Dauntless Naval Aircraft

Naval aviation art prints of the Douglas SBD Dauntless. aviation artists Ivan Berryman and Stan Stokes superb paintings showing the Douglas SBD Dauntless during the Battle of Midway are available at these great prices direct form Cranston Fine Arts the Military and Aviation art print company

The Battle of Midway in June of 1942 marked the turning point in the War in the Pacific, and the Douglas SBD Dauntless was the aircraft which provided the punch in this decisive victory for America. The SBD, which earned the nickname Slow, But Deadly, entered service with the USN and USMC in 1940. Powered by a 1,000 HP, 9-cylinder, Cyclone radial engine the SBD was capable of a maximum speed of 250 MPH. The Dauntless could stay airborne for a long time with its 1,300 mile range and slow cruising speed, and it was capable of delivering a 1,200 pound bomb load. Because of its slow speed the SBD needed armament to discourage attack by enemy fighters. Two forward firing machine guns and either one or two rear firing guns mounted in the gunners cockpit behind the pilot, gave the SBD enough firepower to make it a challenging target for enemy fighters. The Japanese plan for invading Midway, a strategically-located small island about 1,100 miles northwest of Hawaii, involved the use of a decoy fleet which would feign an invasion of the Aleutians, while the main fleet consisting of approximately 100 ships and four aircraft carriers would carryout the invasion. Based on intelligence reports the US Navy was ready for Adm. Yamamoto this time. The American force totaled 25 ships including the carriers Hornet, Enterprise, and Yorktown. Air power was about even, because the U.S. could count on nearly 100 land-based aircraft on Midway itself. About 1/3rd of the U.S. air power was represented by SBDs. During the first exchanges, American attacks on the Japanese invasion fleet with both land-based and carrier-based aircraft were repulsed with substantial losses. These low-level torpedo attacks focused the attention of both Japanese fighter pilots and AA gunners on the horizon. Lacking effective radar, the Japanese fleet would prove to be unprepared for a high altitude attack by swarms of SBDs on June 4, 1942. The timing proved perfect as the Japanese carriers were laden with fully fueled and armed aircraft being readied for a second wave. As depicted in Stan Stokes dramatic painting the 1,000 pounder of Paul Lefty Holmbergs SBD penetrates the carrier deck of the Soryu while Holmberg pulls out of his dive. Right behind Holmberg is another SBD of VB-3 from the USS Yorktown. SBDs from the Yorktown and its sister ship the Enterprise destroyed three Japanese carriers in a matter of minutes during this battle. While the Yorktown was later lost in the Battle, all four Japanese carriers were eventually destroyed including many of Japans most experienced naval aviators. The rugged and effective Dauntless, the only USN aircraft to remain in service through the entire war, was responsible for destroying more enemy shipping than any other aircraft during WW II.


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Signed limited edition of 1250 prints.	SOLD OUT


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Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints.	£180.00

Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints.	£280.00

SHOWCASE PRODUCT

EDITIONS

Special Offer Pack of All Four Prints Price : £420

At the Setting of the Sun by Simon Atack Price : £105

Close Encounter by Ivan Berryman Price : £145

In Them We Trust by Ivan Berryman Price : £135

Fighter General by Graeme Lothian Price : £200

ARTIST
Featured Artist - Graeme Lothian

Graeme Lothian is an artist whose ability has seen him apply his talent to many different subjects - military, aviation, naval and landscape art. Having spent time in the army, taking on adventures such as parachuting, firing bazookas and making an attempt to climb Mount Everest, the discipline he has obtained from his experiences has been key to allowing him to take on his first love - painting - full time. Graeme first took on painting full-time by producing paintings of WW2 aircraft, such as Spitfires and Messerschmitts, but over his career in art, now spanning over two decades, has also produced many military and naval pieces too. More recently, he has undertaken a masive project of painting the River Thames, from its source, through London and beyond, producing over 50 paintings in this series, as well as a book. Graeme Lothian describes himself as a landscape painter. The paintings may have a Tiger, Steam Train, Spitfire or Kentish Oasts in them, but they're still landscapes. Graeme started painting in 1978 in oils, a medium he has stayed with since then. Joining the Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces at the beginning of the 1980s, a parachuting accident curtailed his career and he returned to his first love - art. In the early 90s he formed a partnership with the late great Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson CB CBE DSO(two bars) DFC(bar) the top scoring Allied fighter pilot of WWII. Embarking on a career as an aviation artist, travelling all over Britain and Europe obtaining the signatures for his prints. Personally meeting the most famous aviators and top aces of both sides of the last war. Graemes first book An Artist on the Thames came out in 2004. His second, An Artist in London, which has taken 5 years to complete, is due to be published at the beginning of 2010. In between, he printed an Everest painting carrying the signatures of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Chris Bonnington. Graeme had solo exhibitions in 1981, 1989 in Sydney, Australia, 2007, 2008. In 2009, Graeme was one of only 56 other artists to exhibit at the internationally acclaimed and prestigious BP Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery, London. In 2010 he is to go to Afghanistan as a war artist, one of only a select few to visit the war zone. He is being hosted by various units in the Helmand Province and Kandahar. Born in Sri Lanka, Graeme has painted all over the world including Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, India and most recently Oman and Jordan. His originals hang all over the world and to date has had over 80 limited edition art prints published.

Battle of Britain Signature Prints

Save £165 on this specially selected pack of Battle of Britain aviation art prints. All four prints for £420, giving collectors these prints at trade discounted prices!

This pack of aviation art prints includes 4 separate prints, at a highly discounted price when purchased in this special pack. The prints included in the pack are :

At the Setting of the Sun by Simon Atack,
Close Encounter by Ivan Berryman,
In Them We Trust by Ivan Berryman
and
Fighter General by Graeme Lothian.

In all, the prints have 13 different signatures of pilots and aircrew from both British and German sides of the Battle of Britain.

Graeme Lothian's Fighter General features some of the most popular and sought after German Battle of Britain pilot signatures.

Click the 'Special Offer Pack' Edition to order.

DETAIL IMAGES

EXTRAS

More Items from our database
Open Assault by Robert Taylor.	A Zeppelin over London by Ivan Berryman.	Tactical Support by Richard Taylor.

See more Chris Collingwood art at ChrisCollingwoodPrints.com
See more WW2 Aviation Art at Aviation Art Prints

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