 27th Fighter
Interceptor Squadron. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1962.
1st Lieutenant Henry B. Lederer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He
attended New York University and joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 as an
Aviation Cadet. His training was on P47 Thunderbolts. He was afterwards
assigned to the 361st Fighter Group, 376 Fighter Squadron. After transfer
to 374 Fighter Squadron he was in Bottisham, England, flying escort to
B17's and B24's, plus ground support missions. In January of 1944 he
was involved in the 361st first combat encounter, which was a fight with
about 40 Me109's. He shared a victory in this battle. Henry flew 305 hours
of combat and received the DFC with two OLC's and the Air Medal with
two OLC's. He was an 'Eager Beaver' and the first to finish his tour of duty
and be rotated home. He had completed 92 missions.
1st Lieutenant David Carl Landin joined the U.S. Army in May of 1941,
serving with the Field Artillery. He then became an Air Cadet and
completed his training at Foster Field, Texas. He then joined the newly
formed 361st Fighter Group in 376 Squadron, stationed at Bottisham,
England. He began combat operations in January 1944, eventually
completing 83 missions. This included DDay and escorting 'heavies' to
Berlin. He received the DFC with an OLC and the Air Medal with 5 OLC's.
Although he left active service in 1945, he stayed in the active reserve,
retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1971. At this time he was presented with
the Meritorious Service Award.
Signatures on the Group Edition
1st Lieutenant Billy D. Welch, 376 Squadron
S/Sgt. Fred L. Seavey, 375 Squadron
S/Sgt. Benjamin W. Tyrell, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Duane Grounds, 376 Squadron
Corporal Bill Schrader, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Tom Moore, 374 Squadron
S/Sgt. John Hornyak, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Jimmy C. Wright, 376 Squadron
S/Sgt. Barney Vettutello, 468 Service Squadron
1st Lieutenant James R. Golden, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Lee C. Travis, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Lyle L. Jewell, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant John J. Olmstead, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Alton B. Snyder Jr., 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Robert C. Wright, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Stanley Raines, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Alva Hill, 374 Squadron
Lt. Colonel James Hastin, 374 Squadron
Sergeant Donald F. Hill, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Robert J. Bain, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Cecil A. Laxton, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Henry B. Lederer, 374 Squadron
Captain George Lichter, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Henry G. Castle, 376 Squadron
S/Sgt. Robert L. Grubb, 374 Squadron
S/Sgt. Vincent F. Rosewell, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Charles B. Screws, 374 Squadron
S/Sgt. Robert O. Bland, 374 Squadron
Sergeant Joe Redden, 375 Squadron
Lieutenant Richard E. Chandler, 374 Squadron
Lieutenant Marion C. Kelly, 376 Squadron
Lieutenant Walter N. Hedges, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant William 'Bill' May, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Phillip 'Phil' Heacox, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Jacob L. Rawls, 374 Squadron
The Story
The supportive relationship that developed between bomber crew and
fighter pilots of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in the ETO is legendary. It
was a tight bond between the 'Big Friends' and their 'Little Friends,' the
latter acting in a defensive role out of a desperate need to stem rising
casualties among the bomber crews in the bleak years of 1942 and 1943.
In those dark days, bomber crews often had to face seasoned Luftwaffe
pilots when they went beyond the limited range of USA and RAF fighters
being used at that time. Crew and bomber losses rose alarmingly to
unacceptable levels.
The air doctrine that grew out of this dilemma envisioned and achieved
full escort coverage for the bomber crews, both to and from their
continental targets. Additionally, newer and more potent fighter planes
that had increased range, coupled with proven aggressive fighter tactics
learned in the early years of the air war, wrestled the enemy skies from the
Germans. This left the Luftwaffe as a shell of its former self.
Still, for the crippled stragglers in the wake of bomber streams who fell
back from the protective pack of other 'heavies,' the prospect of being
alone in the skies over Germany was nerve-wracking, to say the least.
Marauding Focke-Wulfs and Messerschmitts often targeted these
unfortunate crews as easy prey. Little Friends who responded to the radio
pleas of these cripples, often beat back the aggressors and then escorted
the bombers as they limped westward and home.
