"Schweinfurt Again", by Keith Ferris, ASAA, depicts the B-17G, Thunder Bird, of the 303rd Bomb Group on its 80th mission - a mission to Schweinfurt, Germany, which had claimed 163 four-engine bombers and 1500 crew members on previous missions. The 9 October 1944 mission was the 303rd Bomb Group's fifth, and Thunder Bird's second, visit to this dangerous target.

It was to prove a respite, though each day crews faced the cold, thin air, often at -40 degrees Centigrade, in patched-up, worn-out airplanes. Thunder Bird had seen as many as nine and eleven sister ships lost to fighters on previous missions, but she was to carry more than 500 crew members into combat on 116 missions before her retirement on 22 March 1945. The Thunder Bird was the focus of Keith Ferris' magnificent 25-foot by 75-foot mural, Fortresses Under Fire in the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum World War II Gallery. That mural, painted in 1975-76 and Keith's later jet aircraft mural in the Jet Aviation Gallery have been seen by tens of millions of viewers. Thunder Bird has probably been the most viewed B-17 ever and Keith's renditions of B-17s are unexcelled. This print accurately defines the B-17 as used in battle with it's scars and patches, flying at bombing altitude, laying a contrail for every Focke Wulf and Messerschmitt to see and follow. No finer example of a B-17 portrait painting will be found; Keith has researched this airplane down to the last rivet and you can be assured that his perspective is precise. This outstanding print by The Greenwich Workshop is available for $195.00 in a signed and numbered edition of 1000.

Ordering information is available at the bottom of this page.

The Eagle and the Dragon is a limited edition print, with accompaniments, by artist Art Siordia, which celebrates the Imperial Japanese Naval ace, Saburo Sakai. This print and portfolio was issued in 1991. The lithographic print is individually numbered and signed by the artist and by the late Saburo Sakai including his personal chop; in addition, the artist has created a pencil remarque of a dragon on this unusual print.

Details of the large print are presented below.

The wording, "the eagle and the dragon," has been frequently used as a descriptive title or phrase in literature associated with China primarly, but, in this instance, the phrase applies to IJN pilot Saburo Sakai and his Mitsubishi Zero, embodied in a dragon landscape and soaring eagle by the artist.

Accompanying the print, Saburo Sakai personally painted the Japanese calligraphy "Never Give Up" on rice paper - this 8 1/2"x11" brush calligraphy by Sakai San is an outstanding, original item (not a print), an extremely worthy addition to any WW2 collection. Also, a descriptive sheet is included in which Sakai's daughter, Michiko Sakai Smart, interprets the meaning of the calligraphy, futofukutsu.

The photo below shows Saburo Sakai in his IJN flight gear - this 5" x 7" photo is also part of this portfolio.

This print portfolio, number 86, is available for $450.00. The "Good Stuff" page on this website also has photos and text concerning Saburo Sakai and his visit to CollectAir in 1992 at the time this print was published. The artist, Art Siodia, helped host Sakai's visit.

Correspondent John Boylan kindly submitted some photos of Saburo Sakai when Sakai visited Fort Knox in 1987; Sakai was a frequent visitor to the U.S. His daughter and grandchildren lived in the U.S. so he combined visits with them along with attending many World War II seminars and forums where he was a participant. The photos below show him at a gunnery exercise of the 5/12 Calvary training Squadron; his daughter, Michiko, is the lady in the photo.

This print, from a painting by the reknown British artist John Young, has been sold out for years but is being offered here as a secondary market limited edition print - the edition size is only 350.

The rugged Canadian-built Norseman is a classic bush airplane of the north country. A tough, safe and versatile utility airplane, the Norseman was first flown in 1935 and has been a workhose ever since. The main version built by Noorduyn before WW2 was the Norseman IV; at least a hundred of the Montreal-built Norseman were used by the RCAF during the war as the main general light utility airplane. The Norseman remained in RCAF service until the mid-1950s when they were replaced by the DHC-3 Otter. A postwar version, the heavier Norseman V was built by the Canadian Car & Foundry Company who had obtained the rights to the Norseman in the Spring of 1946. The Norseman has long been a mainstay of Canadian and Alaskan bush pilots..

The stature of John Young’s aviation art is underlined by the number of prestigious international awards he has received. He has been honoured by many organisations: from the British Guild of Aviation Artists to the American Society of Aviation Artists. Born in 1930, John Young has been painting the rich pageant of colour and atmosphere which surrounds planes for over forty years. He was fired with enthusiasm as a child by skies filled with the planes of the Second World War. He went to art school and from there into the RAF for National Service. As one might expect from a man who knows aircraft from the inside out and is therefore able to portray them with technical precision, John Young has flown in nearly 60 types of aircraft throughout the world!

John Young has painted professionally since 1950. His work combines a truthful representation of mechanical subjects with sensitivity to the many moods of the sky and land. But his greatest talent lies in his remarkable ability to tell a story through his work.

A widely acclaimed book has been published featuring his painting, which is enduringly popular on both sides of the Atlantic (available from CollectAir). John Young also worked on the set design for Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001, and his paintings can be found in the offices of governments, airlines, air forces and aircraft manufacturers across the globe. Over the years John Young has established himself as one of the most collected and valued aviation and transport artists in the world and 45 of his paintings are held in the RAF Museum at Hendon in London.

This wonderful print, "Yukon Spring," is available for $150.00.

This limited edition print of John Young's Boeing B-17E Fortress was published in 1978 in England and is signed by the late General Ira C. Eaker. Shown is the Yankee Doodle of the 97th BG enroute to attack the marshalling yards at Rouen-Sotteville on August 17, 1942. General Eaker was aboard as the B-17E flew at 22,500 feet. This was the first offensive action of the American 8th Air Force by heavy bombers in World War II and took place, in rapidly clearing weather, in the late afternoon. Twelve Fortresses were involved, all completed their mission, and all returned virtually undamaged to their bases at Grafton Underwood and Polebrook. The targets, however, suffered extensively with an impressive proportion of the bombs falling on, or very close, to the aiming point. This was the first American heavy bomber daylight raid. A detail from this print is shown below.

General Eaker was born in Texas, April 13, 1896. His distinguished military career began as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Infantry Section, Officers Reserve Corps in 1917 and he transferred to the Air Services in 1920. His first claim to fame came in 1926 as he piloted a Curtiss O-1 to victory in the Liberty Engine Builders Trophy Race with a speed of 142.2 mph. As a career Army man, Eaker studied law in Manila while stationed in the Philippines and studied business at Columbia University when stationed at Mitchel Field. He made the United States to Panama dawn-to-dusk flight and in 1927 was a member of the Army's first Good Will Flight to South America in the Loening OA-1A seaplane "San Francisco", shown at left as it appears in the Air Force Museum, W-PAFB (a CollectAir photo). Five OA-1As made the historic 22,000-mile tour of 25 countries. Capt. Ira C. Eaker and Lt. Muir S. Fairchild were the crew of the "San Francisco".

