Description: Return of the Belle (Secondary Market UnFramed Copy)by Robert Taylor On Wednesday 19 May 1943 one particular B-17 and its crew entered the history books when, skippered by Bob Morgan, the Memphis Belle was the first B-17 in the 91st Bomb Group to complete their prescribed tour of 25 combat missions. Since 7 November the previous year, the Belle and her crew had flown 150 hours of combat and shot down eight enemy fighters, and possibly five more. Once she returned riddled with machine-gun bullets; another time with most of her tail shot away; but she and her crew – who had been decorated 51 times - always came back for more. When Bob Morgan and his crew returned to the United States, the story of the Memphis Belle became a national legend and the stuff of Hollywood movies. It was a story that encapsulated the deeds of thousands of airmen who flew with the Eighth Air Force in Europe to defend the world from the tyrannies of the Nazis. Published in 1991, this impressive work shows the Memphis Belle returning to her base at Binbrook in Lincolnshire, and was the first release in Robert Taylor’s great ‘Masterwork Series’, which heralded the ‘Golden Age of Aviation Art Publishing’. Signed by the eight surviving crew - all of whom have sadly now passed away - the signatures, of course, included Colonel Bob Morgan whose leadership had welded his men into one of the best fighting units in the Mighty Eighth; his co-pilot Jim Verinis, Navigator Charles Leighton, Flight Engineer and top gunner Harold Loch and the Radio Operator Bob Hanson. Not forgetting the waist gunners Bill Winchell and Casmir Nastal, and the ‘Sting in the Tail’, Johnny Quinlan. Long sold out, there can be few more collectible items than Return of the Belle, which is probably why so few good copies appear on the secondary market. Please enquire for further details on current availability. Colonel ROBERT MORGANCaptain JAMES A. VERINISCaptain CHARLES LEIGHTONLieutenant ROBERT HANSONSergeant HAROLD LOCHLieutenant C.E. 'BILL' WINCHELLSergeant CASMIR NASTALSergeant JOHNNY QUINLAN This secondary market print is in excellent condition and has never been framed. It comes with the COA. See pictures for conditions, and feel free to ask for additional pictures if needed. It will be shipped rolled in a tube with insurance.
Price: 1750 USD
Location: Palm City, Florida
End Time: 2024-08-11T19:51:54.000Z
Shipping Cost: 75 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Unit of Sale: Single Piece
Artist: Robert Taylor
Signed By: Robert Morgan
Image Orientation: Landscape
Signed: Yes
Size: Large
Custom Bundle: No
Title: Return of the Belle
Certificate of Authenticity (COA): Yes
Item Length: 26 in
Framing: Unframed
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Subject: Aircraft, Military, World War II (1939-1945), Aviation
Personalize: No
Type: Print
Year of Production: 1991
Item Height: 36 in
Theme: Aviation, Legendary Airmen
Features: Limited Edition, Serial Numbered, Autographed
Handmade: No
Time Period Produced: 1990-1999