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Milne Bay - The Turning Point by Robert Taylor. - Robert Taylor Prints

Milne Bay - The Turning Point by Robert Taylor.


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Milne Bay - The Turning Point by Robert Taylor.

The Battle for Milne Bay in New Guinea was a story of true grit, determination, and valour; it was the moment when the Imperial Japanese Army tasted defeat on land for the first time in nearly three centuries. In the space of two weeks, the Japanese attempt to capture Milne Bay was halted, and any ambitions they might have held to invade Australia thwarted. And that victory was due in no small part to the Kittyhawks of 75 and 76 Squadrons RAAF. After the Japanese had invaded the north of New Guinea, their main objective was to take Port Moresby in the south. But defeat at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 put an end to any invasion of Port Moresby by sea: instead they must strike across the Owen Stanley Ranges via the Kokoda Trail. Protecting Port Moresbys eastern flank was the key strategic natural harbour at Milne Bay, and in June 1942 American engineers, protected by Australian troops, began construction of the first of three proposed airstrips to be hacked out of the steaming jungle. Within a few weeks they had laid the first runway, formed by laying steel matting in almost impossible conditions. With heavy rain falling almost continuously, it was an extraordinary feat. Four days later the Kittyhawks of 75 and 76 Squadrons, RAAF, took up residence, together with a few Hudsons of 6 and 32 Squadrons to provide long-range reconnaissance. On the night of 25th August 1942, in torrential rain, a Japanese invasion force began their landin in the bay. With the Australian troops bitterly contesting every yard, the fighting was savage and bloody; conditions in the jungle battleground were wet, nuddy, and atrocious. At first light the next morning the Kittyhawks and Hudsons immediately joined the battle, flying continuous raids against the Japanese forces. Sortie after sortie, strafing and bombing the enemy troops, their landing barges and stores. For the next eleven days the bitter battle raged, the Australian troops fighting in savage hand to hand combat as the Japanese were halted at No.3 airstrips permieter. But eventually the Japanese were spent as a fighting force. With no hope of reinforcement, they were forced to withdraw. A quarter of their invasion force had been lost. Robert Taylors powerful painting depicts Kittyhawks from 75 and & 76 Squadrons RAAF, returning to No 1 Strip after attacking Japanese positions during the Battle for Milne Bay. Under the starboard wing of the lead aircraft, Polly, the smoke of action is clearly visible as the Japanese press from their landing site, along the coast towards the airstrip. Polly, now beautifully restored, resides in the Australian War Memorial Museum in Canberra, a tribute to the men and machines who stopped the Japanese in New Guinea.
Item Code : DHM1769Milne Bay - The Turning Point by Robert Taylor. - This Edition
TYPEEDITION DETAILSSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSYOUR PRICEPURCHASING
PRINT Signed limited edition of 400 prints, numbered 151 - 550.

Paper size 25 inches x 19 inches (64cm x 48cm) Image size 20 inches x 15 inches (51cm x 38cm) Kerry, H A Harry
Tucker, Arthur D
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £55
£165.00

Quantity:
All prices on our website are displayed in British Pounds Sterling



Other editions of this item : Milne Bay - The Turning Point by Robert Taylor. DHM1769
TYPEEDITION DETAILSSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSYOUR PRICEPURCHASING
ARTIST
PROOF
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Paper size 25 inches x 19 inches (64cm x 48cm) Image size 20 inches x 15 inches (51cm x 38cm) Booth-Jones, Peter
Kerry, H A Harry
Tucker, Arthur D
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £80
£295.00VIEW EDITION...
PRINT Collectors edition of 150 prints. Paper size 25 inches x 19 inches (64cm x 48cm) Image size 20 inches x 15 inches (51cm x 38cm) Booth-Jones, Peter
Cowan, Raife J
Glassop, Ross H
Gould, A J Nat
Todd, Noel C
Watson, Bruce D
Kerry, H A Harry
Tucker, Arthur D
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £205
£225.00VIEW EDITION...
PRINT Publishers Proof edition of 75 prints.

SOLD OUT.
Paper size 25 inches x 19 inches (64cm x 48cm) Image size 20 inches x 15 inches (51cm x 38cm) Booth-Jones, Peter
Cowan, Raife J
Glassop, Ross H
Gould, A J Nat
Todd, Noel C
Watson, Bruce D
Whitlam, Gough
Kerry, H A Harry
Tucker, Arthur D
+ Artist : Robert Taylor


Signature(s) value alone : £235
SOLD
OUT
VIEW EDITION...
General descriptions of types of editions :


Signatures on this item
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
NameInfo
Flight Lieutenant Arthur D Tucker
*Signature Value : £30

Joined the RAAF in March 1941. Arthur Friar Tucker was trained and commissioned in Australia and flew Wirraways until October 1941. In March 1942 he was posted to 75 Sqn being formed at Townsville. In late March, Tucker went north with the squadrom and flew and fought with Jacksons Few during the legendary forty four day Battle for Port Moresby. During this period he was credited with downing Japanese Ace Miyazaki - later confirmed by Saburo Sakai. After withdrawing to Australia on 4th May to rest and re-equip, he flew S A29-133 during preparations for 75 Sqns return to New Guinea in July. Tucker participated in many scraps and strafing ops during the Battle for Milne Bay in August. In January 1943 he was posted to the new 86 Sqn equipped with Kittyhawks. During September he was credited with a Zero confirmed near Merauke. Arthur ended the war with 2 confirmed victories, a number of probables and several damaged.
Flight Lieutnenant H A Harry Kerr MID
*Signature Value : £25

Joined the RAAF in May 1941 and trained in Australia and was at 1 OTU Sale on Wirraways until 13th March 1942. Harry was posted to 76 Sqn Archerfield late that month and flew his first Kittyhawk A29-31 on 24th March at Townsville. Kerr departed Townsville with the newly formed squadron on July 18th, arriving at Milne Bay on 24th July. He flew his first operation on 26th July on an anti submarine patrol and on 11th August engaged his first Zero followed by an engine failure and subsequent dead stick landing on No.1 strip. Kerr participated in many successful strafing ops and Hudson bomber escorts during August and September and remained with 76 until they withdrew to the mainland on 24th September and left the squadron at Strauss in December 1942. Harry was posted to 2 OTU as an instructor from March 1943 until February 1944. He joined 78 Sqn equipped with Kittyhawks on Anzac Day 1944 and operated from Hollandia, then Morotai until January 1945 and finished the war at 2 OTU.
The Aircraft :
NameInfo
KittyhawkCurtiss Kittyhawk, single engine fighter with a top speed of 362mph, ceiling of 30,000 feet and a range of 1190 miles with extra fuel tanks but 900 miles under normal operation. Kitty Hawk armaments was four or six .50in machine guns in the wings and a bomb load of up to 1,000 lb's. A development of the earlier Tomahawk, the Kitty Hawk saw service in may air force's around the world, American, Australian, New Zealand, and the Royal Air Force. which used them in the Mediterranean, north Africa, and Malta. from January 1942/ apart from the large numbers used by the Us Air Force, over 3,000 were used by Commonwealth air force's including the Royal air Force.

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