Tuskegee Red-Tailed Angel
(Limited Edition)
Tuskegee Red-Tailed Angel
(Limited Edition)
This lithograph was David Lee Sample’s first in a series of paintings honoring the famed all-black fighter pilots who were trained in Tuskegee, Alabama. In early 1940, black youth poured into Tuskegee, when the Army Air Corps reluctantly opened pilot training to blacks. They became The Tuskegee Experiment; one that was presumed to fail. Determined to fly, and with the support of few white officers who believed in them, they disproved the myths about their ability. Acting as bomber escorts, they earned the reputation of never losing a bomber to enemy aircraft. All of their planes donned red tails, thus earning the nickname The Red-Tailed Angels.
This lithograph was countersigned by Louis R. Purnell who earned his wings at Tuskegee Army Air Field on July 4, 1942. He was one of many pilots that formed the 99th Fighter Squadron, and became one of the many heroes of WWII. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 8 oak leaf clusters.
Image Size: N/A
Lithograph Size: N/A
Price: SOLD OUT (Available in Giclee format)
Tuskegee Angel from Above
(Limited Edition)
The third in the series on the Tuskegee Airmen, Tuskegee Angel from Above is countersigned by COL Charles E. McGee, one of few pilots in the US Air Force credited with fighting three wars—WWII, Korea and Vietnam. He flew over 400 missions totaling over 6,000 flying hours. On June 30, 1943, he graduated with Class 43-F from Tuskegee Army Air Field and was sent overseas with the 302nd Fighter Squadron. Upon his return to the United States, he became a Twin-Engine Instructor at Tuskegee Army Air Field until it closed in 1946.
He went on to later fly the P-51 aircraft during the Korean War, as a member of the 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. As a result of these missions, he was promoted to Major. He then commanded the 44th Fighter-Bomber Squadron and flew the P-80 Jet aircraft. After several more years of training and assignments, he qualified to fly the F-89 and was promoted to LT Colonel. He went on to command the Luigi Balogna Sea Plane Base and the 7230th Support Squadron in Italy, fly 172 missions in Vietnam, and serve as Liaison Officer with USAEUR and the 7th Army in Germany. After serving many other notable billets, COL McGee retired on January 31, 1973.
Image Size: 13” x 26”
Lithograph Size: 18” x 30”
Price: $250.00
Artist Proof Price: $325.00
Guardian Angels
(Limited Edition)
This is the second in the series on the famed all black fighter squadrons the Tuskegee Airman. The print has been countersigned by COL Harry Sheppard, LTCOL Woodrow Crockett, and Sgt Bud Pressel who was the tail gunner on the B-24 bomber “OL 45”. The artist proof limited edition lithograph is also signed by Chief Test Pilot and Designer of the Me-163 Komet Rudolph “Rudy” Opitz.
Image Size: 14” x 21”
Lithograph Size: 19” x 25”
Price: $250.00
Challenged Angel
(Limited Edition)
The fourth and last in the series on the Tuskegee Airmen, Challenged Angel depicts the aircraft of LT Lee Archer, the only Tuskegee Airman to earn the title “Ace” while flying for the 332nd Fighter Group in his P-51 Mustang, Ina the Macon Belle. This print is countersigned by B-24 tail gunner, Sgt Bud Pressel, who was a member a B-24 crew escorted by the Tuskegee Airmen.
Image Size: 11.5” x 15”
Lithograph Size: 16” x 20”
Price: $150.00
Tuskegee 9/11 Undaunted Angel
(Open Edition)
Overcoming the 9/11 terrorist attack at the Pentagon, this priceless picture arose through the ashes, undaunted by that day, just as the Tuskegee Airmen were in World War II.
On September 11, 2001, David was preparing to attend a meeting in his Pentagon office when he heard of the horrific events taking place in New York City. He was delayed in his arrival as he was watching the news, only again to hear that the Pentagon had been attacked. The following day he realized that the point of impact was under his office, eventually causing the building to collapse 20 minutes after impact. Thankfully, all of his co-workers had time to evacuate the building safely.
The Tuskegee Red-Tailed Angel print hung in David’s office that fateful day and was thought to have been lost in the devastation. A year-and-a-half later, the artist was reunited with the picture in its current state. We have painstakingly captured the artwork in lithograph form just as it was found under the rubble months after the attack.
Lithograph Size: 17” x 19”
Price: $100.00