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Grumman Hellcat in aviation art
prints by leading aviation artists Robert Taylor, Stan Stokes, Nicholas
Trudgian and Ivan Berryman. This aviation art prints of the hellcat are
available direct from Cranston Fine Arts
Grumman designed the hellcat as a replacement for the
Wildcat. which although was a good fighter and could withstand alot of
punishment. it was found after pearl harbor that it was not a match for
the Japanese Zero. The hellcat proved to be a great replacement.
Production started in 1942 and ended in November 1945, the total
production figure being 12,275.
The Grumman Hellcat first saw action against the
Japanese on 1st September 1943,
when fighters off the USS Independence (CVL-22) shot down a
Japanese Seaplane. On the 23rd November Grumman Hellcats Over
Tarawa shot down approximately 30 Japanese Mitsubishi Zeros. but lost
one Hellcat. On the 11th November 1942 a full day Arial combat between
Hellcats and Zeros over Raboul resulted in over 100 Japanese aircraft
shoot down with the loss of only a couple of Hellcats. Grumman
hellcats were used extensively form then on in the Pacific Theatre. A total
of 66,530 sorties were flown with the majority of these form aircraft
carriers (62,386). They destroyed over 5,150 Japanese aircraft
with the loss of 270 aircraft. The Royal navies Fleet Air Arm
received 1263 Hellcats which they renamed Gannets. They flew
sorties against German positions and shipping in Norway and the Mediterranean
and also in the far east. there was a total of 12 squadrons
equipped with hellcats. with this number being reduced to only two
by the end of the war.
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| USS Lexington by Stan Stokes. The Lady Lex, (CV-2) as she was popularly called, was one of only a handful of carriers available when the U.S. was plunged into WW II. Although the Lex would be lost during the War, she played an important combat role early in the War. In Stans painting, of the 2nd USS Lexington (CV-16) F6F Hellcats pass over the Lady. Limited edition of 950 prints. Print size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £74.00 ITEM CODE STK0071 |
| Off to the Turkey Shoot by Stan Stokes. At the time of the attack of Pearl Harbor the Japanese had superior aircraft and plenty of experienced pilots fresh from combat in China. By 1944 the roles were reversed. Anxious to commence B-29 bombing missions against the Japanese homeland Rear Admiral Marc Mitschers Task Force 58 was given the assignment of supporting the recapture of the Marianas. This proved to be the last major carrier battle of World War II. On June 11, 1944 large formations of Hellcats were dispatched to lure Japanese land-based fighters into combat. Enough Japanese fighters were destroyed to allow the Fifth Fleet to land 140,000 troops on Saipan and Guam on June 15th. Also on June 15th the Japanese main fleet joined up with its mobile fleet about 300-400 miles from Task Force 58. Vice Admiral Ozawa detached a force to use as bait to lure the Americans within range of the main fleet. His bait not taken, on June 19th Ozawa launched three air strikes with about 250 aircraft. The relatively inexperienced Japanese pilots now flying technically inferior aircraft were decimated by the Grumman Hellcats of Task Force 58. By days end Ozawa had lost 218 aircraft, and while unprotected his fleet had been attacked by American submarines resulting in the sinking of two of his carriers. Late in the afternoon of June 20th American Hellcats, Helldivers, and Avengers were launched at Ozawas fleet, resulting in the loss of one more carrier and severe damage to another two. As his airwings returned after dark Admiral Mitscher ordered his fleet to light-up, which enabled many of the American aircraft to return safely. About a third of the planes were forced to ditch with the loss of thirteen crewman. The Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat pictured, became the Navys primary carrier borne fighter plane during World War II. Over 12,000 Hellcats were produced, and the Hellcat was credited with 4,947 of the 6,477 kills of enemy planes downed by carrier pilots during the War. The Hellcat had a top speed of 375 MPH, a range of 1,089 miles and was armed with six machine guns. The aircraft was powered by an 18-cylinder Pratt and Whitney, air-cooled, radial engine which generated 2,000 horsepower. As depicted by Stokes is the aircraft of Squadron Commander David McCampbell of the USS Essex. McCampbell is the highest scoring US Naval aviator of all time. 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 £229.00 Signed by USN Ace Capt David McCampbell. ITEM CODE STK0076 |
| Scramble for the Marianas by Nicolas Trudgian. On June 19, 1944 American Navy pilots ripped into wave after wave of enemy aircraft. As each new onslaught arrived there were more fighters there to meet them. Other squadrons joined in the melee and the radio circuits crackled with shouts and cries of encouragement. Hell this is like an old time turkey shoot! yelled one pilot - and thus the battle became known as the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. By the late afternoon two Japanese carriers had been sunk by submarines, and an incredible 373 enemy planes shot down. The U.S. Navy pilots had won an historic victory. Seen hurtling off the deck of the U.S.S. Lexington is the F6F Hellcat of Lt. Alex Vraciu of Fighting Squadron VF-16. With 12 victories already to his credit, Vraciu would add a further 6 to his tally in the space of just 8 minutes on that momentous day. Signed limited edition of 1000 prints. Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £325.00 Signed by Commander Alex Vraciu USN, Captain Richard Zeke Cormier, Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN and Captain Armistead Chick Smith.
