Jolly Rogers by Nicolas Trudgian.

With its macabre skull and crossbones insignia, and a reputation for total disdain of authority, VF-17 arrived in the Pacific with a variety of nicknames ranging from the Irregulars to the Cast-offs, but under the dynamic leadership of their Squadron Commander, Tom Blackburn, VF-17 made their presence felt immediately upon their arrival in the fall of 1943. Equipped with the F4U Corsair, VF-17 pilots had what Blackburn was convinced was the best fighter aircraft of World War II, and on 1st November, during the invasion of Bougainville, VF-17 pilots shot down 6 Japanese planes in their first taste of battle - 2 falling to the guns of their C.O. Over the next 8500 hours of combat in the Solomons, its pilots shot down 156 enemy aircraft, 8 Japanese aircraft for each plane it lost, and produced the highest number of Aces of any squadron in the Navy. Blackburns Fighting 17 were the toast of the Navy brass, earned the respect of their peers, and became known throughout the Pacific as The Jolly Rogers.

Limited edition of publisher proofs  Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £295.00

Signed by :
Captain Tom Blackburn (deceased),
Rear Admiral Roger Hedrick,
Lieutenant Dan Cunningham
and
Lieutenant Tom Killefer.

£50 Off Selected Prints - Was £345

ITEM CODE DHM1853

The Black Sheep by Nicolas Trudgian.

Few fighter units in World War II gained the notoriety of Pappy Boyingtons Marine Corps VMF-214 Black Sheep Squadron. Equipped with the Chance Vought F4U Corsair, under Boyingtons spirited leadership, the Black Sheep pilots were accorded one of only two Presidential Unit Citations awarded to Marine Corps squadrons during the war in the Pacific. With the American forces pushing up through the South Pacific, the First Marine Air Wing was urgently looking for a seasoned fighter pilot to form a unit to take the brand new F4U into combat. Boyington had the experience - he had become an Ace flying with Chennaults Flying Tigers in China - and the rank to lead a squadron; he also had a reputation as an aggressive fighter leader, and was a natural choice for the job. Recruiting pilots from the reserve pool, together with others awaiting assignment to squadrons, the 30 year-old Boyington - dubbed Pappy by his group of young pilots - knocked them into one of the most effective fighter units in the South Pacific. In their first twelve weeks of operation they brought down 97 Japanese aircraft, no fewer than 95 of which were enemy fighters. During this period they lost only 11 pilots. VMF-214 saw action at Guadalcanal, the northern Solomons and Vella Lavella; they were the first to strafe Kahili, the first to operate from the field at Munda while it was still under enemy artillery fire, and the first to lead fighter sweeps over Rabaul. Nicolas Trudgians outstanding painting captures the scene at Vella Lavella as Pappy Boyington leads his VMF-214 Black Sheep Squadron off the island strip to escort a B-17 Fortress raid on Rabaul in December 1943. Boyington led his Black Sheep pilots through two combat tours before being brought down himself and taken prisoner. On his last mission he shot down three Zeros, bringing his final tally to 28. He was to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. Nicks fine image pays tribute to one of the US Marine Corps most illustrious fighter squadrons and to its remarkable leader.

Fighter Pilots Edition. Signed limited edition of 125 prints. Paper size approx 34 inches x 25 inches (86cm x 64cm). Price £

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg (deceased) and Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson (deceased), in addition to the artist.

Black Sheep Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size approx 34 inches x 25 inches (86cm x 64cm). Price £250.00

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg (deceased), Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich, Colonel Edwin A Harper, Lieutenant Colonel William D Heier, Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill, Captain Fred S Losch and Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson (deceased), in addition to the artist.

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Black Sheep Edition. Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size approx 34 inches x 25 inches (86cm x 64cm). Price £180.00

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg (deceased), Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich, Colonel Edwin A Harper, Lieutenant Colonel William D Heier, Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill, Captain Fred S Losch and Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson (deceased), in addition to the artist.

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Black Sheep Edition. Limited edition of 40 remarques. Paper size approx 34 inches x 25 inches (86cm x 64cm). Price £325.00

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg (deceased), Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich, Colonel Edwin A Harper, Lieutenant Colonel William D Heier, Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill, Captain Fred S Losch and Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson (deceased), in addition to the artist.

