"Andover Crossing"
Sheet Size: 16" x 25" • Image size: 10" x 21" • © 1998
Print Editions
200 Limited Edition
With THREE co-signatures.
Companion Print to DEFIANCE AT DIEPPE.
Signatures
Staff Sergeant Emil Mutcher was born in Manitou, Manitoba, Canada. He was trained at Chanute Field, Illinois in 1943, before moving to Westover Field, Mass. Here he joined the newly formed 370th Fighter Group, 402 Fighter Squadron . He served with the squadron in all of its moves from Camp Shanks to Gutersloh, Germany. He finished the war as a Technical Sergeant and was awarded the DUC, Good Conduct Medal and five Battle Star Campaign Medals.
Staff Sergeant Kenneth E. Sangmaster was born in Sacramento, California and entered the army in November of 1942. He was trained as a radio and radar mechanic and was one of the initial ground support personnel who embarked on the HMS Mauritania. He was assigned to the 402 Squadron through all of its movements from Andover to Gutersloh, Germany. He holds the Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, World War II Victory Medal, the European, African and Middle Easter Campaign Medal, along with the American Campaign Medal.
Technical Sergeant Harold W. Bergquist was born in Braintree, Mass. He entered service in August 1942 and joined the 402 Fighter Squadron in June of 1943. Since the 370 Fighter Squadron was designated to train on P47's he attended the Pratt and Whitney Factory School in Hartford, Conn. By January of 1944 he was with the squadron in England. As a Crew Chief on P-38's he stayed with the squadron throughout the war. He holds the Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation for the Hurtgen Forest Campaign, six Battle Stars and the American Theater Campaign Ribbon.
The Story
Arriving at Andover-Hants, England, in February 1944, the 370th Fighter Group of the Ninth Air Force comprised the 401, 402 and 485 Fighter Squadrons. They took up residence at the former RAF Station #406 on Salisbury Plain. Trained Stateside in the P47, the group were surprised when handed the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Missions included attacking radar installations, rolling stock, flack towers and escort for the 8th and 9th Bomb Groups to France and Germany.
In Robert Bailey's exquisite pencil sketch, ANDOVER CROSSING, depicting 402 Squadron, the lead P-38J exiting the dispersal area is that of CO Major Tim Tucker (E6T). As he crosses Red Post Lane and onto Andover's grassy field, other bomb laden Lightnings head out overhead for another mission.
