Hot Pursuit, a rare Nicolas Trudgian print featuring P-51 Mustangs of the 357th Fighter Group. A landmark print as this was Nicolas Trudgian’s first release for the Military Gallery in 1992, and is now very hard to find. Flying a bomber escort mission, a P- 51 Mustang of the 357th Fighter Group manoeuvres to engage Me109s about to descend upon a formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses heading for Germany. Each print is signed by the artist along two distinguished USAAF fighter Aces and two Luftwaffe Aces: Captain Leonard 'Kit' Carson- Top Ace of the 357th FG with 18.5 victories - his first on April 8th 1944. He scored all his victories flying five different P-51 Mustangs all named Nooky Booky. He went on to run the 357th's combat training school. On the 38th mission of his second tour he became the second 357th pilot to become an Ace in a day. He was squadron commander between April and November 1945. Major Richard Bud Peterson- Flying with the 357th FG, he scored his first victory in March 1944, an Fw190. He eventually became the top scorer in the 364th FS, with a final tally of 15.5 victories, and was the 10th Ace of the 357th FG. He has the distinction of scoring victories over every piston-engined Luftwaffe fighter aircraft flown in WWII. By the end of the war he had flown 150 missions over Europe. Hauptmann Ernst Wilhelm Reinert Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords- Initially flew with JG77 before transferring to the Eastern Front in 1941. He was posted to Tunisia in January 1943 where he became the most successful Luftwaffe Ace in North Africa during that period. On January 2nd 1945 he was given the leadership of IV./JG27. In March he transferred to III./JG7 flying the Me262. In his 715 missions he scored 174 aerial victories. Major Erich Rudorffer Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds- One of a very small elite group of Luftwaffe fighter Aces to be awarded the highest decoration in the Luftwaffe. Erich Rudorffer flew Me109s, Fw190s and the Me262 achieving 224 aerial victories including 12 flying the Me262. Edition: 1000 Size: 33 x 24 inches overall including borders.