Black Sheep Edition. Limited edition of 10 double remarques. Paper size approx 34 inches x 25 inches (86cm x 64cm). Price £525.00

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg (deceased), Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich, Colonel Edwin A Harper, Lieutenant Colonel William D Heier, Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill, Captain Fred S Losch and Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson (deceased), in addition to the artist.

Black Sheep Tribute Edition. Limited edition of 10 prints. Paper size approx 34 inches x 25 inches (86cm x 64cm). Price £

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg (deceased), Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich, Colonel Edwin A Harper, Lieutenant Colonel William D Heier, Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill, Captain Fred S Losch and Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson (deceased), in addition to the artist.

Nicolas Trudgian Promotional Flyer. A4 Size Double Sheet 11.5 inches x 8 inches (30m x 21cm) . Price £1.50

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** (Ex Display) Black Sheep Edition. Signed limited edition of 500 prints. (One copy reduced to clear) Paper size approx 34 inches x 25 inches (86cm x 64cm). Price £120.00

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Robert W McClurg (deceased), Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich, Colonel Edwin A Harper, Lieutenant Colonel William D Heier, Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill, Captain Fred S Losch and Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson (deceased), in addition to the artist.

ITEM CODE DHM2225

Semper Fi Skies by John D Shaw.

Captain Archie Glenn Donahue of VMF-112s Wolfpack, becomes an ace in a day in the skies near Guadalcanal in May 1943. He would repeat this remarkable feat 2 years later, after shooting down five enemy planes while on service aboard the USS Bunker Hill, establishing himself as one of the finest aces in US marine aviation history.

Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 27 inches x 32 inches (69cm x 81cm) Price £155.. Price £155.00

Signed by Colonel Archie Donahue.

ITEM CODE DHM2631

Zero Fighter Sweep by Roy Grinnell.

1st Lt Kenneth A Walsh over the Solomon Islands May 13th 1943. He scored 21 Victories at received the medal of Honor.

ITEM CODE AX0058

Battle for the Islands by Nicolas Trudgian.

Corsairs of VMF 121 provide close air support to the US landings on Rendova, June 30, 1943. Fiercely contested, the invasion force was heavily attacked by Zero fighters and Mitsubishi G4M1 Betty bombers, flying from their base at Rabaul. Dog-fighting at tree-top height, VMF 121 Corsairs rip into a bunch of Betty bombers as they try to make their escape following their attack on shipping. On fire, the Betty in the foreground is doomed, and will shortly become one of 19 Japanese aircraft accounted for by VMF 121. Other Marine fighter units brought the total this day to a staggering 58 enemy aircraft destroyed.

Signed limited edition of 600 prints. Paper size 36 inches x 22 inches (91cm x 56cm). Price £155.00

Signed by Colonel Robert M Baker, Colonel Robert Bruce Porter (deceased) and Colonel James E Swett (deceased), in addition to the artist.

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Limited edition of artist proofs. Paper size 36 inches x 22 inches (91cm x 56cm). Price £205.00

Signed by Colonel Robert M Baker, Colonel Robert Bruce Porter (deceased) and Colonel James E Swett (deceased), in addition to the artist.

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Limited edition of publishers proofs. Paper size 36 inches x 22 inches (91cm x 56cm). Price £185.00

Signed by Colonel Robert M Baker, Colonel Robert Bruce Porter (deceased) and Colonel James E Swett (deceased), in addition to the artist.

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Limited edition of 60 artists special reserve prints, signed by the artist only. Paper size 36 inches x 22 inches (91cm x 56cm). Price £110.00

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Limited edition of 25 remarques. Paper size 36 inches x 22 inches (91cm x 56cm). Price £325.00

Signed by Colonel Robert M Baker, Colonel Robert Bruce Porter (deceased) and Colonel James E Swett (deceased), in addition to the artist.

ITEM CODE DHM2047

Rabaul - Fly For Your Life by Robert Taylor.

For their outstanding contribution to the war in the South Pacific, the Black Sheep were awarded one of only two Presidential Unit Citations accorded to Marine Corps squadrons during the war in the Pacific. With typical mastery, Robert Taylor has brought to life an encounter over Rabaul in late December 1943, paying tribute to one of the US Marine Corps most famous fighter squadrons, and its outstanding leader. With the Japanese airbase at Rabaul visible in the distance, Pappy Boyington and his fellow pilots of VMF-214 tear into a large formation of Japanese Zekes and a series of deadly dogfights have started, one Zeke already fallen victim to their guns.