In Robert Bailey's painting STING OF THE YELLOW JACKETS, just such a
scenario had unfolded. A single Flying Fortress finds itself all alone in
enemy skies, damaged by flak during its bomb run. One engine has been
shut down, control surfaces are shredded and there are wounded airmen
aboard. Struggling to maintain altitude, the B17 is attacked by two
Me109's bent upon its destruction. Fighters from the 361st Fighter Group,
375 Fighter Squadron enter the fray, destroying one of the attackers and
driving off his wingman. The journey home will be uneventful, now that
the injured crew have their own private escort of determined Little Friends.
Lt. Colonel Joe Kruzel's military career bega as an Aviation Cadet in May
1940. His first assignment was to the Philippines, where he flew P40's in
17 Pursuit Squadron when the Japanese attacked in December 1941. Lt.
Colonel Joe Kruzel flew 'Vi,' the Mustang featured in STING OF THE
YELLOW JACKETS.During the first year of war, he was credited with
destroying 3 Japanese fighters. On his return to the USA as a Captain, he
became a P47 Squadron Commander at Richmond, Virginia, where he
was later chosen to be the Executive Officer of the 361st Fighter Group,
which went to England in November 1943. In Europe, he was credited with
destroying 31/2 German fighters. He became Fighter Group Commander
of the 361st in September 1944. Other commands include F-100 Fighter
Wing and an F-100 Air Division. Key staff posts were in Operations at
Headquarters PACAF and at Headquarters USAF, Pentagon. Medals
awarded were Silver Star with 2 OLC's, DFC with OLC, Distinguished
Service Medal and Presidential Unit Citation. He retired in August 1970 as
a Major General.
1st Lieutenant Leslie W. 'Bill' May enlisted in the Army Air Corps in March
1942. He graduated from Foster Field, Texas, in May of 1943. 1st
Lieutenant Bill May's aircraft is the second Mustang, as seen in STING OF
THE YELLOW JACKETS.After transition to fighters he was transferred to
376 Fighter Squadron at Langley Field, Virginia. Bill was one of the
original pilots of the 361st, arriving at Bottisham, England, in November
1943. He flew 93 missions, including escort on the first trip to Berlin and
fighter cover during the DDay invasion of Europe. He completed his tour
of 300 hours of combat with the group in August of 1944. 1st Lieutenant
May was awarded the DFG with one Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal
with three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Captain George Lichter joined the 361st Fighter Group, 374 Fighter
Squadron, at Richmond Army Base in May 1943. The Group departed for
overseas in November 1943 on the liner Queen Elizabeth. Captain Lichter
flew 88 combat missions and was credited with destroying 2 enemy
aircraft, 1 probable and 3 damaged. He was awarded the DFG and Air
Medal and attained the position of Squadron Flight Leader. After returning
to the States in December 1944 upon completing his tour of combat,
Captain Lichter joined the Israeli Air Force in 1948 where he flew combat
in the Messerschmitt 109 and Supermarine Spitfire. This was during the
Israeli War of Independence. When this war ended, he trained fighter pilots
and was head of the Israeli Advanced Flying School. He became chief
instructor in 1950 and returned to the States again in 1951.
1st Lieutenant Robert C. 'Chuck' Wright was born in Williston, North
Dakota. He received his pilot's wings in April 1943 and was assigned to
375 Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group and was one of their original
pilots. He flew 83 combat missions. Score was 31/2 aircraft destroyed in
the air, and 4 on the ground. Chuck was awarded the Silver Star, DFC with
2 Oak Leaf Clusters, and Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters. His service
career lasted 20 years, the last 7 of which were with the 27th Fighter
Interceptor Squadron. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1962.
1st Lieutenant Henry B. Lederer was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He
attended New York University and joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 as an
Aviation Cadet. His training was on P47 Thunderbolts. He was afterwards
assigned to the 361st Fighter Group, 376 Fighter Squadron. After transfer
to 374 Fighter Squadron he was in Bottisham, England, flying escort to
B17's and B24's, plus ground support missions. In January of 1944 he
was involved in the 361st first combat encounter, which was a fight with
about 40 Me109's. He shared a victory in this battle. Henry flew 305 hours
of combat and received the DFC with two OLC's and the Air Medal with
two OLC's. He was an 'Eager Beaver' and the first to finish his tour of duty
and be rotated home. He had completed 92 missions.