In January 1929, Major Carl Spaatz, USAAC, with Captain Ira Eaker as relief pilot, shown at left, and a crew of three, set a refueling endurance record of 150 hours 40 minutes in the Fokker C2-3 transport "Question Mark", flying over the Los Angeles Airport. This Fokker is now in the NASM exhibit. In 1936, Major Eaker helped pioneer blind flying techniques as he flew from New York to Los Angeles relying on instruments alone. He became a Brigadier General in 1940.

Eaker arrived in England in February 1942 to form the 8th Air Force Bomber Command; he became a Major General in December 1942 as he took over command of the 8th Air Force when Lieut. General Carl Spaatz was transferred to North Africa. Eaker was a proponent of daylight bombing and worked closely with the R.A.F. Bomber Command, headed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur T. Harris, which relied on night bombing. Eaker faced much criticism from several senior allied air commanders for his policy of daylight bombing but later saw his actions vindicated as fighter support grew in numbers. Later in WWII, General Eaker was transferred to take over the Mediterranean Allied Forces as General James Doolittle assumed command of the 8th AF. Between 1945 and his retirement in 1947, Eaker became Deputy Commanding General, Army Air Forces and Chief of Air Staff. He was much decorated (see autographed photo below).

Also included in this collection is TIME magazine of August 30, 1943, featuring a painting of "Airman Eaker of the Eighth" on the cover with the sub-title, "This is the show and this is the showdown". A super issue with good articles and advertisements.

Three autographs of General Eaker are included in this collection. Besides the signed 1978 print and the autographed photo, a very interesting signed "Auxiliary Flight Record" log sheet from March Field has the signature of "Ira C. Eaker, Capt. AC." as commanding officer of the 95th Attack Squadron, dated April 10, 1935. This log sheet, Supplement to Form No. 5, is for 1st. Lt. Lawrence H. Douthit for the month of March 1935 and is also signed by the operations officer, 1st. Lieut. K.J. Gregg. 8 1/2 x 11 inch form, one-sided, with typed entries.

Additionally included is a postcard from the Air Force Museum showing the Loening OA-1A and a handsome bronze medal honoring General Eaker shown both sides below. The medal comes complete with a presentation box. This Complete Collection of General Eaker Memorabilia, including the John Young print, is available for only SORRY SOLD.

The original painting of "Hockey in the Duff or They Just Have to be Canadians" was exhibited at the American Society of Aviation Artists juried show at The United States Air Force Museum from January 30 to June 26, 2004. Another entry, Ardell Bourgeois' fine painting, "Air Show Air Force One", depicting an Air Force E-4B "posing" as Air Force One at the 1995 Dayton Air Show, was also exhibited at this show and was judged as "...the finest entry in the ASAA juried exhibition", winning the James Roy Award. Ardell's winning painting was done in gouache and measured only 7 in. by 12 in., yet was definitive enough to have been effectively blown up to mural size. A new print of this painting is also shown on this page. Ardell is the president of the Canadian Aviation Artists Association and an Artist Member of the ASAA. I am pleased to be able to offer this Typhoon print.

During the Second World War all branches of the Canadian Military played hockey when time, location, weather and the enemy allowed. Play varied from organised leagues to pickup games and even took place in POW camps.

RCAF members stood out as being particularly zealous in finding ways to have games. In England, on one base, an outdoor rink was constructed complete with boards and fan seating. When the need for a roof was identified, they managed to scrounge up the materials required. Due to engineering concerns a support column was added that came to be placed near center ice. Needless to say this had to be avoided at all costs during a game.

When the 2nd Tactical Air Force moved to the continent after D-Day several Canadian Fighter, Fighter Bomber and Recognisance Wings went with it. During the winter of 44-45 the YMCA organised games in Holland and other locales. This lead to a playoff between the different Wings to see who would go back to England to compete against the Bomber 'Pros' from No.6 Group. 126 Wing (Spitfire) won over the other Spitfire Wings and then the Typhoon Wings' champion. They were beaten quite soundly by the 'Bomber Boys' in the final, though the trip to England probably mitigated any disappointment.

Depicted here pilots from a RCAF Typhoon Squadron take advantage of some 'Duff' weather and a patch of ice to get in a quick game. The two 'Urks' on the wing are taking a break from their duties to watch the action.

A limited edition of 550, signed and numbered by the artist. Printed on 130 lb. Centura Silk Cover acid free and archival paper using non-fade, vegetable oil based inks. Run on a four colour Heidelberg press to exacting standards by Hemlock Printers Ltd. of Vancouver, BC. Print size is 32 x 21 1/4 inches with an Image size of 24 x 13 1/4 inches. The price of this print is $175.00 .

A Limited Edition print, "Clipper At the Gate", by William S. Phillips has an overall size of 17" x 23", an edition size of 850, and each signed by the artist. This 1996 print highlights the departure of the "California Clipper", Boeing B-314 of Pan American Airways, from San Francisco enroute to its first stop at Honolulu in 1940. See the outstanding 1:200 scale, painted pewter model by Western Models of the B-314 on the Display Models page. This outstanding print is sold out by the publisher and is priced at $185.00.

"Morning Thunder" by Robert Taylor. A limited edition of 550 signed and numbered photo-mechanical lithographic prints, overall size 23 3/4" x 33". This painting recreates the desparate moments during the second wave attack at around 9 a.m. on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. Having taken six torpedo hits and two bomb strikes in the first wave attack on "Battleship Row", the West Virginia is ablaze, her bows already low in the water and decks awash. Ignoring the risks, crews push the navy tug Hoga alongside with fire-fighting equipment and to pick up survivors. Overhead, Japanese Zeros swoop through the smoke, aiming the second wave attack at installations on Pearl Harbor's Ford Island, to complete one of history's most devastating unprovoked declarations of war. This print is co-signed by eight survivors who took part in the action at Pearl Harbor. The print is in stock and priced at only $295.00.

Two Robert Taylor remarques are presented below; these are from a Pearl Harbor Portfolio that I delivered to a customer in 2002.

Going for the Gold is a remarqued limited edition artist's proof print, number 1 of 50. It is signed by the artist, Denver Kissinger. The image size is 22 by 33 inches with the overall framed size of 31 by 42 inches.

