Prey for Mercy - Main Edition
Franz Stigler in front of his Me 109 at Jever airfield with Charlie Brown's B-17 overhead
Prey for Mercy © John D Shaw
Prey for Mercy © John D Shaw
Description
The aviation art print 'Prey for Mercy' by John D. Shaw shows Franz Stigler along with a service crew in front of his Me 109 at Jever airfield and the stricken B-17F Ye Olde Pub of Charles L. Brown and crew overhead in December 1943. The B-17 nearly met disaster following a bomb run over Bremen, Germany. Wrestling the Pub out of its death-dive, Brown had no way of knowing he'd leveled out above a fighter base at which ace Franz Stigler's Bf-109 had just been refueled & armed. As the American bomber limped overhead, Stigler and crew watched in amazement & excitement as this easy prey would be not only the 2nd B-17 he could claim that day, and add another 'kill' to avenge his beloved brother he'd lost at the start of the war, but also would earn him the coveted Knight's Cross. But things turned out differently...
Upon Pursuing & catching the Americans, Stigler saw the pain & fear on the faces of the helpless B-17 crew. Conscience and a sense of honor overrode his military duty, and at the risk of his own execution, he escorted the wounded plane to the coast and on to safe passage, saluting Brown and his astonished crew. Half a century later the two pilots would meet, and the former enemies would develop a friendship so close that Stigler would come to consider Brown to be like the brother he'd lost.
Now, three quarters of a century later, aviation artist John D. Shaw has created another visual snapshot of this remarkable event in history...
Limited Edition
- 1000 Main Edition, signed and numbered by the Artist. Includes informative color Certificate of Authenticity containing photos and interesting historical info on the scene depicted & the painting itself.
- 100 Artist's Proof, signed and numbered by the Artist, plus ORIGINAL FRANZ STIGLER AUTOGRAPH from yr 2000 autograph session. (sold out)
- 50 Publisher's Proof, signed and numbered by the Artist, plus ORIGINAL FRANZ STIGLER AUTOGRAPH from yr 2000 autograph session. Plus beautiful 20" wide duotone companion print "LONG FIRST MISSION- Ye Olde Pub Returns Home" - Black and sepia concept illustration by artist depicting Charlie Brown's battered B-17 after it has miraculously made it back to England. (sold out)
- 40 Special Edition Digital Archival Package, includes All Items as Publisher Proof Edition, plus digitally-printed as Satin-finish archival paper giclée with PRINTED REMARQUE by artist in border of Stigler's "White 2" escorting Ye Olde Pub to safety. (sold out)
- 20 Canvas Giclée Prints, Dimensions: 59,5 cm x 101,5 cm. With a Certificate of Authenticity Custom hand-accented by artist and revarnished.
Image Height ca.
42
cm
Overall Height ca.
57
cm
Overall Width ca.
84
cm
Image Width ca.
71
cm
