|
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. |
|
|
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 and Major Harry Johnson USMC.
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, 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.
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.
ITEM CODE DHM2673
|
|
Rabaul - Fly For Your Life by Robert Taylor
- The Signatures
|
 | Brigadier General Bruce J Matheson
Born in Chicago in 1921, Bruce Matheson enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1942 and joined the Black Sheep on 7 August 1943. On 17 October 1943 he shot down a Zero over Kahili but was wounded during the aerial combat. He safely landed his badly damaged Corsair at Munda. On 3 January 1944 Bruce got his last aerial victory, and also confirmed Major Boyingtons final aerial victory before Pappy was shot down near Rabaul. By the end of the second Black Sheep tour, Bruce would have 3 confirmed victories and 1.5 probables. For his third combat tour he was transferred along with 14 other Black Sheep pilots to VMF-211 on Green Island.
More... |
Major Harry Johnson USMC
Harry Johnson went to the Pacific in November 1943, joining VMF-214 as a replacement pilot. He destroyed a Zero in combat on 6th January 1944, two days before VMF-214 were disbanded. Serving later with VMF-218 and VMF-253, he flew a total of 84 missions on Corsairs during WWII, and another 69 missions in Korea.
More... |
 | Lieutenant Colonel Henry M Bourgeois USMC
Henry was the youngest ever Marine Officer when he joined VMF-214, and had flown two combat tours with VMF-122 prior to that, with 2 victories to his credit. On 21st September 1943 he led a division of Corsairs to strafe Kahili Airdrome, where he destroyed 2 aircraft on the ground; the division accounting for 12 aircraft and an AA position destroyed.
More... |
 | Lieutenant Colonel W Thomas Emrich
Born in Mt. Pulaski, Illinois in 1921, he joined VMF-214 on 7 August 1943 and flew two combat tours with the Black Sheep. On 15 October 1943 Tom shot down two Zeros in aerial combat during a bomber escort to Kahili Airfield. The next day on a fighter sweep to Kahili he had to ditch his Corsair off Vella Lavella, and was rescued by a PT boat. By the end of his Black Sheep combat tours he had flown 68 missions, and then flew a third combat tour with VMF-211 on Green Island - along with 14 other former Black Sheep pilots.
More... |
 | Colonel Edwin A Harper
Ed Harper was born in Bassano, Alberta, Canada in 1920. He joined VMF-214, the Black Sheep on 7 August 1943 and flew both combat tours from September 1943 to January 1944. He shot down 1 enemy aircraft and two probables on fighter sweeps over Kahili and Rabaul. On 17 October 1943, Ed was wounded in aerial combat and brought back his damaged Corsair to Munda. The next day he flew a mission and scored a probable over a Zero. Ed was also one of the Black Sheep pilots that were reassigned to VMF-211 for a third combat tour after the Black Sheep were disbanded on 8 January 1944.
More... |
 | Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill
James Hill was born in Chicago in 1920. He arrived in the South Pacific on 5 June 1943 after completing flight school in Pensacola, and joined VMF-214 on 7 August 1943. He flew both combat tours with the Black Sheep. On 18 October 1943 on a fighter sweep over Kahili Airfield he shot down a Zero in aerial combat. During his two tours with the Black Sheep he flew a total of 70 combat missions, and also flew a third combat tour with VMF-211 on Green Island.
More... |
 | Captain Fred S Losch
Fred Losch hails from Mifflin Township, Pennsylvania, and was born in 1921. He was posted to become another of the new replacement pilots that joined the Black Sheep on 10 November 1943 for their second combat tour at Vella Lavella. On 2 January 1944 Fred shot down a Zero and damaged another over Rabaul. With VMF-214 he flew 28 combat missions, and then went on to serve a second combat tour with VMF-211 after the Black Sheep were disbanded on 8 January 1944.
More... |
|
