SAFE PASSAGE HOME
A Salute to the Tuskegee Airmen of WW II
Overall size: 35”x 24” • Image size: 28.75”x 16.25”
Known as the “Red Tails,” the famed ‘Tuskegee Airmen’ were the first all-black fighter units to fly combat in World War II. They were especially known for their unequaled record of safely protecting their bombers on escort missions, often being specifically requested for this duty by the bomber crews themselves, providing a safe passage home. This scene depicts Mustangs of the 302nd FS escorting B-24s of the 459th Bomb Group back to their base in Italy after a daylight bombing mission during the summer of 1944, with Lt Charles McGee flying his P-51C “Kitten” in the foreground. The main B-24 shown (“Cherokee Maiden”) was part of the 756th Squadron, and brought several crews safely home over the course of many missions, ultimately ending its wartime career in April, 1945.
During the course of creating the painting, it was a privilege for the artist to consult with Col. McGee of the Tuskegee Airmen and with two of Cherokee Maiden’s gunners, who vividly recalled combat missions in which they shared the skies with the Red Tails during those tumultuous days in the skies over Europe.The painting ‘Safe Passage Home’ was completed in 2019
About this print:
In our first collaboration with long-time military art publisher Aces High California, we’re excited to offer a beautiful lithograph and canvas giclée edition!
This scene is available either as a standard offset printed lithograph, or for the first time, a unique Artist's ‘Custom Color Plate’ edition, which is an archival paper giclee print, custom hand-trimmed, and mounted to a veteran-autographed print with beautiful brass title plaque. Please see further details below.
• Main Edition Print $295 SOLD OUT
(Please check with Aces High California-they may still have a few of these ME left)
Published in association with Aces High California, this limited-edition lithograph has been personally signed by the artist and these two great 15th Air Force veterans who shared the skies over war-torn Europe: Colonel (now Brig. General) Charles McGee of the Tuskegee Airmen and 39-combat mission veteran Staff Sgt. Corliss Norton, of the 459th Bomb Group who served as gunner aboard the B-24 ‘Cherokee Maiden’.
Includes Certificate of Authenticity & Signers Biography sheet
Personally Signed by Brig. General Charles McGee,Tuskegee Airmen & Sgt. Corliss Norton, B-24 ‘Cherokee Maiden’ gunner
• Custom ‘Color Plate’ Edition $450
About this unique Artist's ‘Custom Color Plate’ Edition
In the early days of publishing, color printing was an extremely specialized craft… Books and other printed documents which included color illustrations in the era were somewhat rare, and the color portions had to be printed separately, using a totally different process, on different materials, formats, etc…These special ‘color plates’, or ‘tipped-in’ plates, were then glued in to their respective pages. Often, the author, artist, or other contributor, would pre-sign the blank page on which the color plate would later be mounted.
In the spirit of this old tradition, this special edition of SAFE PASSAGE HOME has followed suit, only using the finest of contemporary materials! First, a blank print sheet made of acid-free 120 Lb stock was signed by the artist & the three distinguished veterans listed below. Next using a completely different digital process, a beautiful paper Giclée was printed, using archival inks, achieving a rich depth of color simply not possible with standard 4-color, offset litho-printing. Instead of printing, the scenes title on the base print, a special brass title plaque, was created to be centered beneath the image. Finally, the giclée print and title plaque are mounted to the autographed base print, for a truly striking look to this unique presentation.
This ‘custom color’ plate edition comes carefully packaged flat, in a special reinforced mailing container!
This Archival Paper Giclée 3-signature print package includes: Certificate /Signers Profile booklet • Uncirculated 2021 Commemorative Tuskegee Airmen Quarter Dollar • 15th Air Force Patch
Personally Signed by Brig. General Charles McGee, & ‘Cherokee Maiden’ gunners Staff Sgts Lawrence Daryl Clawson (51 missions) & Corliss Norton (39 missions)
Canvas Giclée Edition -The next best thing to owning the original painting!
These beautiful Canvas Giclées are individually printed, and are hand-varnished, signed & numbered by the artist. Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery, as these custom items require special ordering. Canvases are shipped rolled & ready for stretching.
22” x 40” Canvas Giclee $925
26”x 48” Canvas Giclee $1095
30”x 58” Canvas Giclee $1295
Custom sizes are also available! Please contact us for pricing on custom sizes not listed above. Please feel free to call with questions 407-718-8187
We were honored to have these special prints signed by one of the TA’s most famous pilots, Charles McGee, who flew multiple combat missions in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Col. McGee signed these prints just weeks before his 100th birthday in 2019.
This print was also signed by Sgt. Corliss Norton, one of the great 15th Air Force veterans who served as waist gunner aboard the B-24 ‘Cherokee Maiden’, which flew numerous missions out of Italy and was escorted safely home by the Tuskegee Airmen on multiple occasions. Mr. Norton was thrilled to see his aircraft depicted in this scene, and we were thrilled and honored to have his participation in signing prints of SAFE PASSAGE HOME.
SAFE PASSAGE HOME -CUSTOM ‘COLOR PLATE’ EDITION
In the early days of publishing, color printing was an extremely specialized craft… Books and other printed documents which included color illustrations in the era were somewhat rare, and the color portions had to be printed separately, using a totally different process, on different materials, formats, etc…These special ‘color plates’, or ‘tipped-in’ plates, were then glued in to their respective pages. Often, the author, artist, or other contributor, would pre-sign the blank page on which the color plate would later be mounted.
In the spirit of this old tradition, this special edition of SAFE PASSAGE HOME has followed suit, only using the finest of contemporary materials! First, a blank print sheet made of acid-free 120 Lb stock was signed by the artist & the three distinguished veterans listed below. Next using a completely different digital process, a beautiful paper Giclée was printed, using archival inks, achieving a rich depth of color simply not possible with standard 4-color, offset litho-printing. Instead of printing, the scenes title on the base print, a special brass title plaque, was created to be centered beneath the image. Finally, the giclée print and title plaque are mounted to the autographed base print, for a truly striking look to this unique presentation.
This ‘custom color’ plate edition comes carefully packaged flat, in a special reinforced mailing container.
This is a SAMPLE framing idea shown with all the EXTRAS that come with this edition…FRAME NOT INCLUDED