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Robert Taylor Prints  US Air Force  Wildcat |
[UP] - Mustang - Flying Fortress - Tomahawk - Lightning - Liberator - Superfortress - Corsair - Mitchell - Warhawk - Hellcat - Dakota - Marauder - Viper - Phantom - Thunderbolt - Dauntless - Helldiver - Thunderchief |
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| Text for the above items : |
Zero Encounter by Robert Taylor. A Japanese Zero condenses the air off its wing tips as its pilot hauls his fighter inside a Marine F4F Wildcats determined attack. The two adversaries cavort the air in a desperate duel high over the island of Guadalcanal. The sky is alive with fighting aircraft as F4Fs and Zeros are locked in deadly combat. Below, clearly visible throught the clear tropical air is the prize over which they do battle: A single tiny airstrip on a small hill, humid, almost uninhabitable island - A priceless possession providing the key to air supremacy in the South Pacific. |
Attack on the Hiei by Robert Taylor. Marine Ace Captain Joe Foss leads a flight of eight F4F Wildcats of VMF121, based at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, in a diversionary attack on the Imperial Japanese battlecruiser Hiei north of Savo Island, Friday November 13, 1942. In the distance TBF Avenger torpedo bombers of VMSB-131, having already attacked from the starboard side, head for base. That evening, after relentless air attack, the Hiei, disappeared beneath the sea- the first Japanese battleship sunk by American Forces in World War II |
| Top Aces for : Wildcat | ||
| A list of all Aces from our database who are known to have flown this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking the pilots name. | ||
| Name | Victories | Info |
| Joseph Jacob Foss | 26.00 | The signature of Joseph Jacob Foss features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| James E Swett | 15.50 | The signature of James E Swett features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Archie Glenn Donahue | 14.00 | The signature of Archie Glenn Donahue features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Elbert S McCuskey | 14.00 | The signature of Elbert S McCuskey features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Robert E Galer | 13.00 | The signature of Robert E Galer features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Hamilton McWhorter III | 12.00 | The signature of Hamilton McWhorter III features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Stanley W Vejtasa | 11.00 | The signature of Stanley W Vejtasa features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Armistead B Smith Jr | 10.50 | The signature of Armistead B Smith Jr features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Kenneth A Jernstedt | 10.50 | The signature of Kenneth A Jernstedt features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Richard L Cormier | 10.00 | The signature of Richard L Cormier features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc | 9.00 | The signature of Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Dean S Laird | 5.75 | The signature of Dean S Laird features on some of our artwork - click here to see what is available. |
| Wildcat Pilot and aircrew signature details |
 Jeff de Blanc Our estimated value of this signature : £40 Died : 2007 | Jeff de Blanc Jefferson De Blanc flew two combat tours in F4Fs and F4Us from Guadalcanal to Okinawa, achieving 9 air victories. He was awarded the Medal of Honor whilst flying an F4F on bomber escort with VMF-112 in 1943. Sadly, he passed away on 23rd November 2007. |
 Captain Philip De Groot USMC Our estimated value of this signature : £10 | Captain Philip De Groot USMC Gaining his pilots wings in 1943 on Wildcats he was taught to fly the F4U by Charles Lindberg. He flew the first of his 92 combat missions with VMF-224 in the Marshall Islands before fighting in the Battle of Okinawa, flying ground support and counter air missions. During the Korean War he flew a further 48 combat missions in Corsairs with VMF-223. |
