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| Click Here For Full Artist Print Indexes | Aviation History Archive |
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| THIS ITEM IS INCLUDED IN OUR BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE OFFER ! Choose any two prints in this special offer and the lower priced item is half price. (Any free bonus prints already supplied with an item are separate and will also be included !) Hundreds of items across our websites are included in this offer! |
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| Signatures on this item | |
| *The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare. | |
| Name | Info |
 Cdr Cole Windham USN *Signature Value : £40 | Cole Windham was born in West Columbia, South Carolina on April 29, 1912. At the age of six Cole remembers standing on a brick wall in front of his home and watching a platoon of WW1 soldiers marching toward him. As they came abreast he saluted, and the platoon leader returned the salute. It was a vivid memory that lasted a life time. His family moved to Gastonia, North Carolina in the early 1920s. Cole finished high school there, and was awarded a full academic scholarship to attend Davidson College. Following his graduation in 1936, Cole joined the Navy as an aviation cadet. After earning his wings, Cole's first assignment was with VP-19 flying P2Y-3s out of Seattle, Washington and Sitka, Alaska. In 1939 he was reassigned to VP-33 flying PBYs out of Panama. When war broke out in Europe in 1939, President Rooselvelt, fearing for the safety of American shipping in neutral waters, organized 'The Neutrality Patrol'. Cole was sent with a detachment of aircraft to Key West, Florida. There he remained busy, flying every day, and reporting the positions and information on all shipping in the area. In 1940 he was transferred to VP-71 flying the PBY-5. This squadron operated from British Guyana to Iceland. Cole flew a number of antisubmarine patrols around lend lease convoys carrying supplies to England and Russia. He also flew survey flights out of Guyana to recommend a location for a search and rescue seaplane base. In May of 1941 eleven aircraft in Cole's squadron were enlisted in the search for the German Battleship Bismarck. In an unsuccessful flight of more than seventeen hours in duration, Cole experienced some very difficult weather conditions which required constant instrument flying. The aircraft were only able to return safely by radioing their ship for a bearing. Under the conditions, it was remarkable that all eleven aircraft and crews made it back safely. With America's entry into the War in December of 1941, Cole was assigned to Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii. There he would fly long 700 mile patrols to protect the islands from any additional attacks. He was then transferred to the Coral Sea to fly patrols for the U.S fleet prior to the Battle of the Coral Sea. Upon return to Hawaii in 1942, Cole was transferred back to the States and given Staff Duty with the Amphibious Forces. At war's end in 1946, he returned to civilian life, and joined Pan American Airways as a pilot. Following a successful career in commercial aviation, Cole has settled down in Asheville, North Carolina with his bride of fifty years. He enjoys telling his treasured 'sea stories' to his two daughters, three grandchildren and great grandson. |
| The Aircraft : | |
| Name | Info |
| Catalina | Built by the Consolidated Aircraft Company and designed by Isaax M Ladden. the Catalina first flew on the 28th march 1935. and first flew with the US Navy in October 1936. In 1935 the cost of each Catalina was $90,000 and just over 4,000 were built. The Catalina was used in various maritime roles. but it was designed initially as a maritime patrol bomber. Its long range was intended to seek out enemy transport and supply ships. but was eventually used in many roles including Convoy escort,, anti submarine warfare and search and rescue. In its role as a search and rescue aircraft it probably is best remembered for many thousands of aircrews shot down in the Pacific and less extend in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The Catalina was the most successful flying boat of the war and even served in a military role until the early 1980's some are still used today in aerial firefighting. |
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Windham, Cole
Windham, Cole