Signed limited edition of 400 prints. Paper size 36 inches x 23.5 inches (91cm x 60cm). Price £200.00

Signed by Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson (deceased) and Major Harry Johnson USMC.

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Signed limited edition of 25 Black Sheep Edition artist proofs. Paper size 36 inches x 23.5 inches (91cm x 60cm). Price £395.00

Signed by Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson (deceased), Major Harry Johnson USMC, Lieutenant Colonel Henry M Bourgeois USMC, Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich, Colonel Edwin A Harper, Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill and Captain Fred S Losch.

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Signed limited edition of 350 Black Sheep Edition prints. Paper size 36 inches x 23.5 inches (91cm x 60cm). Price £275.00

Signed by Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson, Major Harry Johnson USMC, Lieutenant Colonel Henry M Bourgeois USMC, Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich, Colonel Edwin A Harper, Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill and Captain Fred S Losch.

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ITEM CODE DHM2673

Beach Head Strike Force by Robert Taylor.

F4U Corsairs search and destroy enemy positions during landings in the Marshall Islands, 1944.

Signed limited edition of 1250 prints. Paper size 34 inches x 26 inches (86cm x 66cm). Price £

Signed by Phil Delong, Roger Hedrick, Harold Segal, Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH and Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth A Walsh.

ITEM CODE AX0037

Black Sheep Over Rabaul by Stan Stokes.

Pappy Boyingtons VMF-214 Black Sheep squadron continues to fascinate aviation and military enthusiasts to this day. VMF-214 flew three combat tours starting from September 1943 and chalked up a total of 153 aerial victories with more than another 100 Japanese aircraft destroyed on the ground. Rabaul Harbor, more than 200 miles distant from their airfields, was a stronghold for the Japanese and a frequent target for the Black Sheep of VM17-214. Most missions to Rabaul involved the escort of SBD Dauntless dive-bombers, TBF Avenger torpedo bombers, or B-24s. The Black Sheep usually provided high cover at 20,000 to 24,000 feet, and on some occasions Japanese fighters would be waiting in the clouds above them. The Zekes would use their altitude advantage and dive at great speeds to penetrate the top cover and get at the attacking American bombers. The Black Sheep utilized the Thatch Weave to protect their own flights from tail-end attacks by the Zekes. Rabaul Harbor was not an easy target as it was heavily defended with shore batteries and antiaircraft guns on the surrounding mountainsides. Lots of Japanese military supplies, vehicles, and munitions were scattered around the harbor. Several smaller ships were typically at anchor, but the Japanese would only bring its large capital ships into the deep-water harbor during bad weather or under the cover of darkness. There were several aces that flew with the Black Sheep, but only three are still living. One of these is Pappys wingman, USMC Lt. Col. Robert W. Me Clurg. Bob was born in Coshocton, Ohio on February 9, 1919. McClurgs No. 883 Martha is depicted off of Boyingtons wing in Stan Stokes painting. Following a move to Pennsylvania, Bob enrolled at Penn State and later transferred to and earned a degree in Business Administration from Westminister College in 1942. While at Penn State Bob joined the Marine Corps platoon leaders course. He applied for Marine aviation flight training following graduation, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USMC in 1943 at Pensacola. Following only 21 hours of fighter flight time in the F2A Buffalo, MeClurg received his initial combat assignment with VMF-211 who had defended Wake Island. McClurg was then transferred to Boyingtons VMF-214 which was being organized. As a Black Sheep he participated in the intense combat in the Russell Islands, New Georgia, New Britain, New Ireland, and Bouganville areas. He also flew many missions as Pappys wingman. McClurg bagged his first Zeke on September 16, 1943, and he attained ace status by December of that year. His final victory tally was 7 confirmed and 2 probable aerial victories. Following his combat tour in the Pacific, he attended Marine Air Infantry School at Quantico, Virginia, Engineering Officers School at Memphis, Tennessee, and finally trained future Corsair pilots at Cherry Point, North Carolina. Following his service career, Bob earned a Masters of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He retired from the Corp. as a Lt. Colonel. He is the recipient of numerous decorations including five Distinguished Flying Crosses, eight Air Medals, and two Presidential Unit Citations. He currently resides in upstate New York.

Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £94.00

Signed by Lt Col Bob McClurg (deceased).

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ITEM CODE STK0075

Corsair on Final by Stan Stokes.

Limited edition of 300 giclee paper prints. Size 20 inches x 15 inches (51cm x 38cm). Price £109.00

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Limited edition of 300 giclee canvas prints. Size 40 inches x 30 inches (102cm x 76cm). Price £624.00

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Limited edition of 300 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 27 inches (91cm x 69cm). Price £484.00

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Limited edition of 300 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 20 inches (69cm x 51cm). Price £

ITEM CODE STK0063

Boyington Takes a Break by Stan Stokes.

Signed limited edition of 300 giclee paper prints. Image size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00

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Limited edition of 300 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00

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Limited edition of 300 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00

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Limited edition of 300 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00

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ITEM CODE STK0203

Mission to Buin Harbor by Stan Stokes.

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1916, Ken Walsh enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1933. He initially served as an aircraft mechanic and radioman, and was accepted for pilot training in 1936. He graduated in 1937 receiving his Wings of Gold at Pensacola, Florida. Walshs initial assignment was with VO-7M (later to be designated VMS-1) at Quantico, Virginia. He later served with various scouting and observation squadrons attached to the USS Yorktown, USS Wasp, and the USS Ranger. In mid- 1941 Kens ambition of becoming a fighter pilot was realized when he was transferred to VMF121. With more than 1600 hours of flying time, Walsh was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1942 and was assigned to VMF-124, the first Marine squadron to be equipped with the Chance Vought F4U-1 Corsair. He flew combat missions with VMF-124 from February to September 1943 in the campaign to retake the Solomon Islands. During this period he attained twenty confirmed aerial victories. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on August 15 and August 30 of 1943. On the 15th Walsh repeatedly dove his Corsair into a large enemy formation which outnumbered his own division by six-to-one. Although his aircraft was badly shot~up, Ken managed to down two Japanese dive bombers and one fighter. On the 30th his aircraft developed engine trouble on a vital escort mission of 27 B-24s accompanied by 30 Corsairs to Kahili Aerodrome on Bougainville. Walsh landed his aircraft at Munda, and within minutes had borrowed another which was on scramble alert. Flying at maximum speed at 30,000 feet, Walsh reached the target area as a flight of fifty Japanese fighters prepared to dive on the B-24s and F4Us. He dove through the enemy fighter force bagging two Zeros, and then joined up with his squadron mates in the vicinity Kahili. As the bombers broke formation Walsh and his fellow Marine pilots engaged in a frantic dogfight, during which Ken managed to down two more Zeros, before being forced to ditch the borrowed Corsair. He was later picked up by a Higgins boat. On June 5, 1943 Walsh, as depicted in Stan Stokes painting, flew fighter escort for Navy Air Group Eleven (CAG-1 1), on a mission to Buin Harbor, Bouganville. A strike force of 15 Douglas SBDs and 12 Gruniman TBFs were to be escorted. Walshs assignment was to make sure that no enemy fighters attacked the T13F flown by Weldon Hamilton, the Air Groups Commander. As Hamilton made his bomb run, Walsh shot down a Japanese Zero attacking his own wingman. As the strike force departed the area a Mitsubishi Pete attacked Hamilton, and Walsh closed quickly and destroyed the attacker. After his combat tour, he became a Training Command Flight Instructor at NAS Jacksonville. He returned to combat in 1945 with VMF-222 flying F4U4 Corsairs initially out of the Philippines, and later, Okinawa. He scored his final confirmed aerial victory, his 21, on June 22, 1945, when he downed a Kamikaze. Following the War, Ken served with The Bureau of Aeronautics in Washington. He flew combat-cargo and air evacuation of wounded personnel missions during the Korean Conflict with VMR- 152, a squadron he would later command. In 1958 Ken was promoted to Lt. Colonel, and he was transferred to Japan in 1959 to serve as Aircraft Maintenance Officer for the First Marine Aircraft Wing. Ken Walsh retired from the USMC in 1962 following more than 28 years of continuous military service to his country. He was the first Corsair ace and third highest scoring Corsair ace of WWII. Ken Walsh passed away suddenly on July 30,1998. We will all miss him.

Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Size 22 inches x 18 inches (56cm x 46cm). Price £94.00

Signed by Lt Col Kenneth Walsh USMC.

