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When General Patton dispatched the relief force, he gave his men of the 3rd Army one command: “Drive like hell.” The 101st Airborne was hanging on by their fingernails at Bastogne—and every hour counted. Now, after a nearly 150 mile “race to rescue,” Patton’s boys are under attack by twenty-five FW-190s. But there’s other fighters in the neighborhood. Eight P-47s of the 362nd Fighter Group answer the call for help, charging headlong into the German assault. Within minutes, eight FW-190s will be shot down and the others sent fleeing, freeing the American advance. That evening, Sherman tanks will rumble up to the 101st’s perimeter and the siege of Bastogne will be broken.
Want to know "who" signed which print edition? Click the EDITIONS tab above.
Shipping added in checkout // print size: 31" x 19" // ships rolled in a tube
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MAIN EDITION
Only 100 limited-edition prints, each signed by four Battle of the Bulge heroes. Now issuing: P-47 pilot Ed Cottrell (48th FG), Sherman tank gunners Harry Miller (740th tank bn) and Walter Stitt (3AD, "Spearhead"), and AA half-track commander Hal Urban (11th AD, "Thunderbolt"). Includes a Certificate of Authenticity signed by artist Nicolas Trudgian.
ARTIST PROOFS
Only 100 limited-edition prints, each includes the autographs of 6 Battle of the Bulge heroes! On signature cards are P-47 pilots Edward Lopez (365th FG, "Hell Hawks”) and Jake Cooper (48th FG). Signing on the print are: P-47 pilots Wally King (306th FG, defended Bastogne) and Ed Cottrell (48th FG), along with Sherman tank gunners Harry Miller (740th tank bn) and Walter Stitt (3AD, “Spearhead”). Includes 9th AF & 3rd Army patches, wings, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by artist Nicolas Trudgian.
PUBLISHER PROOFS - SOLD OUT
100 limited-edition prints including the autographs of 10 WWII ETO veterans.
OTHER EDITIONS
A Signer Proof edition of 50 prints exists. A Valor giclee edition of 44 canvases will be released. An Artist Reserve edition of 25 prints & 30 canvases exists.
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"Road to Bastogne" is hand-signed by a collection of WWII heroes! Signers vary print by print. Please click "editions" to see which veterans signed which prints.
Jake Cooper
98 mission P-47 pilot in the 493rd FS, 48th FG. Flew in support of D-Day and later operated out of Normandy, and Belgium. Earned the DFC on Jan. 25th with his citation proclaiming: “while leading a squadron in close support of the ground forces, Lt. Cooper attacked an enemy truck and tank column with telling effect. Heedless of intense anti-aircraft fire and demonstrating superior airmanship and aggressiveness, Lt. Cooper returned alone to make numerous strafing passes until his ammunition was exhausted…”
Ed Cottrell
65 mission P-47 pilot in the 493rd FS, 48th FG. Supported armor units in Normandy, later flew from Belgium. On the second day of the Bulge, Ed’s P-47 was heavily damaged. Limping home, he was shocked to be intercepted by two 109s that inspected him, but didn’t shoot. Ed continued to fly close air support missions in 1945 with his last, taking place in May.
Wallce “Wally” King
75 mission P-51 & P-47 pilot, first in the 363rd FG, then in the 513th FS, 406th FG. Flew from France and supported the 101st Airborne during the siege of Bastogne. Wally and his FG flew 81 missions around Bastogne from Dec. 23-27. Later flew in support of Operation Varsity and was shot down in April 1945, near the Elbe River, on his 75th mission. Captured by the Germans, they later turned him over to friendly forces at the war’s end. Awarded the Purple Heart, DFC, and Air Medal.
Edward Lopez
100+ mission P-47 pilot in the 387th FS, 365th FG (“Hell Hawks”). Flew in support of Patton’s 3rd Army and the 101st Airborne during the Battle of the Bulge. Later rode in a Sherman tank as a forward air controller with the 3rd AD (“Spearhead”) during their drive on Cologne. Was wounded during a dive-bombing attack on Paderborn and was awarded the Purple Heart, in addition to the DFC, 10 Air Medals, EAME Campaign Medal with four battle stars, Belgian Croix de Guerre Fourragere, UN Service Medal, and the Korean Service Medal, earned by flying 100+ missions during the Korean War. Author of Flight of a Hell Hawk.
Harry Miller
740th Tank Battalion 105mm assault Sherman gunner. Rushed to Sprimont during the opening of the Bulge, Harry readied derelict Shermans for the coming fight. Fought Kampfgruppe Peiper near Stoumont and participated in the liberation of Le Gleize. Later battled across the Cologne plain, and in the Ruhr Pocket.
Walter Stitt
E-Company, 33rd AR, 3rd AD "Spearhead". As a Sherman gunner, Walt fought in Normandy including the battle for Saint-Lô and Operation Cobra. In the Bulge, his third Sherman was knocked out and he was evacuated to England to recover from his wounds. Once healed, he was assigned to the 95th BG as a B-17 bomb loader. Author of Surviving Three Shermans.
Hal Urban
B Battery, 575th AAA Bn., 11th AD “Thunderbolt”. Commander of an anti-aircraft half-track armed with quad .50s. Rushed into the Bulge and assigned to Patton’s 3rd Army. Fought to keep the road to Bastogne open. Wounded in action by mortar fire but returned to combat for the drive through Germany and into Austria. Personally shot down a ME-109 using his half-track’s guns. Was present at Mauthausen soon after its liberation.
