Captain Don Bryan shoots down an Arado 234 "Blitz" bomber in "Perfidia"
© Troy White, Oil on Canvas, 44" x 34"
Captain Don Bryan of the 328th FS, 352nd FG rolls out behind an Arado 234 "Blitz" bomber flown by Hauptman Hirshberger of 6./KG 76 in "Perfidia" by Troy White. The action took place on the afternoon of March 14, 1945. While returning from escorting B-26 and A-26 medium bombers, Bryan spotted the Ar-234 making a bombing run on the pontoon bridge at Remagen. The painting depicts Captain Bryan as he drops in behind Hirshberger an instant before opening up with his six Browning 50 calibre machine guns.
KG 76 flew its first mission against the Remagen Bridge on March 9, two days after the first Americans went across. The goal of KG 76 was to knock out both the pontoon bridge and the famous Ludendorf Bridge with glide-bombing attacks. On March 11, 18 Ar-234s from KG 76 attacked the bridge, and on March 13 another 19 sorties were flown in an effort to destroy the bridges. Bad weather and anti-aircraft batteries hampered the attacks.
On March 14, the weather cleared up and an afternoon mission was launched. 11 Ar-234-Bs from 6./KG 76 attacked the newly constructed pontoon bridge south of the Ludendorf bridge. Swarms of American P-51s & P-47s pounced on the jets. Four of the Nazi "Wonder Weapons" were shot down. The one downed by Captain Bryan was flown by Hauptmann Hirschberger.
By March of 1945 Don Bryan was well into his second tour with the "Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney". He had established himself as a top ace with the 328th FS during the Epic battle over Merseberg on November 21, 1944 he had shot down five Me-109s and damaged two others from JG 27. Bryan had assumed command of the 328th FS after Major Earl Abbott had failed to return from a patrol on January 24, 1945. To this date no trace of Abbott has been found.
Having let an Arado get away from him during a mission on December 21, 1944, Don was not about to let that happen again. As Hirshberger came off his bomb he had to turn to avoid a Group of P-47s and knowing this Don was be able to compensate for the jet’s superior speed. Don positioned his P-51 Mustang so the German would have to fly toward him after his attack. As Hirshberger approached, Bryan began a dive that put him within range of the speedy bomber. His first burst knocked out the right engine and slowed the Arado down. This enabled the blue-nosed Mustang to stay in range and finish off the Arado. Hirshberger jettisoned his canopy but was unable to get out before the crash. It was his first combat mission with 6./KG 76 and his first in the AR-234.
This Arado kill on March 14, 1945 was Bryan’s final air-to-air victory of WWII bringing his score to 13.333 kills. Don was promoted to Major in April of 1945. He remained in the Air Force after the war ended and attained the rank of Lt. Colonel before his retirement.
Above: Captain Don Bryan early 1944. Lt. George Middleton lifts off from Y-29 in PE-J 44-11628. Don Bryan used this P-51K to shoot down the Arado 236
Almost a year to the day Capt Bryan observes as another victory is painted on the side of his aircraft after shooting down an Me 109 on March 15, 1944. Don's P-47 Thunderbolt PE-B, 42-83-81 was nicknamed "Little One" after his wife Francis. Bryan scored 4.33 of his 13.33 victories in the Thunderbolt making him one of the Group's most proficient pilots in that type.
Don checks out the Packard Merlin of his P-51 with his Crew Chief Sgt. Noyes. Photos copyright ©352nd FG Association via Sam Sox. Used with permission.
"Perfidia" is available as a signed & numbered limited edition print.
All prints signed by Capt. Don Bryan
Overall print size: 22" x 28", Edition Size 352 @ $135 each with 35 Artist Proofs @ $300 each.
Each print comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and an extensive background story.
For additional information on Limited Edition Prints click here.
To place an order click here.
All artwork represented on the pages of this website is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the knowledge, permission and express written consent of the artist Troy White. All text, photographs and graphics on the pages of this website, except where otherwise noted, are copyrighted by Stardust Studios. No copyrighted material appearing on this website may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including, but not limited to, electronic or printed, without the knowledge, permission and express written consent of Troy White, Stardust Studios.
Copyright © 2000 by Stardust Studios.
All rights reserved.
Revised: 28 Mar 2007.
e-mail: Webmaster@starduststudios.com.