Anyone who has attended the Reno National Championship Air Races is familiar with the most spectacular race start in the world of motor sports. In the unlimited class, the racers line up in formation on the pace plane, which leads the racers into the starting position. As the formation reaches the starting point, the pace pilot calls out on the radio that line made famous by the remarkable Bob Hoover, "Gentlemen, you have a race!" It is at this moment that all the racers firewall their race engines and dive for the start pylon on the race course. What follows is the fastest race in motor sports. With engines straining at near their breaking point, the pilots fling their highly modified aircraft about the high desert course at speeds up to 500 mph--all while skimming the tops of the sage brush!

Going for the Gold depicts an early 1990's race start that was unusual in the history of air racing. Anyone familiar with air racing knows that the chief challenge for racing teams is just keeping their airplanes flying. What made this race unusual is the fact that all the most successful and most promising racers of the decade finally were featured in the same race--the unlimited gold championship race. Also, it was at this time that the unlimited class reached such high race speeds that the historic yellow P-51 of Bob Hoover was no longer able to fly fast enough to properly pace the field. Therefore, after three decades as pace, Old Yeller--Hoover's P-51--was replaced with a T-33, in this case Red Knight.

Of course, planes would not race without the men to fly them. Going for the Gold also pays tribute to some of the finest racing pilots to fly these magnificent machines. Sadly, two of these aircraft no longer exist. Tsunami suffered a flap failure during a ferry flight, claiming the life of its owner, J.R. Sandberg. Super Corsair developed an engine fire in a later air race that threatened the entire aircraft. The pilot safely bailed out, but the aircraft was lost.

Depicted on the print are: P-51 "Strega" pilot Bill "Tiger" Destafani, number 7; Bearcat "Rare Bear" pilot Lyle Shelton, number 77; P-51 "Tsunami" pilot Skip Holm, number 18; Sea Fury "Dreadnaught" pilot Dennis Sanders, number 8; F4U "Super Corsair" pilot John Mahoney, number 1; P-51 "Risky Business" pilot Bill Rheinschild, number 45; P-51 "Pegasus" pilot Bill Speer, number 85; Yak "Perestroika" pilot Bob Yancy, number 11; F8F-1 Bearcat pilot Howard Pardue, number 66; and the pace plane T-33 "Red Knight" pilots Steve Hinton and John Crocker.

Denver Kissinger remarqued this print with a pencil drawing featuring the Gee Bee R-2, one of the most successful and most recognizable aircraft of the golden age of air racing. Going for the Gold offered at $SORRY SOLD$ was custom framed by Celebrity Sports- Frames by Frambes of Rancho Cordova, California (http://www.celebritysportsand framing.com). The framing features triple matting, UV-blocking Plexiglas and acid-free materials.

"MONTEBELLO: MOONLIGHT OVER VAIL FIELD IN 1926" is an Iris Giclee print on 80# Arches paper of the large original painting by Mike Boss. The above photo is of the 14" x 20" image print. Vail Field was historically important because one of the first airmail contractors, Western Air Express, had its origins there. Western Air Express was incorporated during 1926 by Los Angeles entrepreneurs for the purpose of bidding on airmail contracts to be awarded under the 1925 Kelly Air Mail Act which provided for the transfer of airmail routes from the Post Office Department's U.S. Aerial Mail Service to private carriers. W.A.E. initially purchased six Santa Monica-built Douglas M-2 mail planes. They also purchased land from some well-known cattle ranchers, the Vail brothers. The land was located at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Garfiled Avenue in what was then known as Montebello. A converted movie studio became the main hangar. The first CAM-4 contract airmail service to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City by W.A,E. began at 7:30 a.m. on April 17, 1926 and was piloted by Maury Graham. This print is one of a limited edition of only 99 total prints and is signed and numbered by the artist. Priced at $175.00. The original 26" x 40" oil on stretched linen painting is also for sale framed and is priced at $CALL FOR SPECIAL NEW PRICE.

These color transparencies are accurate color renditions of Robert Taylor prints; each tranparency was issued by the Military Gallery for use in printing brochures, advertising etc. The tranparency itself measures around 2 7/8" x 4 1/2" and is mat mounted to a size of 7" x 9 1/2" and enclosed in a plastic envelope. Suitable for printing, projection etc. WARNING These images are copyrighted and may not be reproduced commercially - transparencies are for your own use only. Prints covered are mostly from the period between 1988 and 1995. Several dozen are available. If you want a particlular painting, please ask. Each transparency is priced at $25.00 plus shipping by USPS, an additional $4.05 to most places.

This painting is representative of Ardell Bourgeois' fine aviation work. Ardell's exquisite painting, "Air Show Air Force One", depicting an Air Force E-4B "posing" as Air Force One at the 1995 Dayton Air Show, was exhibited at the United States Air Force Museum during the American Society of Aviation Artist's show, "A Retrospective On 100 Years of Powered Flight", running from January 30 to June 26, 2004, and was judged as "...the finest entry in the ASAA juried exhibition", winning the James Roy Award. Ardell's winning painting was done in gouache and measured only 7 in. by 12 in., yet was definitive enough to have been effectively blown up to mural size. Ardell is the president of the Canadian Aviation Artists Association and an Artist Member of the ASAA.

I particularly enjoy the composition of this B-17 scene, Not Without a Fight, as it accurately depicts the relative positions of the aircraft involved as the fighters are engaging the bomber; the spacing is in keeping with the vastness of the three dimensional envelope in which the airplanes are operating.

On March 23, 1944 'Paper Doll', a B-17 G-5-VE serial number 42-39954 of the 728th BS, 452nd BG, 8th AF and her crew were on their eleventh mission. The target was Brunswick in Germany, which they continued onto despite their number four engine being out.

After taking heavy damage on the way to the target, including the number one engine being shut down and the number two coming off its mounts, 'Paper Doll' dropped out of formation. Port wing leaking fuel, they descended through the undercast until they broke into a clear layer with solid cloud above and below.

They were followed by six Bf-109s, three staying as top cover while the others positioned for an attack. Coming from below and behind a Bf-109 G-6 from 4/JG 53 flown by Ofw. Stefan Litjens pressed an attack. After its firing pass it climbed into a stall about 250 feet out to port, high and behind. The Port Waist Gunner hit it in the wing, doing extreme damage and saw it spin down through the clouds.

With the bomb bay burning, fuel leak ignited and two more 109s attacking the crew abandoned ship. All ten were taken prisoner and spent 13 months as POWs.

Depicted in this painting is the moment just after Litjens has finished his firing pass and shortly before he is shot down. The 'Paper Doll' is showing her wounds though still maintaining an air of dignity and the pleasing lines of the B-17.

A limited edition of 550 signed and numbered by the artist. Print size is 32 x 24 inches; Image size is 24 x16 inches. 'Paper Doll's' crew (ten members) names, ranks and positions are typeset on the bottom border of the print. Printed on 130lb. Centura Silk Cover acid free and archival paper using non-fade, vegetable oil based inks. Run on a four colour Heidelberg press to exacting standards by Hemlock Printers Ltd. of Vancouver. This print is available for $215.00.

