B-17 Flying Fortress (Ridgewell) Giclée Art Print

Original art print of a Boeing B-17F 'Flying Fortress' bomber of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) during World War 2. More than 12,000 B-17s were built of the Flying Fortress, which dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during the war, flying primarily daylight missions with the USAAF, but also with other Allied forces. 

The B-17 in this illustration is 42-29923 'The Lucky Strike,' a B-17F of the 532nd Bomb Squadron, part of the 381st Bomb Group, flying from RAF Ridgewell in Essex. On Tuesday 11 January 1944, The Lucky Strike took part in a bombing raid on German aircraft factories at Oschersleben, 100 miles west of Berlin, during which they shot down four enemy fighters and successfully bombed a Focke-Wulf assembly plant. The Lucky Strike suffered multiple damages, including the number 1 engine catching fire, but returned safely.

RAF Ridgewell was one of a number of bomber airbases built in East Anglia during the Second World War. Located in the north of Essex, near Halstead, Ridgewell was the only bomber airfield in Essex to see long-term use by the USAAF, who designated it Station 167, with the station code RD. Following the end of the war, Ridgewell was used for munitions storage until 1957, when it was closed and the land sold. A small museum is now on the site.

This illustration by Rob Wisdom is a high quality Giclée art print on cotton-rich fine art paper.

12x16" art print shown. Cropping and title position (if applicable) may differ slightly on 'A' size art prints.