  Colonel Archie G Donahue USMC Our estimated value of this signature : £60 Died : 2007 | Colonel Archie G Donahue USMC Archie Donahue was born in Casper, Wyoming in 1917. He attended schools in Wyoming until 1934 when his family moved to Texas. He had his first airplane ride at the age of eight and the flying bug bit him. Archie completed three years of engineering studies at the University of Texas before joining the Navy as an Aviation Cadet. During his training Archie was stationed at Kansas City, Jacksonville, and finally Corpus Christi. He requested a transfer to the Marine Corps, and upon his graduation he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in February of 1942. After a short posting to Norfolk, Archie was assigned to VMF-112, which was nicknamed the 'Wolfpack.' The squadron was sent to Guadacanal in September where they commenced combat missions flying the Grumman F4F Wildcat. Archie would soon transition to the state-of-the-art F4U-1 Corsair. Between September 1942 and June of 1943 Archie was credited with nine aerial victories. One of these was achieved in the Wildcat with the balance attained while piloting the Corsair. On May 13, 1943 Archic would down five A6M3 Zeros during a single mission. In June of 1943 VMF-112 returned to the States, and the squadron was disbanded. Serving as a flight officer at El Toro Air Station in California, Archie was given the assignment of carrier qualifying VMF-451. In February of 1945 VMF-451 began combat operations flying from the deck of the USS Bunker Hill. For the next three months Donahue and his squdroninates flew numerous missions in support of the landings at lwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as strikes at the Japanese mainland, and in the process earning the nickname 'Angels of Okinawa.' On April 12, 1945 Donahue was once again credited with five victories during a fierce aerial battle over Okinawa. On May 11 th Archie's flight of 16 Corsairs had just returned to the carrier, and as the pilots completed their debriefing the Bunker Hill was hit by two Kamikaze aircraft, setting off a huge fire and killing 346. The Bunker Hill had to be withdrawn from action. Donahue returned to the States where he was made Commander of a squadron at El Toro. He was later transferred to Quantico, a large Marine base near Washington, DC. Archie flew a total of 215 combat missions during WWII including 56 from the deck of the Bunker Hill. He was credited with a total of 14 confirmed aerial victories. He had more than 4000 flying hours in military aircraft and 110 successful carrier landings. Although he never crashed an airplane, Archie was reported killed during aerial gunnery training when a student made a beautiful run and cut the tail off Archie's plane about five feet behind his head. Archie is a recipient of the Navy Cross, three Distinguished Flying Crosses, and five Air Medals. Archie has also been an active participant in the Confederate Air Force, and in 1990 he piloted an SBD with an unusual pilot, Saburo Sakai, the high scoring Japanese ace who was shot down in WWII by the rear gunner of a SBD. Following his retirement from military service in 1958 Archie began a long and successful career in real estate development. Archie lives in Texas with his wife Mary. They have five children and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Sadly, he passed away on 30th July 2007. |
  Brigadier General Joseph J Foss Our estimated value of this signature : £50 Died : 2003 | Brigadier General Joseph J Foss Born 17th April 1915. He ws awarded his wings in May 1941, becoming a Marine Corps pilot leading a unit of Wildcat fighters which accounted for 72 enemy aircraft. Involved in the defence of Guadalcanal from the Japanese, he was forced to ditch into the sea, being rescued by local islanders before subsequently being picked up by a Catalina two weeks later. Later, defending Henderson Field from a large formation of enemy bombers and their accompanying fighters, he refused to allow his unit to be lured into combat with the enemy fighters, instead waiting for the escorting aircraft to run out of fuel and turn back, forcing the now unescorted bombers to also turn back. Joe Foss died 1st January 2003. Born into a farming family in South Dakota in 1915, Joseph Foss would go on to become the USMCs highest scoring fighter pilot of WW II. He would also become the first aviator to equal the WW 1 victory record of Captain Eddle Rickenbacker, and the first USMC aviator to become an ace in a day. A recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Joe Foss would be credited with 26 aerial victories while flying the F4F Wildcat with VMF-121 based at Henderson Field in Guadacanal in 1942 and early 1943. All this success did not come easily to Foss. Growing up during the difficult days of the Great Depression, the young Foss realized that to become a military aviator he would have to attend college. Following his graduation from the University of South Dakota, Foss entered the naval aviation cadet program in 1940. With Americas entry into WWII Foss was assigned to a photo reconnaissance unit. Foss was disappointed with this assignment and worked hard at convincing others that he was destined to be a fighter pilot. Logging nearly three hours of flying time per day in an F4F, the skills and dedication of this