At the July 1995 Dayton Air Show in the military display area, there appeared an aircraft being called "Air Force One". Whether by assumption or a clerical error in the program, the majority of Air Show patrons were heading to see "Air Force One". As it turned out the aircraft in question was the Boeing E-4B, an emergency command and control platform flown by the 1st ACCS (Nightwatch), 55 Wing out of Offutt, Nebraska.

The apparent confusion over the type is where the title of the painting comes from.

The E-4B; based on the 747-200; provides command and control facilities for US Government use in an emergency situation. One of the four platforms is always ready for immediate use. The dorsal bulge houses a 5-mile long trailing antenna for the communications system and the airframes have cladding to diminish the effects of nuclear blasts. Ardell's exquisite painting, Air Show Air Force One, depicting an Air Force E-4B "posing" as Air Force One at the 1995 Dayton Air Show, was exhibited at the United States Air Force Museum during the American Society of Aviation Artist's show, "A Retrospective On 100 Years of Powered Flight", running from January 30 to June 26, 2004, and was judged as "...the finest entry in the ASAA juried exhibition", winning the James Roy Award. Ardell's winning painting was done in gouache and measured only 7 in. by 12 in., yet was definitive enough to have been effectively blown up to mural size. A limited edition of 150 digital prints signed and numbered by the artist.Print size 17x12 inches, image size 12x7 inches - note that this image size is the size of the original painting.

Printed on 230g/m² Arches Infinity acid free and archival paper, using non-fade, pigment based inks. Run on a Roland Hi-Fi Jet Pro FJ500 to exacting standards by Fidelis Art Prints, Inc. of Vancouver, BC. Price of this print is $140.00.

"BELL XS-1" by Jean Luc Beghin, a limited edition print. Bell test pilot Chalmers H. "Slick" Goodlin confers with Bell XS-1 crew chief Jack Russell alongside Bell XS-1 Number 2, 46-063, in the spring of 1947 at Muroc during powered Bell XS-1 demonstration flights by Slick. The XS-1s were turned over to NACA and the AAF Air Material Command's Flight Test Division in June, 1947. This highly effective print is available for a newly reduced price of only $49.00. Have one signed by "Slick" Goodlin who is now deceased.

The accompanying slipcovered book, "The Art of William S. Phillips: The Glory of Flight", is shown below.

"INTO THE THRONE ROOM OF GOD", by William S. Phillips. A Limited Edition print accompanied by a special signed and slip covered edition of the book "THE ART OF WILLIAM S. PHILLIPS:THE GLORY OF FLIGHT." This print/book set was printed in 1994 and quickly sold out. Limited to 750 copies. Bill Phillip's comments: Thunderstorms can be unpredictable. Sometimes they'll block an aircraft's way with curtains of lightning. Other times, you can fly through holes in the storm wall and into a strange, beautiful cloud cathedral. Here, for "Into the Throne Room of God," I've painted a F-14 in the quiet, awesome area surrounded by the vast power of thunderstorms. This is God's throne room - where, Occasionally, fighter pilots and artists pay their respects. The handsome book has text by Edwards Park and an Introduction by Stephen Coonts. It is 9" x 12" and has 172 pages with more than 80 full-color works of art. There are sketches and drawings from Bill's personal sketchbook and two 3-page fold-outs. A very desirable secondary market print/book set for $SORRY SOLD.

Detail of "Bader Bale Out." Complete image shown below.

"Bader Bale Out" by Frank Wootton. This is a 1978 print, number 105 of 850. This exceptional print is co-signed by Douglas Bader. The following quote is from Frank Wootton and is printed in his book, "Frank Wootton - 50 Years of Aviation Art", published in 1992. Sadly, Frank is now deceased, but this excellent book carries on his legend of aviation art. About "Bader Bale Out": "Douglas was a legendary figure, colourful and controversial. He was a distinguished fighter leader of Worlod War II and one of England's greatest heroes. I painted the picture entitled "Bader Bale Out" at the suggestion of a mutual friend, Wing Commander Bob Stanford Tuck. It was 9 August 1941. A number of things had gone wrong; the incident has been covered by many writers, but controversy still remains as to how it happended. Bader always thought he was hit by an Me109 in a collision, the only feasible explanation as the whole reat portion of his Spitfire has been torn away. Galland told me, 'There was no collision. He was shot down.' One is reminded of the controversy which still surrounds the mystery as to how Baron von Richthofen was shot down in World War I. On reflection, two good things mitigated the unhappy day. Douglas survived and returned after the war, and the painting was sold for 6,000 pounds by the RAF Benevolent Fund to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the proceeds being used to support the funding of the Duke of Kent Scheool near Ewhurst, Surrey, where priority is given to children whose fathers have died or been killed while serving in the Royal Air Force." (Note: the painting was given to the Benevolent Fund by Wootton). You can own this rare print for SORRY SOLD. Also, see Bader signed first day cover on Ephemera page. Other Bader signed prints are also available. Inquiries welcomed.

This Robert Taylor limited edition print was published in 1984/85 in a signed edition of only 850; the print is co-signed by the famous sportsman, aviation pioneer, aeronautical designer and manufacturing leader, Sir T.O.M. Sopwith, one of the most significant figures in the 100 year history of aviation, having "been there" and "done that" from early birds to jets.

The definitive story of Thomas Octave Murdoch (T.O.M.) Sopwith and his airplanes was published as Sopwith - The Man and His Aircraft by Harleyford Publication in 1970; written by Bruce Robertson, this book covers the magnificent history of the exploits of this aviation pioneer and sportsman, and the extraordinary career that Sopwith had as a leader in the British aircraft industry. Yet, with his great success, Sopwith was not flamboyant but was reserved and carried on in the typical British tradition of unassuming greatness. The following paragraph leads off the book.

"Thomas Octave Murdoch Sopwith had four great assets: a private income from his father, a wealthy civil engineer; a bevy of devoted sisters conveniently placed both socially and geographically; a mechanical aptitude fostered by an education in engineering and certainly not least, an abundance of pluck and drive."

Sopwith was a motorist with an early interest in motorcycles and motorcars. He was a yachtsman of considerable skill and an early aviator. He bought his first airplane, a Howard Wright Monoplane, in 1909 and made his first solo flight at Brooklands in early November 1910. Only a short time later, in December 1910, Sopwith flew a Howard Wright Biplane non-stop from Eastchurch, across the channel, to a field in Belgium for a distance of 177 miles to win the Baron de Forest prize for the longest non-stop flight from any point in England to anywhere on the Continent.

