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Dawn of the Liberators by William S. Phillips
Dawn of the Liberators was created as a tribute to the aviators
whose bravery contributed to the Allied victory in World War II.
The painting was commissioned as a memorial to artist Howard Terpning’s
brother, First Lieutenant John E. Terpning, who paid the ultimate
price to secure American freedom. First Lieutenant Terpning was
a pilot in the crew of B-24D Bomber 42-20525, which was lost over
New Guinea on May 7, 1944.
As they fly into formation on the way to their targets, two B-24s
of the 43rd Bomb Group’s 64th Squadron climb into a Pacific dawn.
Although they were historically eclipsed in number by their European
counterparts, the B-24 Squadrons of the Asiatic-Pacific theater
fought a relentless and determined enemy in an unforgiving environment
to ensure safety for the Allied nations.
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