aspiring fighter pilot were soon noticed. Foss was assigned to VMF- 121 as the Executive Officer of the squadrons C.O. Captain L.K. Davis. The squadron was sent on its initial combat tour in the fall of 1942. Twenty Wildcats were transported by escort carrier to Guadacanal and were catapulted off for the flight to Henderson Field. Foss flight became known as Uoes Flying Circus, and 61.5 victories would be credited to this flight, with four other pilots becoming aces. Although air defense was the primary role of VMF-121, some ground support missions were also flown. The squadrons successes were not without a price, and more than 20% of VMF-121s pilots did not return from the combat tour at Guadacanal. In November Foss flew a mission against a large Japanese convoy near the Russell Islands. During this mission Lt. Col. Bauer was downed. Foss returned to Henderson Field and flew back to the site where Bauer was downed in a Grumman Duck. Unable to locate his downed comrade because of darkness, Foss returned at dawn. Unfortunately, Bauer was never found. Foss had fought recurring battles against malaria while on Guadacanal. He had lost 37 pounds. With the destruction of the Japanese convoy Foss along with several other pilots of VMF121 got some much needed R&R in Australia. While in Australia Foss met two of the leading Australian aces Clive Caldwell and Keith Truscott. Joe was disturbed by the attitude of the Australians that the Japanese must be second rate opponents. Returning to Guadacanal on New Years Day 1943, combat sorties resumed. On January 25 Foss flew his last mission at Guadacanal, but did not engage the enemy. Problems with malaria continued to plague the USMCs top ace, and he was unable to make a second combat tour. Following the War Foss helped organize the South Dakota Air National Guard. He remained active in the reserve finally retiring with the rank of Brigadier General. Foss had successful careers in professional sports, politics (Governor of South Dakota), and commercial aviation. He also was instrumental in the formation of the American Fighter Aces Association, and has served as President of the National Rifle Association. |
Colonel T W Boot Furlow Our estimated value of this signature : £25 | Colonel T W Boot Furlow Flying the F4F on his first combat mission with VMF-121 in October 1942, Boot Furlow soon downed his first Zero on the Hiei mission. He served in all the major south west Pacific theaters and later flew the F4U Corsair |
 Bob Galer Our estimated value of this signature : £35 Died : 2005 | Bob Galer Robert Galer was born on October 24th 1913 in Seattle, Washington. Robert Galer attended the University of Washington and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in commercial engineering in 1935, at which time he began elimination flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Seattle. He went on to become an Aviation Cadet going to Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida for flight training. On 1st July 1936 Galer was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Mmarine Corps. Bob Galer was one of five USMC pilots to win the Medal of Honor at Guadalcanal. In May 1942, Galer assumed command of Marine Fighting Squadron 224 (VMF-224) and on August 30th, 1942 led the squadron to Guadalcanal as they became part of the Cactus Air Force. It was while in command of VMF-224 that Bob Galer would be credited with 11 confirmed victories and be awarded the Medal of Honor and a rare British DFC. Following the presentation of the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D Roosevelt at the White House on March 24, 1943, Maj. Bob Galer was ordered to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, to become Assistant Operations Officer. Shortly after advancement to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in November 1943, he was ordered to return to the Hawaiian Islands, where he became Chief of Staff, Marine Air, Hawaiian Area. In March 1952 Colonel Galer went to Korea, where he saw duty as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4 (Supply), of the 1ST marine Aircraft Wing until the following May. He became Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12), and, for extraordinary achievement on July 11, 1952 was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second DFC. Colonel Galer was also awarded the Legion of Merit wiith Combat 'V' for his service in Korea. On August 5th, 1952, he was shot down behind enemy lines by anti-aircraft fire while leading a flight of 31 warplanes against targets near the North Korean port city of Wonsan. Colonel Galer was rescued by a helicopter flown by 1st Lt E.J. McCutcheon. Brigadier General Galer died in Dallas, Texas on June 27th, 2005. |
