Call us at 1-800-595-8272 (U.S. & Canada) 1-573-335-6727
| 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. |
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
| All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be reproduced without their consent. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Contact us for pricing and to order this print. 1-800-595-8272 or dnees@ozarkairfieldartworks.com |
See our great selection of
artists like Sam Lyons,
John D Shaw, Robert
Bailey, & Domenic DeNardo!
artists like Sam Lyons,
John D Shaw, Robert
Bailey, & Domenic DeNardo!
Thousands of Civil and
Military Aviation Art
prints.
Military Aviation Art
prints.
Click here to see one the most
popular aviation artist in the
country, Sam Lyons. We offer
one of the largest selections of
Sam Lyons aviation art.
popular aviation artist in the
country, Sam Lyons. We offer
one of the largest selections of
Sam Lyons aviation art.
Click Here to see some of the
world's best World War II Aviation
Art! John Shaw pays tribute to
the men who fought for the
American Freedom during World
War II.
world's best World War II Aviation
Art! John Shaw pays tribute to
the men who fought for the
American Freedom during World
War II.
| Click On The Image To Enlarge |
"You Have Your Orders" by James Dietz
| Image Size: 25" x 15" Overall Size: 31" x 21.5" |
At approximately 2105 hours on 7 November 1942, the first of 39 C-47s took to the air
carrying 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry into the history books by being the
first U.S. Army Airborne Battalion to jump into combat. Before the first paratrooper
exited the door, the Battalion would fly more than 1600 miles from England to North
Africa, completing the longest airborne invasion ever attempted.
The capture of two Algerian airfields, La Senia and Tafaroui, during OPERATION
TORCH, the Allied invasion of North Africa, was a critical supporting role for the beach
landings. Significantly, both airfields were beyond the operational reach of the initial
beach forces. The capture of the two airfields was critical to the Center Task Force’s
invasion plan that was aimed at the port town of Oran. If the airfields were left un-
checked, enemy aircraft would have had the freedom to attrit the exposed invasion
forces.
Eisenhower’s Allied Force Headquarters had two plans for the invasion due to their
lack of knowledge on the extent of the French resistance in North Africa. The War Plan
would be enacted if the French decided to fight and the Peace Plan would be initiated
if the French accepted the Allies as comrades in arms. LTC Edson D. Raff, the 509th
Battalion Commander, also proposed two plans based on the French resistance. If the
Peace Plan was in effect, he would air land his Battalion at the airfield at La Senia. If the
War Plan was in effect, he would conduct a mass tactical parachute jump between La
Senia and Tafaraoui airfields followed by a simultaneous seizure of each. One
company was assigned the mission to attack La Senia and the remainder of the
Battalion would attack Tafaraoui.
The day prior to the Battalion’s departure, LTC Raff spoke to the Battalion in mass for
the last time. Unsure if they would be greeted with cheers or bullets, he told his
Battalion, “We’re going to have a difficult job because some people down there will
want to fight us and some won’t. If they welcome us, and some authorities say they
will, we won’t fire a round. If they don’t, you have your orders!”
From an England airfield, on 7 November 1942 at 1700 hours, LTC Raff received the
message that the Peace Plan was in effect. As in all combat situations, the plan
changed dramatically while in flight to Algeria. After flying in darkness through stormy
weather over Spain, with a strong easterly wind, the formation of aircraft became
scattered during the eight hour flight. As the sun creased the horizon over North
Africa, the 39 C-47s arrived dispersed, miss-orientated and critically low on fuel.
Several planes tried to land at the La Senia airfield as planned, but small arms and ack-
ack fire prevented them from landing. At this point, it became obvious that the War
Plan was now in effect. As a result of a lack of fuel, several C-47s were forced to land in
Sebkra Doran, a dry lake bed. Once on the ground, the planes and paratroopers
received small arms fire from the high ground to their north.
LTC Raff, along with five other C-47s, flew over and observed the consolidation of
multiple C-47s parked on the desert floor and paratroopers digging hasty fighting
positions among the planes. LTC Raff received a radio message from COL Bentley, the
overall Task Force Commander, stating that forces on the ground were under attack
by a force of an undetermined size and that an armored force was moving toward their
position. Based on low fuel in his C-47, drastic changes on the battlefield causing
activation of the War Plan and the approaching armored force, LTC Raff made the
decision to jump in order to assist his exposed paratroopers on the desert floor.
LTC Raff informed his pilots to locate a drop zone along the high ground over looking
the armored advance and where the unit was receiving ground fire. He directed his
pilots to radio the remaining five C-47s in order to notify the Jumpmasters to prepare
their paratroopers to follow his lead as he exited the aircraft.