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ITEM CODE STK0082

Hook Down and Homeward Bound by Stan Stokes.

The Chance-Vought F4U Corsair was arguably the finest naval aviation fighter of its era. Work on this design dates to 1938 and was headed-up by Voughts Chief Engineer, Rex Biesel. The initial prototype was powered by an 1800-HP Pratt & Whitney double Wasp radial engine. This was the third Vought aircraft to carry the Corsair name. The graceful and highly recognizable gull-wing design of the F4U permitted the aircraft to utilize a 13-foot, three-blade, Hamilton Standard propeller, while not having to lengthen the landing gear. Because of the rigors of carrier landings, this was a very important design consideration. Folding wings were also required for carrier operations. The F4U was thirty feet long, had a wingspan of 41 feet and an empty weight of approximately 7,500 pounds. Another interesting feature was the way the F4Us gear rotated 90 degrees, so it would lay flush within the wing when in the up position. In 1939 the Navy approved the design, and production commenced. The Corsair utilized a new spot welding process on its all aluminum fuselage, giving the aircraft very low drag. To reduce weight, fabric-covered outer wing sections and control surfaces were fitted. In May of 1940 the F4U made its maiden flight. Although a number of small bugs were discovered during early flight tests, the Corsair had exceptional performance characteristics. In October of 1940 the prototype F4U was clocked at 405-MPH in a speed test. The initial production Corsairs received an upgraded 2,000-HP radial giving the bird a top speed of about 425-MPH. The production models also differed from the prototype in having six, wing-mounted, 0.5 caliber machine guns. Another change was a shift of the cockpit about three feet further back in the fuselage. This latter change unfortunately made naval aviators wary of carrier landings with the F4U, due to its limited forward visibility during landings. Other concerns were expressed regarding a severe port wing drop at landing speeds and a tendency of the aircraft to bounce off a carrier deck. As a result, the F4U was initially limited to land-based USMC squadrons. Vought addressed several of these problems, and the Royal Navy deserves credit for perfecting an appropriate landing strategy for the F4U. They found that if the carrier pilot landed the F4U while making a sweeping left turn with the port wing down, that sufficient visibility was available to make a safe landing. With a kill ratio of 11-to-1 in WW II combat, the F4U proved superior in the air to almost every opposing aircraft it encountered. More than 12,000 F4Us were built and fortunately a few dozen remain in flyable condition to this date.

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 £40.00

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Limited edition of 100 giclee paper prints. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm). Price £109.00

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Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 45 inches x 30 inches (114cm x 76cm). Price £624.00

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Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £484.00

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Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm). Price £294.00

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ITEM CODE STK0066

Attack on the Yalu Bridges by Philip West.

F-4U Corsair during the Korean War attacking Yalu bridges.

Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Paper size 18 inches x 14 inches (46cm x 36cm). Price £55.00

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ITEM CODE DHM2038

Corsair of the Intrepid by Stan Stokes.

An F4U Corsair approaches the USS Intrepid during WWII in Stans dramatic depiction.

Limited edition of 150 prints. Size 39 inches x 27 inches (100cm x 69cm). Price £109.00

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ITEM CODE STK0078

Ace in a Day by Stan Stokes.