Interestingly, Sopwith was inspired in his love of aeroplanes by John B. Moisant (checkout the Matilde Moisant link on this website), an American. Moisant made the first flight across the channel with a passenger on September 18, 1910 and, purely by chance, Sopwith had just put in at Dover with his yacht as Moisant landed at Willows Wood a few miles away. Later, in May of 1911, Sopwith gathered his aviation ventures and traveled to America to promote and learn, setting up at Hempstead Plains, the home of the Moisant flying school; unfortunately, John Moisant was killed in an airplane accident on December 31, 1910 so the two never had the opportunity to compete. Sopwith ventured around America, flying, competing, giving passenger rides, and exhibiting until October 1911 when he returned to England.

Sopwith's aviation enterprises blossomed from his flying school at Brooklands into a full-blown manufacturing operation at Kingston-Upon-Thames area as he designed his first airplane, a 3-seat biplane, in 1912 and began the Sopwith Aviation Company. Flying boats, floatplanes and biplanes were coming out of Sopwith's factory in 1913 and 1914.. His company won the Schneider Trophy at Monte Carlo in 1914 with a floatplane version of the "Tabloid".

During the First World War, Sopwith designed and produced many successful aircraft. The "Pup", "Triplane", "Camel", "Snipe", "Dolphin", and "Salamander" were the greatest contributions to eventual British air supremacy. The famous "Camel" was produced by something like nine different manufacturers for a total of 5,490 airplanes; this airplane is featured in the Robert Taylor limited edition print, High Patrol, offered here.

Following the war, after a rather unsuccessful attempt to build motorcycles, he teamed up with Harry Hawker and formed the H. G. Hawker Engineering Co., in the developement of military aircraft. Among the sucessful aircraft developed were the "Fury", "Hart", "Nimrod", and "Audax." In 1934, he bought Gloster Aircraft. The next year he purchased the Armstrong Siddeley interests and established the Hawker Siddeley Group, and in 1936 started work on a monoplane fighter, which later became the famous "Hurricane," which was a great factor in winning the Battle of Britain. During the war the Group turned out 40,000 aircraft, and in 1941 developed the first British operational jet , the "Meteor," the only Allied jet used operationally during the war.

In 1953, Sopwith received his Knighthood in the Queen's Coronation Honours List for his services to aviation.

Since that time, many successful jet aircraft and engines have been developed by the Hawker Siddeley Group, notably the "Hunter", "Sea Hawk", "Javelin," the Canadian "CF-100," and the giant four-jet "Vulcan" Bomber, and, in the jet engine field, the "Sapphire," the Canadian "Orenda," the "Viper," the "Double Mamba" and others. His company developed the Hawker Harrier -- the first jet airplane that could take off and land vertically. Sir Thomas Sopwith was Chairman of this group until 1963, at which time he accepted Presidency into the 1970s.

In 1977, British Aerospace was formed which encompassed British Aircraft Corp. (itself a 1960 amalgam of Vickers-Armstrong, English-Electric, Bristol Aircraft and Hunting Aircraft), Hawker Siddeley Aviation & Dynamics, and Scottish Aviation.

Sir Thomas "Tommy" Sopwith celebrated his hundredth birthday on January 18th, 1988. The RAF sent flights of Sopwith's airplanes past his home near London. What a history lesson that was! An array of airplanes from early flying machines to modern jets -- a parade that called up the whole history of powered flight in the life of one man. For Sopwith had a perfectly uncanny ability to read the future. He died a year later at the age of 101.

I consider Sir T.O.M. Sopwith as one of aviation's heros and a man whom I admire greatly. He was able to blend activity with all the elements of modern machinery, fast cars, fast boats, complex sailing yachts, motorcycles, and airplanes and do justice to them all. He had wealth, yet was a hard worker, an aeronautical engineer, a great manager and a visionary and at the same time he was a stable family man. What could be added to that formula?

The Robert Taylor print, High Patrol, was signed by Sopwith at the very twilight of his life. Sir Tommy Sopwith was 96 years-old when he signed this 1984 edition. He had lost his sight by then and this signature is a little shaky but represents the personal imprimatur of this great man. This is truly a collectible piece of history. I personally treasure my copy of this print which is proudly hanging in my son's home. The print offered here has a small speck or two in the right-hand tinted portion and a tiny void nearby in the image; the minor defects are printing defects, but since it was so difficult to obtain Mr. Sopwith's signature, the publisher did not discard any print for minor flaws as there were no backups in reserve - the print has always been stored since new. The price of this print was originally posted at $1300.00 but a special sale price of only $550.00 is effective for CollectAir web customers.

The print, Operations On, by Robert Taylor was published in an edition of 850 in 1985 and was signed by Taylor and co-signed by Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris who took over RAF Bomber Command as Commander-in-Chief of Bomber Command in February 1942 and remained as Chief for the balance of WWII. Military Gallery information indicates that this print was originally issued in 1982 as an open edition print, however I've never run across one of the open edition copies.

Arthur Harris was born in 1892 and served in WWI as a fighter pilot with the Royal Flying Corps 44 Squadron in France among other postings including Rhodesia. Between the wars, Harris led 58 Squadron, served in India, Iran and Iraq and on the Middle East air staff. He became commander of 210 Flying Boat Squadron in 1932 and rose to air vice marshal as WWII began. He served in Bomber Command under Charles Portal and J.E. Baldwin until he took over in 1942 at a time when the RAF was having little success with a bombing campaign against Germany.

Harris was given the directive to initiate the policy of area bombing of industrial centers and, under his leadership, the RAF's main effort was concentrated on night-time blanket bombing of urban areas which included huge attacks on Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Dresden and other German cities. Harris believed that by destroying industrial cities, the Germans would be unable to continue waging war. He put together the first thousand-bomber raid on Germany on May 30, 1942 as the RAF launched 1047 aircraft against Cologne. Harris has been accused of ignoring precision bombing of specific stategic targets such as oil, yet the RAF did target refineries when weather permitted. The targeting of whole cities was supported by Churchill until almost war's end and the air campaign was specifically directed to bomb cities such as Berlin and Dresden at high risk to RAF crew personnel. Harris came under fire by many for his opposition to a Path Finder Force as he felt it would weaken his command by taking his best crews; directed by Churchill, Harris did support the Pathfinders. The RAF Bomber Command lost 57,143 men killed in WWII.

Harris retired from the military in 1946. He published his war memoirs, Bomber Command, in 1947. He was subjected to much criticism for his area bombing stategy (which he didn't create) and decided to leave Great Britain for South Africa where he became the head of a shipping line. Arthur Harris died in 1984.

