WITH THE SIGNATURE OF ACE BUD MAHURIN OF THE "MIGHTY EIGHTH"

FREEMAN, Roger A. The Mighty Eighth in Art. (London): Arms & Armour, (1996). Oblong quarto, original black cloth, original dust jacket. $275.

First edition of this compilation of 75 paintings depicting the planes and pilots of the 8th Air Force in Europe during World War II, signed on a color photograph of a P-47 Thunderbolt tipped to the half title by ace Walker M. "Bud" Mahurin of the "Mighty Eighth."

Signed on a tipped-in 10 by 4-1/2-inch color photograph of a P-47 Thunderbolt by ace Walker M. "Bud" Mahurin. Mahurin (1918-2010) was the first American pilot to become a double ace in the European Theater, and was the only United States Air Force pilot to shoot down enemy planes in both the European and Pacific Theaters and the Korean War. During World War II he was credited with 20.75 aerial victories, making him the sixth-highest American P-47 ace. He additionally was credited with shooting down 3.5 MiG-15s in Korea, giving him a total of 23.25 aircraft destroyed in aerial combat.

Fine condition.