A new U.S. Navy fighter squadron designated VF-11 was organized in August 1942. The new squadron received several combat tested pilots, and many newcomers, including Vernon E. Graham, a Colorado native. After two months of training in San Diego the new squadron deployed to Maui, where, under the command of Charles Fenton, the squadron commenced a comprehensive training program. While in Hawaii several of VF-11s pilots came up with a squadron insignia which depicted two Grumman F4F Wildcats blasting a rising sun into the Pacific. Thus VF- 11 became known as the Sun Downers. The Sun Downers first combat tour would be land-based, flying out of Guadacanal with the Marines. This was a bit upsetting to some member of the squadron as the Marines were flying the state-of-the-art F4U Corsair, while VF-11 was equipped with the older Grumman F4F Wildcat, an aircraft somewhat inferior in dog fighting capability to the Japanese Zero. During the first several weeks of its first combat tour the Sun Downers had more than their share of misfortune. Several aircraft were lost without enemy opposition. This was all to change in a hurry for the young Vern Graham. Graham had flown about thirty missions without incident. Returning from a long escort mission Graham and his formation of sixteen Wildcats responded to a request for help from four Marine Corsairs which had encountered nearly forty Japanese Zeros while on patrol near Russell Island. Only eight of the Wildcats had sufficient fuel to engage the enemy. Disregarding his critical fuel situation, Graham and his wing man got involved in assisting the Marines. Graham bagged his first Zero with a diving attack while his adversary was more preoccupied with the Corsair he was tailing. Minutes later a second Zero succumbed to a high side attack, and a third exploded in mid-air during a head-on pass. Graham bagged two more prior to his engine quitting due to lack of fuel. Without power Graham was a sitting duck, and in no time two Zeros were on his tail. Fortunately, Grahams Marine buddies bagged one and chased the other off. In serious trouble, Grahams only hope was to glide his Wildcat to Russell Island where an emergency airstrip was available. Not knowing that one of his wheels had been shot away during the engagement, Grahams Wildcat flipped over during the emergency landing. Knocked unconscious with a fractured skull, Graham was cut from the wreckage of his F4F, and sent to a military hospital. With five confirmed aerial victories during this single mission, Graham had achieved the unusual distinction of becoming An Ace in a Day. Vern received the Navy Cross and returned to the States to recover. He would later return to active flying after requalifying in the F41J Corsair. During its first combat tour the Sun Downers attained 55 aerial victories. Four of the new squadrons pilots became aces, and five of the squadrons forty pilots (C.G. Boswell, C.G. Cary, L.W. Childs, T.L. Hull, and G.W. Ricker) were killed in action. It is in their memory that this limited edition print is dedicated.

Signed limited edition of 950 prints. Print size 26 inches x 22 inches (66cm x 56cm). Price £80.00

Signed by USN Ace Vern Graham.

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ITEM CODE STK0074

Angels of Okinawa by Stan Stokes.

In 1938 Vought won a contract for what was to become one of the last of the great propeller driven fighter aircraft, the F4U Corsair. Designed to incorporate the most powerful air-cooled radial engine available at the time, the Pratt and Whitney Double Wasp, the Corsair was powerful, heavily armed, ruggedly built, and designed from the onset as a carrier based fighter. The Corsair was fast, and became the first military aircraft to obtain 400 MPH in level flight. The Corsair incorporated the largest three-bladed propeller ever utilized on a single engine aircraft, a unique distinctive gull wing design, and its 2804 cubic inch engine developed a whopping 1800 HP, more than twice the horsepower of the Japanese fighters which dominated the early years of the War in the Pacific. Despite its design emphasis the USN was reluctant to utilize the Corsair for carrier-based operations because of the aircrafts poor pilot visibility during landings. As a result, the Corsair initially entered service with land-based USMC Squadrons in February of 1943. VMF-124, the first squadron to be equipped with Corsairs, quickly realized that they had a very special aircraft, and at the end of their tour of duty, VMF-124 had 68 confirmed kills of Japanese planes in air-to-air combat vs. losses of only 11 Corsairs. The Royal Navy, which procured over 2,000 of the 9,441 Corsairs produced, successfully overcame the pilot visibility problem by incorporating a curved angular approach to landings. Influenced by the Royal Navys success, the USN requalified the Corsair for carrier-based operations in early 1945. During the Okinawa campaign U.S. forces encountered a desperate shift in Japanese strategy which incorporated the full fury of the Kamikaze suicide attack. Lacking experienced pilots, and in hopes of slowing American advances, more than 3,000 Kamikaze planes were directed at the U.S. naval forces during the Okinawa campaign. The Corsair was instrumental in the fact the 2,600 Kamikazes did not succeed. In his spectacular painting, aviation artist Stan Stokes shows a F4U Corsair of VMF-451 of the Bunker Hill piloted by Marine Major Archie Donahue in action against an incoming (A6M2 Zero) Kamikaze attack during the Okinawa campaign. In three months during the campaign Navy and Marine pilots based on the Bunker Hill recorded 176 kills. However on April 29, 1944 the Bunker Hills luck ran out. Struck by two Kamikazes within minutes, a four hour conflagration ensued, which killed nearly 400 servicemen, and destroyed the bulk of the ships aircraft. This forced the withdrawal of the Bunker Hill from the campaign. Despite these losses, the Corsairs deservedly earned one of their nicknames, Angels of Okinawa, from the thousands of servicemen who no doubt owed their lives to these last of the great propeller driven fighter aircraft, and the courageous pilots who flew them.

