D-DAY DROP 'STICK 21'

At 23.45 on the night of 5 June 1944, the 101st Airborne’s most legendary unit of combat paratroopers – the notorious ‘Filthy Thirteen’ – jumped into France near the village of Sainte Mère Église, in the final hours before the D-Day landings.

Robert Taylor’s classic drawing, part of his Graphite Collection, captures the moment on the night of 5 June 1944 when the 101st Airborne’s legendary squad of elite paratroopers jump into battle in the vital hours before the D-Day sea-borne landings commence. The pilots of the 440th Troop Carrier Group struggle to keep their Dakotas level as deadly flak pummels the formation.

They were the Screaming Eagles’ most notorious unit, a small bunch of raw, tough, ruthless young men. Hard drinking and savage fighting - and that was only in training -with scant regard for authority. And if the reputation of this unique bunch of renegades within the ranks of the 101st was formidable, for the Germans it became one of sheer terror.

Officially they were the First Demolition Squadron, HQ Company, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne. Unofficially they were the ‘Filthy Thirteen’

THE LIMITED EDITION £100 (edition size: 225)
Each print in every edition is personally signed by two of the original ‘Filthy Thirteen’, together with artist Robert Taylor.

SGT JAKE ‘McNASTY’ McNIECE
The unofficial leader of the ‘Filthy Thirteen’, Jake McNiece was the inspiration for the ‘Mohawk’ haircuts and war paint that the men wore on D-Day. He survived four combat jumps during WWII.

PVT JACK ‘HAWKEYE’ WOMER
Joining the ‘Filthy Thirteen’ before D-Day he was the best shot in the unit. Separated on the D-Day drop he initially fought alongside the 501st PIR before being reunited with his company.

  THE ARTIST PROOF EDITION £130.00 (edition size: 25)
This edition is issued with the same signatures as the Limited Edition.

THE U.S. AIRBORNE EDITION £160.00 (edition size: 145)
 With the components of the Limited & Artist Proof Editions, this TEN signature edition is additionally signed by the following veterans who served with the 82nd & 101st Airborne Divisions:

82ND AIRBORNE – ‘ALL AMERICAN’
Each print is personally signed by three veterans that fought with the 82nd Airborne during the Normandy campaign:

LT COL JAMES ‘MAGGIE’ MEGELLAS - Commander of H Company, 3rd Battallion, 504th PIR

SGT BOB BEARDEN - 82nd Airborne

SGT MILTON SCHLESENER - 82nd Airborne

101ST AIRBORNE - ‘THE SCREAMING EAGLES’
This outstanding edition is also personally signed by several of the 101st Airborne’s most famous unit, the celebrated men of ‘Easy Company’, the Division’s original ‘Band of Brothers’ who would be immortalised worldwide through books and film.

CPL BILL MAYNARD - Easy Company

SGT ED TIPPER - Easy Company

SGT BILL TRUE - Fox Company

S/SGT FRANK SOBOLESKI - Easy Company

CPL HERB SUERTH - Easy Company




THE REMARQUE EDITION £750.00 (edition size: 5)
Issued with all the components of the U.S. AIRBORNE EDITION this edition will be issued with a remarqued, unique original pencil drawing by Robert Taylor on the border area of the actual print.

Approx print size 27"x 20”