The ground scene featuring a Lancaster in Operations On is a particularly effective portrayal of the effort expended thousands of time over to prepare Bomber Command aircraft for battle. Own this remarkable print which has been signed by Britain's most famous commander of bomber forces. Regardless of controversy surrounding his command, it has been reported that the men under him gave him extraordinary respect and admiration, realizing the difficult times that the RAF experienced and the supreme effort that Harris made to improve the survivability of his crews. This tribute to "Bomber" Harris will add to any RAF collection. Price of this secondary market print is SORRY SOLD.

The "DH 88 Comet", an open edition print, 22" x 31" overall, from the 1980s by David Weston portrays the "Grosvenor House", G-ACSS, a twin-engine de Havilland that won the 1934 MacPherson Robertson sponsored England to Australia air race. Several Comets were built. The Comet beat a DC-2 and the Boeing 247D flown by Roscoe Turner (the 247D is now hanging in the NASM). The DH 88 was the progenitor of the famous "Mosquito" of WWII. David Weston is a British painter who specializes in railroad subjects and he is highly honored in Great Britain. This print was done in the 1980s to promote the restoration to flying status of G-ACSS. Now, many years later, G-ACSS is again being prepared for its long-awaited return to the air, flying with the Old Warden-based Shuttleworth Collection. Contrary to its earlier rebuild, the airplane is having its tail wheel configuration being converted to the original tail skid layout. California's Repeat Aircraft, run by Bill Turner, built a replica Comet which has been seen at many airshows. This replica Comet was shown at the 2003 EAA Air Venture. I had this replica in my hangar at RHV for a few nights in the mid 1990s; the picture below shows the replica G-ACSS at RHV. The fine print of the Comet by Weston can be purchased for only $50.00. See the DIVERSE IMAGES page for a fine painted pewter model of the Comet in 1:72 scale to accompany this print.

Replica DH 88 Comet "Grosvenor House" built by Bill Turner's Repeat Aircraft. Bill Turner died in September 2003.

This is truly an exciting portfolio for an airline buff, an art collector, or an aviation history fan. This hardcover portfolio was published in 1973 and commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of Czechoslovak Airlines (CSA), 1923 to 1973. Included are Thirty-two magnificent prints of watercolor paintings by professor Vladimir Bidlo, each printed on heavy archival watercolor paper measuring 11 23/32" x 16 9/32". The paintings depict aircraft on the ground and in the air - aircraft from most major nations are represented as used by CSA over the 50 years. Modern airliners used by CSA by 1973 were Russian jets. The first CSA airliner was the Aero-14 which held only a pilot and one passenger. American airplanes in the portfolio are the Ford 5AT, DC-2 and DC-3; the DC-3 is pictured below.

Each print is as sharp and bright as the day it was printed and each is in mint condition. An introductary leaflet is included which is printed in Czech, Russian and English. The portfolio was printed in Decin with a circulation of 5000. Also, the business card of Dr. Jan Pista, Press and Public Relations for Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie is included; the card has a written comment on the back by Dr. Pista.

The English text in the leaflet is reproduced below; although elegantly stated, the translation is classic.

Half a century. Looking into the past, everyone would be surprised by a tremendous leap the technique has made since the last 50 years. In doing it it is not necessary to seek among the history forming inventions, it suffices to consider what was well known already fifty years ago - the airplanes.

The airplanes. A persistent object of interest. The young, old, amateurs as well as experts - all who perceive more than a mere means of transport, all those look with astonishment at the historical airplanes, admire the beauty and performance of these machines and, follow with an eye of an expert the graceful outlines of the present aircraft.

Czechoslovak Airlines is one of the oldest airlines in the world and, half century of existence represents uncountable number of aircraft types that have flown many millions of kilometers and carried millions of passengers.

We would like to introduce to you a selection of the series of airplanes which have ever flown under the eregistration mark of Czechoslovak Airlines, the famous OK sign. It was, however impossible to cover virtually all the types and also the technical data description is concentrated only on the very basic features.

However, we believe that, the selection is a representative one indeed and, that a glimpse at the first CSA airplane the Aero-14 Brandenburg and at the modern TU 154 depicts in a telling way the development line of the CSA transport aircraft.

We believe that, every individual illustration has its own charm and that, the whole album will gratify our intention to please and amuse you and to make the time spent over it agreeable for you.

Three of the paintings are shown below. Professor Bidlo's style is similar to the United Airlines promotional paintings that were done by Nixon Galloway. Unusual and seldom depicted Czech airplanes are included and each is a superb rendition. This is the only one of these portfolios that I've run across. The first photo below shows the entire print, this one of the Caproni CA-97 which began CSA serivice in 1931.

This portfolio of 32 prints from 1973 is available for $750.00. For the airline buff that seeks something different.

See picture below for a detail of the engine compartment of the R-2 replica.

A Limited Edition print of the Tom Johnson detailed phantom cutaway of Delmar Benjamin's 1932 GeeBee R-2 Replica, print size 24" x 36". The A/P edition size is 100 and the standard print was published in an edition of 3000. This beautiful airplane, a Golden Age racer, has been seen by countless spectators at U.S. and international airshows over the past ten years or so. Delmar Benjamin, the pilot and owner of the R-2, has signed this print. This print celebrates the retirement of the R-2 replica from the airshow circuit (perhaps only a temporary retirement). The airplane is now at the Fantasy of Flight in Florida. Own this print for only $60.00.

GIVE US THIS DAY, The newest Bill Phillips aviation print from The Greenwich Workshop. 23" x 29", this wonderful and tranquil scene juxtaposes the brute machine of war, filled with prayerful men, with an ancient house of worship, again filled with prayerful people. A scene filled with meaning, this print will fit in any environment, one that your spouse will appreciate!

In England during World War II, each dawn brought the sounds of young men headed off to war. As daylight spreads across the tranquil contryside on this mist-shrouded summer morning, the aircraft of the 8th Air Force once again take to the air as they head for the dangerous skies of occupied Europe. Representing not only an overt symbol of Allied might, the B-17G is also a more subtle indication as to the direction of the war. The plane carries no camouflage paint, since paint added weight, which cost speed and fuel. Staioned in Northamstead between April '44 and June '45, this B-17G is from the 398th Bomb Group, 602nd Bomb Squadron. Along with most others, the crew members ardent prayer was, "...give us this day." Price for this excellent print is $175.00.

A new limited edition print by Nicolas Trudgian, Mosquitos At Dusk, featuring the versatile De Havilland Mosquito. A special Portfolio Proof Remarques edition is offered and pictured here. Only 50 remarques are available in this edition.