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 £40.00

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Signed limited edition of 225 prints. Size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm). Price £94.00

Signed by USMC Ace Charlie Donahue.

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ITEM CODE STK0070

Topaz One at Twilight by Brian Bateman.

Yontan Airfield, Okinawa, June 1945. It was early evening at this tropical airdrome. The brilliant sun was setting, the air was hot and humid with a faint pall of propeller dust hanging over the field, giving the place an unusual softness. It was time for the planes at Yontan to start departing for their missions. While the day fighters came in to end daylight operations, the night fighters were only beginning theirs. The sunsets in the Pacific are truly things with soul. The violence of their color is incredible. They splatter the sky and the clouds glow with a surging beauty. The ocean blends into the horizon, and palm trees silhouette themselves dramatically against the fiery West. The noiseless peace that sometimes comes just before dusk hung over the airdrome. Men talked in low tones about the nights missions. The night fighter pilots are eager to get into the humid night sky. As they take off, one by one they are vectored to their positions, where they will spend the evening patrolling these zones. There have been few aces with the Marine night fighters. These men are a special breed, with their mounts named after loved ones back home or a city or town. The name of this F6F5N was Black Death, a fitting name for the role in which it was used. Black Death was one of a few F6F5Ns that was fitted with the cannon, with this particular plane having flame dampeners for better concealment. One of these elite night fighter Marine aces was Bruce Porter. Bruce was credited with 5 confirmed kills and was one of only a handful to have a rare double kill at night! Bruce flew the Corsair in Guadalcanal as well as the Hellcat later in the war. Topaz One at Twilight depicts one of Bruce Porters missions while commanding VMF(N) 542 based in Okinawa in 1945. The brilliance of a Pacific sunset is captured by the artist as the men and their machines hurl into the dark unknown skies, protecting the fleet below as they anchor in the harbor. The ships lie lazy, almost peaceful in the evening mist, but there is the ever-present danger of the gut wrenching kamikaze attacks which are becoming ever more frequent as Japan continues her death throes. Soon the war will be a memory, and once again the Pacific can share its brilliance with the world at peace.

Signed limited edition of 250 prints. Image size 26 inches x 21 inches (66cm x 53cm). Price £125.00

Signed by Colonel Bruce Porter USMC (deceased).

ITEM CODE DHM1875

Victory Flyover by Robert Taylor.

The mass flyover, Toyko Bay, 1945, heralding the surrender on board USS Missouri.

Signed limited edition of 850 prints. Paper size 32 inches x 24 inches (81cm x 61cm). Price £

Signed by John Mremyer, Hi Lamar, CW Nimitz, Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth A Walsh, Jeff de Blanc, Bob Galer, Ray Hawkins, Bill Stewart and Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH.

ITEM CODE AX0033

Gunfight Over Rabaul by Nicolas Trudgian

Nicolas Trudgians action packed painting shows an attack on Rabaul during the fall of 1943. B-24 Liberators of the Army Air Force pound the harbor and docks below whilst the Marines Corps pilots of VMF 214 - the famous Black Sheep Squadron - provide top cover in their F4U Corsairs. A fierce dog-fight has developed between the F4U pilots and Japanese Zeros. One Zero, already smoking, begins to roll out of control, while the two F4U pilots turn their attentions on to a second. Below further dog-fights are in progress, the air filled with aerial combat.

Signed limited edition of 600 prints. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm) - Just one copy available of this otherwise sold out edition available.. Price £

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel John R Bolt, Lieutenant Colonel A Roger Conant, Colonel Archie G Donahue and Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth A Walsh, in addition to the artist.

Limited edition of artist proofs. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm) - Just one copy available of this otherwise sold out edition available.. Price £230.00

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel John R Bolt, Lieutenant Colonel A Roger Conant, Colonel Archie G Donahue and Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth A Walsh, in addition to the artist.

Limited edition of 50 publishers proofs. Paper size 33 inches x 24 inches (84cm x 61cm). Price £220.00

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel John R Bolt, Lieutenant Colonel A Roger Conant, Colonel Archie G Donahue and Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth A Walsh, in addition to the artist.

Part of our Buy Two, Get a Third Half Price Offer

ITEM CODE DHM2116