Battle of the Bulge

On December 17, 1944, the second day of the , American P-47 pilot Ed Cottrell’s engine was shot up. In the same battle, German pilot Karl-Heinz Bosse’s Messerschmadt 109 was shot down. Cottrell steered to his base and expertly managed a dead-stick landing. Bosse ejected and parachuted down but was seriously injured and hospitalized.

Enemy Pilots

Seventy-nine years later (in December 2023) at the site near Bonn, Germany where Bosse’s plane had crashed, these two pilots and former enemies had a four-hour visit all these years later, sharing their stories with the help of a translator.

Former Enemies now Forever Friends

This April 13th, Lt. Col. Ed Cottrell, USAF (Ret.) will tell the story of meeting his former enemy–two pilots whose historic mission was to destroy each other’s planes鈥攁nd perhaps lives. Cottrell will tell the story of how these former adversaries developed a quick friendship, ending their meeting 鈥渇orever friends.鈥�

A Tribute

After his talk, Cottrell will be honored with the presentation of a United States flag flown over the NC Capitol, by NC Representative Mike Clampitt, along with a tribute from the citizens of North Carolina.

Concluding the program, Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof will unveil a new painting depicting Cottrell’s encounter with two Me-109 pilots on Dec. 17, 1944. The painting, titled, “I was waiting for the bullets to come,” was commissioned by Valor Studios, who will make a limited number of prints available for sale.

Attendees will be invited to talk with Cottrell and have photos taken with him and the painting. He will be available to sign a copy of the museum’s book, “We Shall Come 探花精选 Victorious”, which tells his complete story.

Light refreshments will be served. The public is invited to this free program on April 13 at 11:00 AM at Grace Brevard Church, 55 E. Jordan Street, Brevard, NC.

WWI trench art a form of art created by soldiers during WWI

WWI trench art refers to a form of art created by soldiers during World War I, particularly those who served in the trenches on the Western Front. Trenches were the complex networks of fortifications and defensive positions dug into the ground to protect soldiers from enemy fire. Life in the trenches was difficult, monotonous, and often grim, prompting soldiers to find ways to cope with the harsh conditions and to pass the time.

Soldiers would transform these items into decorative or functional pieces of art. Some of the common types of trench art included:

• Shell casings transformed into vases, candle holders, and other decorative objects.
• Bullets and shrapnel fashioned into rings, pendants, and other small trinkets.
• Wooden items carved with intricate designs during downtime.
• Artwork and carvings on materials such as metal, wood, or bone.
• Personalized items like engraved lighters, trench knives, and helmets.

Trench art served various purposes: It helped soldiers maintain a sense of normalcy in the midst of war, offered an emotional outlet, provided a distraction from the horrors of war, and allowed them to create meaningful mementos to remember their experiences. Some pieces were made for personal use or as gifts for loved ones back home, while others were sold or traded with other soldiers.

Today, trench art is highly valued as historical artifacts and collectors’ items, offering a glimpse into the lives and emotions of those who fought in the trenches during World War I.