The Memphis Belle wasn’t the first heavy bomber in the Eighth Air Force to complete 25 missions; that honour fell to Hot Stuff, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator with the 93rd Bomb Group who completed her 25th mission on 7 February 1943. And the Memphis Belle wasn’t the first B-17 Flying Fortress either; Hell’s Angels, a B-17F flying out of Molesworth with the 303rd Bomb Group, claimed that distinction on 13 May. But the Memphis Belle was by far the most famous - thanks to the influence and glamour of a well-oiled public relations machine.
Captain Robert K. Morgan was ordered to bring the Belle and her crew home to America for a high-profile, morale-boosting, War-Bond selling tour. The following year, the crew of the Memphis Belle would feature in a movie directed and produced by the acclaimed Hollywood film director, William Wyler.
It is therefore no surprise that Robert has chosen the Memphis Belle to represent all the young bomber crews who flew with the Eighth Air Force during WWII in his detailed drawing ‘The Rising Mist’. Skilfully crafted in his unmistakable style Robert depicts the Memphis Belle at Bassingbourn, her home base, whilst the crew await the signal to start engines - once the sun has burnt off an early morning mist.


Each print has been hand signed and personally titled by the artist and is issued mounted to full conservation standards to include the original autographs of some of the most famous names to serve on B-17s during WWII, such as the Pilot and Captain of the Belle, Bob Morgan. Completing each portfolio is a matching-numbered copy of the book ‘The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - In Air Combat Paintings by Robert Taylor’ produced exclusively for the release and beautifully illustrated from the archives of the Military Gallery using a selection of memorable Robert Taylor pieces featuring this legendary aircraft.