From the Military Gallery brochure: The exploits of the Mosquito and her crews are the stuff of legend. This magnificent aircraft, the blight of German air and land forces, pulled off some of the most amazingly precise raids of World War Two. Powered by two Rolls Royce Merlin engines and made almost totally from wood, and with a top speed in excess of 400 mph, the Mosquito could out-run any other aircraft of its day. Highly nimble, and with its ability to carry virtually every type of weapon available to the RAF, this superb aeroplane fulfilled every role performed by the Service from bomber to reconnaissance, fighter-intruder, and night fighter, from ground and anti-shipping attack missions to chasing and destroying the appalling V1 "doodlebug" pulse-jet missiles. The Mosquito's agility and suitability to tree-top level attacks gave its crews the advantage of surprise, and its high speed allowed it to contest a huge variety of precision bombing missions - most famous of which being the highly successful attacks on Amiens prison and the Gestapo headquarters buildings at Aarhus in Denmark in 1944, and again hitting the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen in 1945.

Nicolas Trudgian's new painting, Mosquitos at Dusk, conveys in an instant all the attributes of this outstanding attack aircraft With their twin Merlins singing at full power, Mk FBV1 Mosquitos of 464 Squadron RAAF present a menacing picture as they set out on a precision low level mission, their streamlined, shark-like shapes silhouetted against the evening glow. Below, the tranquillity of a snow covered English coastal village is briefly disturbed as the Mosquito crews head into the night. A painting worthy of this much acclaimed World War II plane.

A Special Portfolio Proof Remarques edition of just 50 copies of Mosquitos at Dusk, with an additional signature, issued with matching-numbered proofs from a unique commissioned pencil drawing Lone Hunter by Nicolas Trudgian, featuring the Mosquito night-fighter. Each proof drawing is signed by the RAFs highest-scoring night-fighter Ace of World War II. Signed by:

Air Commodore JOHN ELLACOMBE CB DFC*;
Air Commodore E.B.'TED' SISMORE DSO DFC AFC ;
Flight Lieutenant DOUGLAS HADLAND ;
Wing Commander BRANSE BURBRIDGE DSO* DFC* (Companion Print); and
Squadron Leader TOM McPHEE CB DFC* (Main Print).

The Mosquito remarque shown below is a superb piece of original pencil art by Nicolas Trudgian; Nicolas' pencil drawings are among the very best available in the aviation art world as I'm certain you will agree. Five of the RAF's top Mosquito pilots have signed these prints - the original art enhancement adds significantly to the overall desirability of this edition. This particular print, number 24/50, is in stock with the remarque below and is priced at $695.00.

A Limited edition of 950 signed and numbered prints with 56 Artist's Proofs. The image size is 19 1/2" X 27" with margins, 22 3/4" X 30" overall. In addition to the artist's signature, each print is co-autographed by General Johannes "Macki" Steinhoff, Kommodore of JG 7, scored 6 victories with a Me 262; Gottfried Fahrmann, Steinhoff's wingman; Walter Schuck Staffelkapitan of 3./JG 7 scored 8 victories with the Me 262 and is now 3rd ranked living ace of all time; Hermann Buchner claimed 12 victories in Me 262's.

The Painting: Because of the incredible speed of the Me 262, head-on attacks on bombers was not the normal tactic; however, it did happen. This scene is based on an incident when Major Rudi Sinner was III Gruppenkommandeur of JG 7 made a head-on attack on B-24's from the 448th BG. Sinner shot down one B-24 and it collided with another bomber. WGr21 cm rockets were being tested on this version but they did not work on the Me 262. This print is priced at $195.00 for each s/n edition. An Artists Proof is avalable for $295.00.

This is a special find: the huge, early Stan Stokes print of Corsair 301S on approach to the Essex, CV-9. Stan painted this scene as a preliminary to the giant mural that he painted for Bob Pond's Planes of Fame East Museum in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The huge mural was the appropriate backdrop for Pond's Corsair, 301S. as displayed in the museum. More recently, this museum has been incorporated into the Palm Springs facility and the mural was reinstalled in Palm Springs by Stan Stokes.

Stan Stokes has painted many scenes of Corsairs approaching carriers, several being made into prints, but none with the impact of this "signature" scene. The print was not published by Stokes but was a product of Bob Pond in an edition of only 700. Obviously not in the print business, Pond made several mistakes when the print was run. First, the print is oversize, a tremendous 38" x 48", the largest limited edition aviation print that I'm aware of. This huge size makes an impressive wall display and over the years CollectAir sold about ten of these framed. However, the oversize print was printed on paper weight that would be more appropriate to a smaller print - properly handled and framed, the print paper weight is fine, but it is somewhat more delicate than the average small print and therefore has been known to easily sustain damage in hands of those who don't appreciate the delicate nature of paper born art before being mounted and framed.

One advantage of thin paper is that it doesn't take much of a "set" when rolled; this particular print has been kept rolled in its original tube and is in pristine condition, a rarity for this print on the secondary market. This print will make the most impressive aviation wall display that you can find short of having a mural painted. A black & white rendition is shown below - the actual print is in full color.

You will never find a more spectacular aviation print than this one. Years ago I sold one of these to a Southern California desert judge who hung it in his courtroom! If you buy it, have it framed by a reputable framer who is capable of handling prints, not some 16-year-old high school kid working after school in a frame shop backroom as so often happens. Own this magnificent scene for only $400. SPECIAL - print price reduced to only $250.00, the original issue price many years ago.

The carrier pictured, the CV-9 Essex, was the first of 24 Essex class ships and was commissioned in January 1943. She saw continuous action in the Pacific from May 1943 through the end of the war and was decommissioned in 1947. CV-9 was put back into action for the Korean War and served with Task Force 77 through 1953; the Essex was given an angled deck in 1955.

In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of D-Day, DOOLITTLE'S D-DAY, 6 June 1944, by Robert Taylor, depicts Jimmy Doolittle flying his P-38 over the battlefront during the early moments of the Normandy landings. Doolittle provided General Eisenhower with the first eye witness report of the D-Day invasion. This print is signed by five top P-38 pilots who flew combat missions during the European campaign in 1944 and 1945: Colonel Hubert M. Childress, Lt. Colonel Frank D. Hurlbut, First Lieutenant Richard Ostronik, First Lieutenant Mel Roalsvig, and Colonel Richard Willsie. This evocative limited edition is in an edition of 500 and is available for $295.00. Call for availability.

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"Can't Talk...Gotta Shoot" by Dan Zoernig. A limited edition, small-size (easier to frame) print of 250 copies on watercolor paper, signed and numbered by the artist. Price of this print is $45.00.

July 7, 1944. Capt. Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson slides in behind a trio of ME 109s flying in perfect formation, seemingly oblivious to the huge armada of bombers and fighters in the vicinity. 357TH Fighter Group leader Tommy Hayes, spoiling for action, calls out on the radio, "Andy! Where are you?" Focused on the business at hand, Anderson replies, "Can't talk now...Gotta shoot." As he triggers his guns, the mike is still keyed, and everyone hears the rattle of his quad .50s. Old Crow gets good strikes all over the target, bringing Anderson's total claims to 12 1/4 in the air.

