Ramitelli Rumble Tuskegee Airmen print 332nd WWII Red Tails Movie Italy 1945

  

Image Size: 27" x 14 1/2" Paper Size: 34" x 22 1/2". Comes with the original Certificate of Authenticity.

Life for African-American pilots of the Fighter Squadrons of the 332nd Fighter Group, at the former farm field in Ramitelli, Italy in 1945, was about disciplined routine. Like other Fighter Groups in the 15th Air Force based nearby, it would start as it ended with the ground crews.

With a mission planned and communicated they worked feverishly, many times without enough sleep, coaxing and prodding "their planes" to be ready in the morning to loan out to the pilots. As the sun began to rise the air crews awakened and began preparation for the next mission. For some sleep did not come easily and did little to refresh their tired minds, a byproduct of aerial combat flown high above the hostile skies of Nazi Germany and Austria, locked in the deadly business of defending bomber streams they were tasked to escort against a resilient foe.

The tension would build early as the air crews prepared for the coming mission. After a quick but subdued meal at the mess hall it was off to the briefing where the target for the day was announced and escort assignments given. There were made aware of what defenses they could expect, the flak corridors they would encounter, and the anticipated reception from the Luftwaffe in the target area, as all the while they defended the bombers against a persistent enemy bent on bringing down the four-engine "big friends".

With the briefing concluded it was a short hop to the parachute shack to collect the necessities including escape kits before they were driven out to their dispersal areas. There they would confer with their crew chiefs, while being strapped in, about any issues the aircraft had since the last mission. The tension was now palpable as the pilots waited like coiled springs for the signal to start engines. At the predetermined time, magneto switches were turned on, engine generators whined, and dozens of Merlin engines roared to life. The popping of hot gases exiting exhaust ports rose in harmony building to a low rumble, as chock blocks were pulled by ground crew attempting to stand against the prop wash.

The high-powered planes assembled each in order of take off at the end of the respective runway. With a shot from a Berry Pistol arching overhead signaling the departure time, Flight Leaders and wing-men pushed their engine throttles foreword and the Rumble at Ramitelli would build. From a soft growl it would grow into a loud crescendo rising in unison with the other engines announcing that another Tuskegee Mission was about to commence. Ramitelli Air Field on the Adriatic coast of Italy was the setting for the 1995 movie The Tuskegee Airmen.

The t elevision movie was based on the exploits of an actual groundbreaking unit, the first African-American combat pilots in the United States Air Corps, that fought in World War II. The 332nd is deployed to Ramitelli, Italy to provide escort for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, which were experiencing heavy losses.

The film was directed by Robert Markowitz and stars Lawrence Fishburne, Cub Gooding, Jr. Allen Payne, Mekhi Phifer, John Lithgow, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Christopher McDonald, Courtney Vance, and others. From the Bailey web site. World renown artist, Robert Bailey, trained at Longton College of Art in England during the 60's.

There followed various careers in photography, journalism and television. The latter was shooting television commercials on film and hosting a children's television show. He then entered the field of aviation art, and became known worldwide in the genre for creating oil paintings of military action and having the veterans sign lithographs made from them.

Movie producer George Lucas came across Robert's aviation art website and asked him to work on Star Wars. After meeting with George at Skywalker Ranch, Robert's career took on a new twist. Star Wars and other movies. Robert has gone on to create similar work for sale at comic conventions. Robert's favorite Star Wars characters are C3PO and Yoda, although he recreates the full spectrum of Star Wars characters in pencil.

He is now retired from oil painting but finds that pencil is more fluid and scenes can be created far faster this way. Besides being a Lucasfilm endorsed Star Wars Artist, Robert is licensed for Marvel characters, after having been approached by the Marvel licensor. Characters are mostly The Avengers and Spider Man.

Stan Lee, creator of Spider Man, says that Robert is his favorite artist. Besides all these movies and characters, Robert is also creating panels for Breaking Bad, Frozen, Harry Potter, Princess Bride, Games of Thrones, Despicable Me, Tinker Bell and Indiana Jones. Celebrities who have collected Robert's work include George Lucas, Linda Hamilton, Carrie Fisher, Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Elwes, David Prowse, Ian McDiarmid and Anthony Daniels.