Ploesti - The Vital Mission by Robert Taylor - Publishers Proof Edition 21/50
Ploesti - The Vital Mission by Robert Taylor - Publishers Proof Edition 21/50
"Ploesti - The Vital Mission" Publishers Proof issued with the very rare companion print "One of the Lucky Ones" A third of the German oil supplies came from Ploesti deep in Rumania and beyond Allied bomber range from Europe. Only one option to attack was available, a 2,000 mile round trip from North Africa without fighter cover.
Bulgarian fighters picked up the incoming raid and warned the Ploesti defense, the incoming B-24 Liberators were met with intense 88mm ground fire as the oil installations erupt in fire from the heavy bombing. The surviving B-24's had to endure a running battle often at treetop with 400 enemy fighters. 1760 men set out on the raid and 530 failed to return.
The Ploesti print is signed by five pilots who took part in the raid, Ramsey Potts, Bob Sternfels, Keith Compton, Phillip Ardrey and Bill Cameron.
The companion print "One of the Lucky Ones" is one of only 50 that were issued exclusively with the Publishers Proof edition. The pencil print portrays one of the lucky ones, only 35 B-24's suffered no damage out of 178 who took part in the raid. This print is signed by a further two participants in the raid.