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Cranston Fine Arts Military Art and Artists World War Two Veteran Signatures

Typhoon's End by David Pentland. (B) One edition. The edition features 3 additional signature(s). £400.00

The Bridge at Arnhem by Alan Fearnley. One edition. The edition features an additional signature. £115.00

Iwo Jima - A Hard Won Haven by John D Shaw. One of 3 editions available. One of 2 editions featuring up to 14 additional signatures is available. £260.00

Text for the above items :

Typhoon's End by David Pentland. (B) Volokolamsk, Moscow, December 1941. Panzer III's and Panzergrenadiers of the 11th Panzer Division press on towards Moscow in the final stages of Operation Typhoon. Ultimately doomed to failure by the freezing weather and tenacious Soviet defence, this proved to be the high water mark of the Axis advance on the Soviet capital.

The Bridge at Arnhem by Alan Fearnley. 2 Para commanded by Colonel Frost repel the German armoured reconnaissance troops led by SS Captain Viktor Graebner of the 9th SS Panzer Division as they attempt to retake the bridge at Arnhem.

Iwo Jima - A Hard Won Haven by John D Shaw. Only 660 miles from Tokyo, the small volcanic island of Iwo Jima was recognized as early as 1943 as being a vital location to secure an airbase for allied aircraft, in order to achieve victory in the Pacific. Forseeing this goal, the Japanese began extensive fortifications early, preparing for the eventual onslaught. Within Iwo Jimas myriad tunnels, both underground and within the extinct volcano known as mt Suribachi, enemy forces were able to remain virtually unscathed during the 72 day heavy bombardment in late 1944, which preceded the American landings. In mid Ferbuary 1945, the invasion landing forces arrived, and so began one of the bloodiest and most bitter battles of World War II. Over the course of the next 36 days, the United States Marine Corps would experience many of its most horrific hours, but certainly their finest as well. Marine photographer Joe Rosenthals shot of Old Glory being hoisted aloft atop Suribachi came to be recognized as possibly the most famous photo in history. During the first week of March, the first B-29 to make an emergency landing at Iwo touched down. With its nose art bearing the name Dinah Might, this Superfortress and its crew were hastily repaired, aided and again took to the air within half an hour. Many others soon would follow. Shown here, a B-29 of 34th Bomb Group limps in to Iwos runway number one as emergency crews prepare for more incoming planes, some of which would inevitably have to ditch in the water offshore to avoid an explosive pileup. It is estimated that nearly 25,000 airmen lives would ultimately be spared as a result of being able to make emergency landings there. Nearly 7000 Marines died taking Iwo, with many thousands awarded, the largest number during any single campaign. Of the 23000 Japanese troops defending Iwo, only 1083 were taken prisoner. By the beginning of April, Iwo Jima was secure enough to base P-51 Mustangs to escort the B-29s to Japan, as allies prepared for the frightful prospect of a land invasion on Japans mainland, which historians speculate would likely have cost potentially millions more lives. At this time, more than 60 years after the battle, only a small remnant remains of those who participated first hand in this epic battle. Forever a sympbol of freedom, Iwo Jima remains truly sacred ground.