1st Lieutenant David Carl Landin joined the U.S. Army in May of 1941,
serving with the Field Artillery. He then became an Air Cadet and
completed his training at Foster Field, Texas. He then joined the newly
formed 361st Fighter Group in 376 Squadron, stationed at Bottisham,
England. He began combat operations in January 1944, eventually
completing 83 missions. This included DDay and escorting 'heavies' to
Berlin. He received the DFC with an OLC and the Air Medal with 5 OLC's.
Although he left active service in 1945, he stayed in the active reserve,
retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1971. At this time he was presented with
the Meritorious Service Award.
Signatures on the Group Edition
1st Lieutenant Billy D. Welch, 376 Squadron
S/Sgt. Fred L. Seavey, 375 Squadron
S/Sgt. Benjamin W. Tyrell, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Duane Grounds, 376 Squadron
Corporal Bill Schrader, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Tom Moore, 374 Squadron
S/Sgt. John Hornyak, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Jimmy C. Wright, 376 Squadron
S/Sgt. Barney Vettutello, 468 Service Squadron
1st Lieutenant James R. Golden, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Lee C. Travis, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Lyle L. Jewell, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant John J. Olmstead, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Alton B. Snyder Jr., 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Robert C. Wright, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Stanley Raines, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Alva Hill, 374 Squadron
Lt. Colonel James Hastin, 374 Squadron
Sergeant Donald F. Hill, 375 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Robert J. Bain, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Cecil A. Laxton, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Henry B. Lederer, 374 Squadron
Captain George Lichter, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Henry G. Castle, 376 Squadron
S/Sgt. Robert L. Grubb, 374 Squadron
S/Sgt. Vincent F. Rosewell, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Charles B. Screws, 374 Squadron
S/Sgt. Robert O. Bland, 374 Squadron
Sergeant Joe Redden, 375 Squadron
Lieutenant Richard E. Chandler, 374 Squadron
Lieutenant Marion C. Kelly, 376 Squadron
Lieutenant Walter N. Hedges, 374 Squadron
1st Lieutenant William 'Bill' May, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Phillip 'Phil' Heacox, 376 Squadron
1st Lieutenant Jacob L. Rawls, 374 Squadron
The Story
The supportive relationship that developed between bomber crew and
fighter pilots of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces in the ETO is legendary. It
was a tight bond between the 'Big Friends' and their 'Little Friends,' the
latter acting in a defensive role out of a desperate need to stem rising
casualties among the bomber crews in the bleak years of 1942 and 1943.
In those dark days, bomber crews often had to face seasoned Luftwaffe
pilots when they went beyond the limited range of USA and RAF fighters
being used at that time. Crew and bomber losses rose alarmingly to
unacceptable levels.
The air doctrine that grew out of this dilemma envisioned and achieved
full escort coverage for the bomber crews, both to and from their
continental targets. Additionally, newer and more potent fighter planes
that had increased range, coupled with proven aggressive fighter tactics
learned in the early years of the air war, wrestled the enemy skies from the
Germans. This left the Luftwaffe as a shell of its former self.
Still, for the crippled stragglers in the wake of bomber streams who fell
back from the protective pack of other 'heavies,' the prospect of being
alone in the skies over Germany was nerve-wracking, to say the least.
Marauding Focke-Wulfs and Messerschmitts often targeted these
unfortunate crews as easy prey. Little Friends who responded to the radio
pleas of these cripples, often beat back the aggressors and then escorted
the bombers as they limped westward and home.
In Robert Bailey's painting STING OF THE YELLOW JACKETS, just such a
scenario had unfolded. A single Flying Fortress finds itself all alone in
enemy skies, damaged by flak during its bomb run. One engine has been
shut down, control surfaces are shredded and there are wounded airmen
aboard. Struggling to maintain altitude, the B17 is attacked by two
Me109's bent upon its destruction. Fighters from the 361st Fighter Group,
375 Fighter Squadron enter the fray, destroying one of the attackers and
driving off his wingman. The journey home will be uneventful, now that
the injured crew have their own private escort of determined Little Friends.