American Veterans' Signing Event - Joe Peterburs & Ray Hill – PLUS Artist Richard Taylor - 12th / 13th October
Join us for our relaxed and memorable two-day Signing Event + Meet & Greet with two highly-esteemed American Veterans who served through multiple-eras!
This special occasion offers a unique opportunity to connect with these remarkable individuals and hear their recollections first hand across multiple eras, including WWII, Korea & Vietnam.
Both of our guests will be delighted to sign items for collectors and chat about their experiences!
PLUS, artist Richard Taylor will be joining us on Sunday 13th with a special NEW release for the event... Watch this space for more details.
(Credit to Jeff Rease with Portraits of Valor for the third photo)
Colonel JOE PETERBURS (Joining us for both days, Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th) – Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and becoming a P-51 Mustang pilot during World War II, Peterburs was assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group and flew 49 combat missions - including a notable encounter on April 10, 1945, where he shot down German ace Walter Schuck’s Me 262. After being shot down himself, Peterburs was captured and briefly held as a POW before escaping and joining a Russian tank unit. Post-war, he continued his military career, serving in Korea and Vietnam, and eventually retired as a Colonel. Remarkably, Peterburs and Schuck reunited in 2005, forging a friendship despite their wartime adversarial roles.
Following WWII, in December 1951 Peterburs served in Korea, flying 76 sorties assigned to the 12th Fighter Bomber Squadron, of the 18th Fighter Bomber Group, flying the P-51D(F-51D). In the fall of 1967, he was assigned to Vietnam as Staff Operations Officer responsible for Command and Control in the war zone.
Later, during the Cold War, he was commander of the 600th and 601st tactical air control units and then deputy commander of the 601st Tactical Control Wing in Europe. He finally retired in 1979 at the rank of Colonel, after 36 years of active service, carrying multiple awards, including the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and Air Medal.
RAY HILL (Joining us on just Sunday 13th) – ATL, (Assistant Team Lead), of Team 4, 173rd Airborne Brigade, Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP). Ray served 14 months during the Vietnam War and was involved in some of the most significant actions, including running recon during Operation JUNCTION CITY – the 173rd Airborne's combat jump at Tay Ninh Province, South Vietnam, February 1967.
An excerpt from Ray’s bestselling book, ‘Toy Sampans’, reads: "Not a lot of time passed before SGT Kaiama told us at the morning formation, before the first run, that there would be some team restructuring. A new team would be made up of Manuel Moya on point, Reed Cundiff as leader, Bruce Baughn as RTO, Roger Bumgardner first scout, Larry Cole second scout and Ray Hill as assistant team leader. We had a strong group of guys and were going to be an ace team. We were, as of that morning, now the new Team Four and were assigned a new radio call-sign: Craggy Strider."
Aviation Artist RICHARD TAYLOR (Joining us on just Sunday 13th) – From an early age, Richard had shown an exceptional ability to draw. Not surprising perhaps, having been brought up in a family where fine art drawing, painting, print publishing, gallery receptions and art exhibitions pervaded daily life, but in his case a very rare talent was obvious to all who saw his work. A future somewhere in the world of art seemed undoubted – his father is Robert Taylor, regarded as the finest aviation and maritime artist of his generation. However, since his first published work in 2006 Richard has been carving out his own niche in the world of aviation and military art and is seen as one of the industry’s most exciting artists.
Special Guests...
We're delighted to announce two esteemed RAF Bomber Command Veterans will also be in attendance at our signing event on Sunday – don’t miss the opportunity to meet these incredible men and have your items personally signed!
Warrant Officer ROY BRIGGS – as a Wireless Operator on Lancasters with 576 Sqn based at RAF Fiskerton, Roy completed 10 wartime missions including raids to Plauen and Bremen before taking part in Operation Manna. As the war in Europe ended he transferred to 156 Pathfinder Sqn.
Warrant Officer HARRY WINTER – after training as a WOp/AG he joined 427 Sqn on Halifaxes based at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire. On the night of 22nd October 1943 his aircraft was shot down near Hamelin in Germany by an Me110 Night Fighter and he spent the rest of the war as a PoW in Stalag Luft VII.
Our guests are happy to sign autographs for collectors and we’re offering FREE signing for our Bomber Command and Vietnam veterans. Items for Joe Peterburs that are purchased at the event over £60 can be signed free of charge, all other items are subject to a £20 signing fee.
Bookings are now being taken so please contact us to secure your place.
📍Skyfall, Church Lane, Steventon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6SN