A detail of Anderson's P-51 is presented below.

In the grand tradition of his Thunder in the Canyon, Into the Throne Room of God and Those Last Critical Moments (all sold out at Publisher), William S. Phillips returns to the skies in his new Greenwich Workshop release, Phantom Thunder. From the thrill of lift-off to the extraordinary exhilaration of in-flight action, Bill is truly a master of the aviation art world. Here, in his latest work, the artist presents us with an awe-inspiring panorama that pays tribute to a pair of American heroes.

"Flying through storm-tossed skies, Phantoms of VF-96, the Flying Falcons, return from a strike over North Vietnam," Bill said. "Aircraft #5800, ShowTime 100, was the 'CAG bird' flown by LT. Randy Cunningham and LT(JG) Willie Driscoll when, on May 10th, 1972, they downed three MiG-17s, added to their previous two, they became America's first Vietnam aces."

This print edition is limited to only 550; the image is an expansive 36" by 7 5/8" high. Signed and numbered by the artist, this print is available for $175.00. Subject to availability.

A Craig Kodera print from the Greenwich Workshop, Pacific Morning: Black Sheep on the Prowl, a limited edition of 550 prints plus an additional 130 Artist's Proofs. This print measures overall 18" x 27" with an image size of 12" x 24". The print carries the signatures of five former Black Sheep Squadron, VMF-214, members: LtCol John E. Bolt, USMC(Ret); Col Edwin A Harper, USMC(Ret); BGen Bruce J. Matheson, USMC(Ret); Col H. Allan McCartney, USMC(Ret); and Edwin L. Olander, former Maj. USMC. Sadly, LtCol John F "Jack" Bolt died in September 2004 at the age of 83.

The Greenwich Certificate of Authenticity carries the following information: "Major Gregory Boyington's record (which included his Flying Tiger tally also) stood at twenty-eight (two reported after the war) enemy planes when he went down on January 3, 1944. Boyington had succeeded in Parachuting from his burning Corsair. He dropped into Saint George Channel, off Rabaul, and he was worked over for about a quarter of an hour by four strafing Zekes. Although unhit, Boyington was taken prisoner by a submarine which surfaced near him and he spent the rest of the war as a celebrity prisoner, although not an especially well-treated one.

"A Staunch individualist, Boyington (called "Pappy" by his men beause of his advanced age of thirty-one) had returned to the Marines after he had bid a not too fond farewell to the Flying Tigers. While he rankled under siscipline and adhering to the book, he was a born flyer and unique leader. He may not have fitted into the organization of a squadron, but he could lead one. In recognition of this, he was given permission to organize his own unit of misfits, appropriately dubbed "the Black Sheep" but more formally Marine Fighter Squadron 214 (VMF-214).

"When Bougainville's airstrips were sufficiently secure, Major General Ralph J. Mitchell, Marine commander of the aerial operations in the Solomons, instituted the first harassing fighter sweeps over Rabaul. The first of these - December 17, 1943 - in which Boyington participated consisted of no less than sevety-six planes. With this formidable array of air power, the Japanese were not anxious to take off despite Boyington's profane invitations to "come up and fight." Boyington believed in smaller, more flexible and better-matched formations - which he got for future fighter sweeps upon Rabaul, as well as for escort missions with bombers. This was found to be more efficient, and Boyington's Black Sheep scored heavily against the Zekes. Between the first strike on December 17 and the first of the new year, fighter sweeps over Rabaul claimed nearly 150 Japanese planes shot out of the air."

A life-size bronze bust of "Pappy" Boyington, depicting him as Black Sheep commander in 1943, is shown on the Original Art page of this website.

The limited edition print, Pacific Morning: Black Sheep on the Prowl, with five World War II VMF-214 pilot signatures has been sold out at the publisher.

Lockheed produced a group of advertising/promotional posters around 1990 that were called the "Innovation" series. These posters, measuring a large 16 7/8" x 23 7/8", each featured a quality piece of artwork, both vintage and recent, or a piece of photoart. Each poster compared some historic era or event to a modern military program in which Lockheed was a bidder or contractor. These posters are in the gray area between Ephemera and Art Prints.

These posters represent an intelligent sense of history and go far beyond what you expect to see in a company advertising and promotional piece. I do not know how these posters were distributed or published. This set of eight posters may be the entire series. They are in excellent condition in an envelope.

The titles of the posters are: "The Ming Dynasty and the Space Station", "The Zulus and Electronic Warfare", "Napolean and the Trident", William the Conqueror and Air Superiority", Stonehenge and the Space Telescope" (this was prior to the Hubbell), "Lord Nelson and Milstar", The Texas Rangers and Antisubmarine Warfare", and "The Roman Empire and Military Airlift."

Here is a synopsis of the text on the Roman Empire. The poster compares the mobility of the Roman military, small with only 30 legions, operating across the network of metalled roads from Scotland to Egypt to the U.S. airlift fleet which Lockheed contends needs to be bigger. Some clever ad agency at work here.

This set is available for $75.00 but must be shipped flat.

Artist Dan Zoernig has created a fine tribute to the hard working ground crews of World War II, Time to Go To Work, featuring the P-51 of Bud Anderson, the Old Crow, of the 363rd Sqdn, 357th FG. The following caption is part of the limited edition (only 250) digital reproduction which measures 13" x 19" overall in size, an excellent size for framing.

The P-51 Mustangs of the 357th Fighter Group were normally cared for by a crew chief , assistant crew chief and armorer. This illustration honors all crew chiefs, specialists and support personnel. They worked relentlessly in the open during the day or night, in all kinds of weather with great dedication in a trade equally as important as a pilot's ability. Without them there would be no flying. There were no eight-hour days as suggested by the flashlight carried by the crew chief on the right, for Britain's strict black-out precluded any other kind of lighting during the many nights of work preparing the Mustangs for the next day's mission. Each of Bud Anderson's Old Crows had long combat lives in the 363rd Squadron. Never once in 116 combat missions did either ship ever abort or return early due to mechanical problems. Such a record is attributed to a pilot who did not abuse his aircraft and to the dedicated care of its ground crew: T/Sgt Otto Heino, S/Sgt Melvin Schueneman and S/Sgt Leon Zimmerman. S/Sgt Schueneman became a casualty of the war when he perished in an AT-6 crash in Jan. 1945 when returning from field maintenance work in France.

This seldom painted scene honoring ground crew is priced at only $45.00 and is printed on 250 gsm heavy watercolor stock.

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