Lonnie Ortega Aviation Art

"TO HELL AND BACK"  

~ OPERATION TIDAL WAVE ~

by Anthony Saunders

Print Number: 246/350 ~ Limited Edition

signatories on the print are:

Captain Charles D. Cavit ~ A Co-Pilot on the Ploesti Raid of 1 August 1943, his first combat mission, his B-24 'Jersey Jackass' was shot down over Romania.

Wounded, he was captured and taken to Bucharest as a POW.

Captain Andrew W. Opsata ~ He was a Pilot and his B-24 was named 'The Stinger' on the Ploesti raid. Returning to England he completed a total of 25 missions

by the end of his tour.

Technical Sergeant Richard E. Tuttle ~ He was posted to the 44th Bomb Group, 'The Flying Eightballs' part of the 8th Air force. On 28 June 1943 the Group. under

the command of Colonel Leon Johnson (who would win the MOH at Ploesti) arrived in Libya from where he took part in the Ploesti Raid. Returning to England

he completed 19 missions before the end of his tour.

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also added to this framed piece is (5) five additional signatures of the "Ploesti Raid" for a total of 9 autographs for this piece.

MOH winner General Leon W. Johnson ~ Pilot of the B-24D "Suzy Q"; cut-signature adhered on a 3"x 5" index card autographed pencil.

Lt. Col. Ramsay D. Potts ~ Pilot of the B-24D "The Duchess" cut-signature adhered to a 3"x 5" index card autographed in pencil.

Major Royden LeBrecht ~ Pilot of the B-24D "The Squaw" cut-signature adhered to 3"x 5" index card autographed in Ink.

Captain Walter T. Stewart ~ Pilot of the B-24D "Utah Man" cut-signature adhered to a 3"x 5" index card autographed in pencil.

Sgt. Ben Kuroki ~ Dorsal Turret Gunner on a B-24D "Tupelo Lass" cut-signature adhered to a 3"x 5" index card autographed in ink.

Frame Size: 31" x 32" ~ and Comes with a COA.

80th Anniversary of "Operation Tidal Wave the Raid on Ploesti" ~ August 1, 1943-August 1, 2023