Rat Poison

Rat Poison
by
Nicolas Trudgian
A pencil drawing - commemorating the aircrews of the U.S. 9th Air Force - the largest air force ever to go to war under one command. Douglas A-26 Invaders of the 9th Air Force's 386th Bomb Group undergo maintenance between missions at their new base at St. Trond, Belgium in April of 1945. Overhead, a veteran Martin B-26 marauder, retained by the unit after conversion to the Invader, returns from an administrative flight to England. This particular aircraft, nick-named 'Rat Poison' by the crew, managed to survive more than 150 combat missions over Europe and was deemed an appropriate candidate to stay with the group upon receipt of their new aircraft. She continued to serve with distinction through to VE Day. Overall

Multi-signed by over THIRTY veterans!
Captain ERNEST A. REINER First Lieutenant GEORGE NELSON Lieutenant Colonel JAMES T. WILSON 2nd Lieutenant CHRIS ZIVALICH Jr Lieutenant Colonel ED O'NEILL Tech Sergeant HARRY GUINTHER Staff Sergeant EARL BROWN Lieutenant Colonel DUANE O. CALLAHAN Staff Sergeant DOYLE C. JOHNSON Staff Sergeant JOHN A. MEHL Captain EARLE J. SLANKER Staff Sergeant CLARENCE E. CYFORD Staff Sergeant KENNETH KUZNETZOFF Staff Sergeant RUSSELL 'RUSS' BENDER Lieutenant Colonel PAUL J. SCHULER Colonel LESLIE L. DUNNING	Colonel ABE ABERSON First Lieutenant THOMAS B. STOUALL Lieutenant Colonel BARNETT B YOUNG Lieutenant Colonel WARREN L. BRYAN Tech Sergeant JOHN M. DERBY Jr Tech Sergeant JIM CREEDON Sergeant RAY BAME Sergeant CHARLES M. PETRO Staff Sergeant ALVIN H. BAUER 1st Lieutenant CLARENCE 'CJ' JOHNSON Lieutenant Colonel ROBERT E. SNYDER Major CARL OATES First Lieutenant KARL HUCKABY Colonel RICHARD 'DICK' DENISON