Description: Bud Anderson and Chuck Yeager Signed! We were saddened to learn of the passing of Bud Anderson May 17, 2024 at age 102. Limited edition aviation art print The Eyes of Eagles signed in pencil by General CHUCK YEAGER, Colonel BUD ANDERSON, Captain WILLIAM OVERSTREET, Captain WILLIAM “O’BEE” O’BRIAN and artist MICHAEL SHORT. This print was commissioned as a tribute to the men of the 363rd Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group. The scene shows the North American P-51 Mustangs of the Squadron assembling over southeast England. In 15 months of combat flying the 357th destroyed 609.5 enemy aircraft in the air and 106.5 on the ground. The group shot down more Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters (18) and created more aces (42) than any other group. The pilots signing this print accounted for 41.5 aerial combat victories. General Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager began flying with the 363rd in early 1944. He was shot down on his 9th mission but successfully evaded capture and made his way to Spain. Yeager became an “ace in a day” by downing 5 Luftwaffe fighters on October 12, 1944. He ended the war with 11.5 victories including a Messerschmitt Me262 jet fighter. He is well known as the first man to exceed the sound barrier in the Bell X-1, but also also set a record of Mach 2.44 shortly after Scott Crossfield first flew faster than Mach 2 in 1953. His decorations include 2 Distinguished Service Medals, 2 Silver Stars, 2 Legions of Merit, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, 11 Air Medals, a Purple Heart and the Peacetime Congressional Medal of Honor. Colonel C.E. “Bud” Anderson achieved 16.5 aerial combat victories in 116 combat missions over two tours of duty. Post-war he served as a fighter test pilot and Chief of Fighter Operations at Wright Patterson AFB, and as Chief of Flight Test Operations and Deputy Director of Flight Test at Edwards AFB. His decorations include 2 Legions of Merit, 5 Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, 16 Air Medals and the French Croix de Guerre. Captain William R. “O’Bee” O’Brien achieved 5.5 air victories in 300 hours of flying over 77 missions. He assumed command of the 555th Fighter Squadron, 496th FG in north England in August 1944. Captain William B. Overstreet flew extended tours with the 363rd beginning in November 1943 and achieved 8 air combat victories. In a truly remarkable incident his P-51 suffered flak damage at 25,000 feet which severed his oxygen supply. He lost consciousness for 90 minutes – but the Mustang stayed aloft until running out of fuel! He regained consciousness with the engine dead and the aircraft in a spin. He restarted the engine, and flew successfully back to England, presumably having the presence of mind to switch to a secondary fuel tank. He often flew in Anderson’s flight and often as wingman. We witnessed the print signing and thus we are the only gallery able to offer a 4 by 6 inch photograph of Yeager and Anderson signing the prints. In our view, this print represents very good value in a signed edition that carries the signatures of four P-51 Mustang aces including both Yeager and Anderson. The photos do not do this print justice. The Eyes of Eagles was produced in an edition of 1250 prints and the COA and photograph are provided. Overall print size is approximately 33 by 24.5 inches. Print condition is excellent, never framed and stored flat in acid-free materials. Please note you may receive a print with a different limited edition number than shown in the photographs. We have a wide selection of aviation art including rare Secondary Market titles listed in our eBay Store. We cannot list all our prints on auction each week so please take the time to review our eBay Store listings. Thanks for reading, we appreciate your interest. Please view more prints by Robert Taylor listed on auction and in our eBay Store. Please view prints by Anthony Saunders and Nicolas Trudgian listed on auction and in our eBay Store. Please e-mail with questions prior to purchase; we are happy to provide additional information. We have over 35 years experience in packing and shipping aviation art. View our eBay Store listings for aircrew signed prints. We feature a wide selection of aviation art at our eBay Store including rare secondary market prints. We are happy to work with you to combine shipping on multiple purchases whenever possible – please ask. Thanks for reading.
Price: 199.95 USD
Location: Sheridan, Montana
End Time: 2024-09-05T00:28:42.000Z
Shipping Cost: 0 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Type: Print
Listed By: Dealer or Reseller
Signed?: Signed
Edition Type: Limited Edition
Signed: Signed
Style: Realism
Theme: Art, Aviation
Original/Reproduction: Artwork Reproduction
Material: Offset Lithograph
Features: Signed
Subject: Military & Political
Print Type: Offset Lithograph