Limited edition of 125 publishers proofs. Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £400.00 Signed by Commander Alex Vraciu USN, Captain Richard Zeke Cormier, Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN and Captain Armistead Chick Smith. ITEM CODE DHM2663 |
| Hellcat Fury by Robert Taylor. Truk, the small atoll in the South Pacific, was the major anchorage for the Japanese Fleet. Comprising a magnificent harbor and four heavily defended airfields, it was thought impregnable by the US forces as they fought their way up through the Pacific. But on 16-17 February 1944 a violent two-day aerial assault by carrierborne aircraft of Task Force 58 exploded the myth. In just two days the US Navy flyers sunk over 200,000 tons of Japanese naval shipping and destroyed an estimated 275 enemy aircraft, totally eliminating all effectiveness of the Japanese base. Light as the US Navy losses were only 25 aircraft failed to return the battle for Truk was ferocious. The ground installations, ships, and airfield batteries put up intense antiaircraft fire against the attacking American aircraft, while Zeros did their best to repel the onslaught. The air above the atoll became a maelstrom of flak, tracer, flying lead and shrapnel, while below huge explosions rocked the ground as ammo and fuel dumps were hit, fires raged, and the acrid smoke of battle pervaded the entire area. In this important new painting, his first featuring the F6F Hellcat, Robert Taylor brings to life the scenario that was crucial to Admiral Spruances forceful drive through the Central Pacific. The once feared Japanese base at Truk is being reduced to a statistic of war. Hellcats of VF6 hurtle across the lagoon at masthead height with guns blazing, creating havoc as they tear into the enemy positions below. Seen in the foreground is the F6F-3 of Lt. Alex Vracui, subsequently to become one of the Navys top guns. This exhilarating work dramatically conveys the awesome conditions endured day after day by the pilots of the US Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific. Aces Edition. Signed limited edition of 450 prints. Paper size 35 inches x 24 inches (89cm x 61cm). Price £200.00 Signed by Commander Willis E Hardy USN, Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN and Commander Alex Vraciu USN.
War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Paper size 35 inches x 24 inches (89cm x 61cm). Price £395.00 Signed by Commander Willis E Hardy USN, Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN, Commander Alex Vraciu USN, Commander John Ted Crosby USN, Colonel Archie G Donahue USMC, Lt Commander Fred Buck Dungan USN, Lt Commander James E Duffy USN, Captain John R Strane USN and Commander Ed Wendy Wendorf USN.
War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Image size 35 inches x 24 inches (89cm x 61cm). Price £250.00 Signed by Commander Willis E Hardy USN, Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN, Commander Alex Vraciu USN, Commander John Ted Crosby USN, Colonel Archie G Donahue USMC, Lt Commander Fred Buck Dungan USN, Lt Commander James E Duffy USN, Captain John R Strane USN and Commander Ed Wendy Wendorf USN.
Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. Paper size 35 inches x 24 inches (89cm x 61cm). Price £395.00 Signed by Commander Willis E Hardy USN, Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN, Commander Alex Vraciu USN, Commander John Ted Crosby USN, Colonel Archie G Donahue USMC, Lt Commander Fred Buck Dungan USN, Lt Commander James E Duffy USN, Captain John R Strane USN, Commander Ed Wendy Wendorf USN, Colonel Bruce Porter USMC, Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH and Captain Stanley Swede Vejtasa USN. ITEM CODE NT0007 |
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