Brooks Aviation Art

	D-Day Armada Aces edition
	by Nicolas Trudgian

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D-Day Plus One, yet another aerial armada heads inland over the heavy fighting on the beaches below. Bearing their high profile invasion stripes, P-51 Mustangs of the 354th Fighter Group are seen escorting B-26 Marauders of the 397th Bomb Group as they cross the battle lines, the Marauders' mission to hit enemy targets ahead of advancing Allied ground forces. Below, endless flotillas of troop ships and landing craft swarm onto the beaches as day two of the invasion draws towards it close. Signed by three P-51 Aces who flew combat missions on D-Day. Clayton Gross - Maurice Long - Donald Strait.

23½" x 35¼"

Edition size: 350

$250

Low inventory

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The signatories

		Captain Clayton Gross Clayton Gross was one of 12 original pilots to fly with the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group. He first saw combat in 1943, and took part in the great D-Day air operations on 6 June 1944. He flew over 100 combat missions in two combat tours on P51s, was credited with six confirmed kills (including an Me262 jet),14 damaged, multiple ground vehicles destroyed, including eight locomotives. Surviving a bail-out behind enemy lines, he flew continuously in the ETO until VE Day.

		Colonel Maurice Long Maurice Long arrived in England in 1943, assigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, 354th Fighter Group. Flying the P51B Mustang he served as a Flight Commander, Operations Officer and Squadron Commander, achieving 8 ½ Victories. In the ETO he took part in the vital D-Day missions over Normandy, later moving with the Squadron to French soil. In a long career he took part in 140 combat missions flying P51s in the ETO, and later F84s in Korea.

		Major General Donald Strait Don Strait received his pilots wings in January 1943. In August of that year he transferred with the 356th Fighter Group to Martlesham Heath in England flying first the P47. He took part in long-range bomber escort and ground support missions, taking part in all the D-Day operations before converting to P51s. In two combat tours he flew a total of 122 missions, commanded the 361st Fighter Squadron, and became the Group’s leading fighter Ace with 13 ½ air victories, all but three of these flying the P51. He later commanded the 108th Tactical Wing in Korea, where he flew the F86, F84 and F105 jet.