 Captain Donald Gordon USN Our estimated value of this signature : £25 Died : 2010 | Captain Donald Gordon USN Captain Donald 'Flash' Gordon, USN joined the Navy on July 7, 1941 and was commissioned an Ensign on March 12, 1942. He served with VF-10 'Grim Reapers' flying the F4F Wildcat on his first combat tour aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise and claimed two air victories. He participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz and also served briefly on Guadalcanal with the Marines. His second combat tour was also aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise with VF-10 now flying the F6F Hellcat. He would claim 4 air victories on this tour including a claim during the 'Marianas Turkey Shoot'. Capt. Gordon retired from the Navy in July 1967. Sadly Captain Donald Gordon passed away on Monday January 4th, 2010. |
 Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill Our estimated value of this signature : £45 | Lieutenant Colonel James J Hill James Hill was born in Chicago in 1920. His training involved flying Stearmans, Buffalo and Wildcats. He arrived in the South Pacific on 5 June 1943 after completing flight school in Pensacola, and joined VMF-214 on 7 August 1943, flying Corsairs. 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. He then flew another combat tour with VMF-521 as a pilot instructor, later joining VMF-324 at Midway. In his career he was awarded 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 12 Air Medals. |
 Colonel Joe McPhail USMC Our estimated value of this signature : £15 | Colonel Joe McPhail USMC Joining the Marine Corps in 1941 his first operational unit was VMF-441, flying the Wildcat on missions in the Central Pacific and on one occasion was forced to bail out after running out of fuel. After a spell in the US as an instructor he returned to combat, flying the F4U Corsair with VMF-323 Death Rattlers over the Marshal Islands and then throughout the Okinawa campaign where he scored two victories over Japanese fighters. During Korea he flew F4Us in combat with VMF-214 the Black Sheep. He flew a total of 240 combat missions and was awarded the DFC. |
  Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN Our estimated value of this signature : £50 Died : 2008 | Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN Hamilton Mac McWhorter first saw combat with VF-9 flying the F4F Wildcat from the USS Ranger in strikes against Casablanca. In March 1943 he transferred to the new F6F Hellcat aboard USS Essex in the Pacific, and participated in the strikes against Marcus, Wake, Marshall and Gilbert Islands, Rabaul, Truk - where he scored a notable triple victory in a few minutes, and Saipan. Joining VF-12 aboard USS Randolph, he took part in strikes against Tokyo in February 1945, and Iwo Jima and Okinawa. With 12 air victories in 89 combat missions Mac McWhorter was the first carrier-based pilot to become an F6F double Ace. He retired from the navy in 1969. Sadly, he passed away on 12th April 2008. |
  Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH Our estimated value of this signature : £50 Died : 2009 | Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH Jim Swett became one of the top-scoring F4U Aces, with 15.5 victories in 94 missions in the Corsair, but he had already earned himself the Congressional Medal of Honor piloting the F4F Wildcat before switching to the F4U. Leading a four plane section with VMF 221 on April 7, 1942 he shot down no fewer than 7 Japanese Val dive-bombers in an engagement over Tulagi Harbor, before taking a hit himself, and ditching in the sea. In all Jim Swett flew 211 combat missions, 94 in F4U Corsairs, made 120 carrier launches and recoveries, and in addition to his Medal of Honor, was awarded 6 DFCs and 2 Purple Hearts. Sadly, Jim Swett died on 18th January 2009. |
 Captain Stanley Swede Vejtasa USN Our estimated value of this signature : £40 Died : 2013 | Captain Stanley Swede Vejtasa USN Commissioned in August 1939, Swede Vejtasas first combat assignment was in May 1942 whilst flying the SBD Dauntless with VS-5 aboard the USS Yorktown during the Battle of the Coral Sea. here he participated in the attack on the Japanese carrier Shoho, and flew anti-torpedo plane patrol, claiming three Zeroes. Switching to fighters with VF-10 flying the F4F Wildcat aboard the USS Enterprise he took part in the Battle of Santa Cruz, where he notched up 7 air victories on one flight in October. In March 1943 he flight-tested the new F4U Corsair in the combat zone. His final tally for the war was 11 aerial victories. He died on 23rd January 2013. |
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