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Naval
aviation art prints of the Douglas Devastator aviation artists Ivan
Berryman and Stan Stokes superb paintings showing the Douglas Devastator
during the Battle of Midway are available at these great prices direct
form Cranston Fine Arts the Military and Aviation art print company
The
Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo-bomber was the first low-wing, all metal
monoplane to see service with the US Navy. Delivered in 1937 about 100
TBDs were in service when the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor thrust the
United States into WW II. Powered by a 811-HP Pratt and Whitney radial
engine, the TBD had a maximum speed of about 200 MPH and a range of
about 700 miles. Unfortunately, given the design of the torpedoes used,
attacks had to be made at a maximum speed of only about 110 MPH, and at
an altitude of no more than 100 feet. This made the Devastator a sitting
duck for both enemy fighters or anti-aircraft gunners. The highlight of
the TBDs brief battle career in WW II came during the Battle of the
Coral Sea in 1942. This battle, the first ever waged solely between the
aircraft of opposing carrier attack groups, involved air groups from the
USS Yorktown and USS Lexington. Three Japanese carriers, the Shokaku,
the Zuikaku, and the Shoho were involved. On May 7 the Lexington
launched fifty aircraft and the Yorktown another 43. Two squadrons of
TBDs were involved in the attack. This massed force located the Shoho
around 11:00 AM. SBD Dauntless dive bombers initiated the attack,
and were successful at fending off fighter attacks by Zeros during their
near vertical dives. The large force of SBDs put several 1000-pounders
into the Shoho. Minutes later the Devastators from the Lexington
attacked, gaining advantage from the smoke and confusion created by the
dive bombers. Coming in low and slow the Devastators put six or seven
torpedoes into the Shoho.
In Stan Stokes painting the TBD flown by Lt. R. F. Farrington,
T.R. Wiebe, and Walter N. Nelson of VT-2 from the USS Lexington is
depicted. Several more hits by the Dauntlesses sealed the fate of the
Shoho which slipped under the waves while still making a headway of
about 20 knots. Witnessing the Shohos final moments, Lt. Cdr. Bob Dixon
reported by radio at 11:36 AM the following message, Scratch One Flat
Top! Dixon to carrier. Scratch one Flat Top! This was the first loss of
a significant ship by the Imperial Navy. It also foretold of an end of
the era of surface war ships slugging it out in a gunnery duel within
sight of each other. The era of the carrier battle group had begun, with
destruction delivered to a distant enemy by carrier based aircraft.
Weeks following the Battle of the Coral Sea, at the Battle of Midway,
the United States Navy would destroy almost 50% of Japans carriers in a
momentous battle. The Navys TBDs would be virtually wiped-out at Midway,
and would be replaced in front-line service by TBF Avengers and SB2C
Helldivers for the balance of the Wa |
| Scratch One Flat Top by Stan Stokes. The Douglas TBD Devastator torpedo-bomber was the first low-wing, all metal monoplane to see service with the US Navy. Delivered in 1937 about 100 TBDs were in service when the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor thrust the United States into WW II. Powered by a 811-HP Pratt and Whitney radial engine, the TBD had a maximum speed of about 200 MPH and a range of about 700 miles. Unfortunately, given the design of the torpedoes used, attacks had to be made at a maximum speed of only about 110 MPH, and at an altitude of no more than 100 feet. This made the Devastator a sitting duck for both enemy fighters or anti-aircraft gunners. The highlight of the TBDs brief battle career in WW II came during the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. This battle, the first ever waged solely between the aircraft of opposing carrier attack groups, involved air groups from the USS Yorktown and USS Lexington. Three Japanese carriers, the Shokaku, the Zuikaku, and the Shoho were involved. On May 7 the Lexington launched fifty aircraft and the Yorktown another 43. Two squadrons of TBDs were involved in the attack. This massed force located the Shoho around 11:00 AM. SBD Dauntless dive bombers initiated the attack, and were successful at fending off fighter attacks by Zeros during their near vertical dives. The large force of SBDs put several 1000-pounders into the Shoho. Minutes later the Devastators from the Lexington attacked, gaining advantage from the smoke and confusion created by the dive bombers. Coming in low and slow the Devastators put six or seven torpedoes into the Shoho. In Stan Stokes painting the TBD flown by Lt. R. F. Farrington, T.R. Wiebe, and Walter N. Nelson of VT-2 from the USS Lexington is depicted. Several more hits by the Dauntlesses sealed the fate of the Shoho which slipped under the waves while still making a headway of about 20 knots. Witnessing the Shohos final moments, Lt. Cdr. Bob Dixon reported by radio at 11:36 AM the following message, Scratch One Flat Top! Dixon to carrier. Scratch one Flat Top! This was the first loss of a significant ship by the Imperial Navy. It also foretold of an end of the era of surface war ships slugging it out in a gunnery duel within sight of each other. The era of the carrier battle group had begun, with destruction delivered to a distant enemy by carrier based aircraft. Weeks following the Battle of the Coral Sea, at the Battle of Midway, the United States Navy would destroy almost 50% of Japans carriers in a momentous battle. The Navys TBDs would be virtually wiped-out at Midway, and would be replaced in front-line service by TBF Avengers and SB2C Helldivers for the balance of the War. Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity.. Price £37.00
Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £94.00 Signed by Walter N Nelson and Theodore R Wiebe - the middle and rear seaters of torpedo squadron two. ITEM CODE STK0098 |
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