At approximately 0815 hours on 8 November 1942, LTC Raff, yelled over his shoulder,
“Stand In The Door!” to his fellow paratroopers. The jumpers in the rear of the plane
moved up until all were lock step behind their commander. As the bell rang, he led the
509th Parachute Infantry into history and validated the new tactical maneuver that we
still use today, the vertical envelopment. The 509th would complete their mission and
move to the Tafaraoui airfield where they linked up with armored forces moving in
from the beach. The 509th would make an additional four combat jumps during World
War II, which was more combat jumps than any unit in the Army. Their adaptability and
tenacity lives on today in all airborne units throughout the United States Army.
carrying 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry into the history books by being the
first U.S. Army Airborne Battalion to jump into combat. Before the first paratrooper
exited the door, the Battalion would fly more than 1600 miles from England to North
Africa, completing the longest airborne invasion ever attempted.
The capture of two Algerian airfields, La Senia and Tafaroui, during OPERATION
TORCH, the Allied invasion of North Africa, was a critical supporting role for the beach
landings. Significantly, both airfields were beyond the operational reach of the initial
beach forces. The capture of the two airfields was critical to the Center Task Force’s
invasion plan that was aimed at the port town of Oran. If the airfields were left un-
checked, enemy aircraft would have had the freedom to attrit the exposed invasion
forces.
Eisenhower’s Allied Force Headquarters had two plans for the invasion due to their
lack of knowledge on the extent of the French resistance in North Africa. The War Plan
would be enacted if the French decided to fight and the Peace Plan would be initiated
if the French accepted the Allies as comrades in arms. LTC Edson D. Raff, the 509th
Battalion Commander, also proposed two plans based on the French resistance. If the
Peace Plan was in effect, he would air land his Battalion at the airfield at La Senia. If the
War Plan was in effect, he would conduct a mass tactical parachute jump between La
Senia and Tafaraoui airfields followed by a simultaneous seizure of each. One
company was assigned the mission to attack La Senia and the remainder of the
Battalion would attack Tafaraoui.
The day prior to the Battalion’s departure, LTC Raff spoke to the Battalion in mass for
the last time. Unsure if they would be greeted with cheers or bullets, he told his
Battalion, “We’re going to have a difficult job because some people down there will
want to fight us and some won’t. If they welcome us, and some authorities say they
will, we won’t fire a round. If they don’t, you have your orders!”
From an England airfield, on 7 November 1942 at 1700 hours, LTC Raff received the
message that the Peace Plan was in effect. As in all combat situations, the plan
changed dramatically while in flight to Algeria. After flying in darkness through stormy
weather over Spain, with a strong easterly wind, the formation of aircraft became
scattered during the eight hour flight. As the sun creased the horizon over North
Africa, the 39 C-47s arrived dispersed, miss-orientated and critically low on fuel.
Several planes tried to land at the La Senia airfield as planned, but small arms and ack-
ack fire prevented them from landing. At this point, it became obvious that the War
Plan was now in effect. As a result of a lack of fuel, several C-47s were forced to land in
Sebkra Doran, a dry lake bed. Once on the ground, the planes and paratroopers
received small arms fire from the high ground to their north.
LTC Raff, along with five other C-47s, flew over and observed the consolidation of
multiple C-47s parked on the desert floor and paratroopers digging hasty fighting
positions among the planes. LTC Raff received a radio message from COL Bentley, the
overall Task Force Commander, stating that forces on the ground were under attack
by a force of an undetermined size and that an armored force was moving toward their
position. Based on low fuel in his C-47, drastic changes on the battlefield causing
activation of the War Plan and the approaching armored force, LTC Raff made the
decision to jump in order to assist his exposed paratroopers on the desert floor.
LTC Raff informed his pilots to locate a drop zone along the high ground over looking
the armored advance and where the unit was receiving ground fire. He directed his
pilots to radio the remaining five C-47s in order to notify the Jumpmasters to prepare
their paratroopers to follow his lead as he exited the aircraft.
At approximately 0815 hours on 8 November 1942, LTC Raff, yelled over his shoulder,
“Stand In The Door!” to his fellow paratroopers. The jumpers in the rear of the plane
moved up until all were lock step behind their commander. As the bell rang, he led the
509th Parachute Infantry into history and validated the new tactical maneuver that we
still use today, the vertical envelopment. The 509th would complete their mission and
move to the Tafaraoui airfield where they linked up with armored forces moving in
from the beach. The 509th would make an additional four combat jumps during World
War II, which was more combat jumps than any unit in the Army. Their adaptability and
tenacity lives on today in all airborne units throughout the United States Army.