Warbird Aviation Art is proud to offer this most unique limited edition of just 25 pieces of aircraft aluminum each signed by retired Air Force Brigadier General Paul Tibbets and featuring ‘the RED GREMLIN’ nose-art of his B-17E hand-painted by artist Ron Kaplan. Gen. Tibbets’ personally approved the accuracy of Kaplan’s replication. Each piece comes individually numbered, ready to hang in a shadow box made of Peruvian Walnut measuring 16 x 15. It also includes a reprinting of the photos taken by Gen. Tibbets at his 1997 signing. The #3 print of the 25 in this edition is now available for immediate delivery. Commissions will be accepted.
When people Think of Paul Tibbets, it’s typically in the context of his leading the B-29 “ENOLA GAY” on its historic mission to drop the first of two atomic bombs that ended WWII. Most, however, may not realize Tibbets’ historic early WW II role in the birth of 8th Air Force operations in England when he led a mass daylight heavy-bombing raid by the U.S. on August 17, 1942. Then Major Tibbets, of the 340th Air Force, was at the helm.Th Bomb Squadron 92nd Bomb Group Heavy, flew in the lead during a formation of 12 B-17Es leaving Polebrook, England for an attack on railroad marshalling bays at Rouen, France. Though not piloting ‘The RED GREMLIN’ with his crew on that mission, the first raid of more than 100 American bombers (on targets in Lille, France) was led by “The RED GREMLIN” on October 9, 1942.
“The RED GREMLIN,” Tibbets, and his crew were later hand-picked for several uniquely dangerous and sometimes secret missions, such as flying General Dwight D. Eisenhower to Gibraltar to direct the Allied invasion of North Africa, and then leading the initial bombing raids by B-17’s there. Serving with him on ‘the RED GREMLIN’ were navigator Theodore “Dutch” Van Kirk and bombardier Thomas Ferebee, both of whom would later play key roles on the crew of the ‘ENOLA GAY.’
‘The RED GREMLIN,’ arguably one of the most significant B-17 bombers of the Mighty 8th Air Force and the air war in Europe, always held a warm place in Gen. Tibbets’ heart and he loved participating in the creation of this edition. Warbird Aviation Art offers this heirloom piece and over one hundred other hand-painted aluminum editions (including the ‘ENOLA GAY’) that are each autographed by some of the most storied and decorated pilots of aerial combat. For more information, visit Warbird Aviation Art. Or call Ron Kaplan at (937)212-8847.
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