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Cranston Fine Arts Aviation Art World War Two Veteran Signatures United States Surname A Altman, Robert |
[UP] - Adams, Milton - Adrianse, Lyle - Aines, Howard - Alcorn, Lavern - Allen, Bill - Allen, Luke - Altman, Robert - Ames, Roger - Ananian, Stephen - Anderson, Bill - Anderson, C - Ardery, Philip - Arreola, Albert - Arthur, Robert - Ash, William - Asmussen, John - Atwood, Lee |
Staff Sergeant Robert E Altman
Robert Altman had joined up in October 1939, serving with the 42nd Bomb Squadron in Hawaii. December 41 found him at Clark Field in the Philippines with the 14th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group. He was radio operator and belly gunner on Kellys B- 17. Robert was captured by the Japanese after bailing out, and taken as POW for the remainder of the war. He spent 36 months of that captivity in Tokyo, Japan.
| Staff Sergeant Robert E Altman - Signed Aviation Art |
| Text for the above items : |
They Fought With What They Had by John D Shaw. Philippine Islands, late November 1941. As the United States prepared for inevitable conflict, members of the US Army Air Corps found themselves stationed in locations throughout this area, in terrifyingly close proximity to a certain enemy far more numberous and well equipped than themselves. To the average citizen, faraway places with exotic names such as Mindinao, Java, Bataan and Corregidor held little meaning. As these young Americans would daily prepare their shiny new B-17 bombers and P-40 fighters for practice missions, none knew the exact day or hour their light heated cameraderie would be interrupted by the sound of approaching Japanese combat aircraft, and how savagely devastating the first surprise attacks would be. On December 8th, shortly after receiving the news of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the skies over American bases throughout the Philippines were darkened as well. In the following few months, these once obscure sounding places would become world famous for both the infamy wrought, and for the gallant heroism shown by the American forces isolated there. Some would gain tragic fame throughout the world, such as Colin Kelly, Harl Pease, and many of their countrymen who would make the ultimate sacrifice during combat, on the infamous Bataan Death March, or from the inhuman treatment inflicted on them by their captors. |
Legend of Colin Kelly by Robert Taylor. December 10th 1941, Just three days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, captain Colin Kellys 19th BG B-17C is heavily outnumbered by Zeros as it returns to Clark Field after completing a successful bombing attack. With his aircraft on fire. Kelly remained at the controls whilst his crew bailed out. Seconds later the B-17 exploded. Colin Kelly gave his life and was posthumously awarded the DFC. A legend was born. |
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This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts. Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269. Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com
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