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Chennault's Flying Tigers by Robert Taylor. - Cranston Military Prints

Chennault's Flying Tigers by Robert Taylor.


Chennault's Flying Tigers by Robert Taylor.

P40 Tomahawks of the American Volunteer Group fought against the Japanese air force in the skies over Indo-China during World War 2 and became one of the most successful and famous fighter units of all time. Strangled by the Japanese blockade of its sea ports, and with supplies from Russia diverted to combat Hitler's invasion, China was left with one lifeline for vital supplies from the outside world: a treacherous unpaved track hacked through mountain terrain linking the port of Rangoon with the city of Kumming, in South West China - it was the infamous Burma Road. With the Impirial Japanese air force hell-bent on destroying Chinas last supply link, opposition had almost evaporated but for a tiny air force of American volunteers led by the indomitable figure of Claire Chennault. Formed in early 1941, months before Pearl Harbor, a rag-tag bunch of 100 recruited flyers supported by 200 ground personnel, known as the American Volunteer Group came together to stand alone against the might of Japanese air force in Indo-china. Blazing a trail in the skies over Burma and China they created a legend that will remain in the folklore of aviation history. They were Chennault's Flying Tigers. With little official support from home, the P-40 Tomahawk pilots of the A.V.G. became the scourge of the Japanese air force. In a six month period of combat, with no more than 50 or 60 serviceable aircraft, they destroyed some 300 Japanese aircraft, while probably destroying another 300. Their brief, glorious existance came to and end when on 4th July 1942 the A.V.G. was absorbed into the U.S Army Air Corps. Chennault's Flying Tigers passed into history. Moved by the legend of the Flying tigers, Robert Taylor has created a masterpiece. Capturing the spirit of the Flying Tigers he portrays a scene typical of the distant war fought by this tiny band of warriors. In the foreground of Robert's dramatic combat scene are two P-40s of the 2nd Pursuit Squadron, the Panda Bears, as they pull out of a driving attack just above the tree-tops of the Burmese jungle. One bomber hits the water, as two more P-40s bear down on another Nakajima bomber. In the distance the air is busy with low-level combat.
Item Code : AX0001Chennault's Flying Tigers by Robert Taylor. - Editions Available
DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Signed limited edition of 1250 prints. Paper size 33 inches x 25 inches (84cm x 64cm)
Neale, Bob
Died : 1994
Squadron Leader Bob Neale (deceased)
Bob Neale was the top scoring ace of the American Volunteer Group, with 15.5 air victories - a remarkable record in such a short period of combat. An ex navy pilot, Neale had volunteered for action in April 1941, and by the time he took command of the 1st Squadron (Adam and Eves) he had built a reputation as a fierce competitor in the air. After the fall of Rangoon, Bob Neale became Chennault's right hand man, directing most of the AVG's field operations. Following disbandment he join
Signature Value : £50
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Smith, Robert T
Died : 1995
Colonel Robert T Smith (deceased)
R T Smith was a flight instructor in the US Army Air Corps when he resigned his commission in July 1941 to join the AVG. Flying first as a wingman and then as a Flight Leader he took part in the great air battles over Rangoon on 23rd and 25th December 1941, and was credited with 8.66 air victories with the Flying Tigers. Recommissioned into the USAAF he flew a further combat tour in P-51s and commanded a squadron of B-52s. After the war he became Vice-President of the Flying Tigers Line in th
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Hill, Tex

Died : 2007
Colonel Tex Hill (deceased)
Tex Hill was born in Korea on 13th July 1915. Tex Hill graduated as a Naval Aviator in 1939, and after serving as a Navy Pilot, Tex Hill volunteered for the A.V.G., becoming Squadron Leader in the 2nd Sqn (Panda Bears) until disbandment in 1942, by which time he had 12.25 air victories, making him the second highest ranking Ace in the American Volunteer Group. He remained in China, as the first squadron commander of the 75th F S /23rd F G before returning to the U.S. He went back to China to
Signature Value : £75
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Older, Charles

Died : 2006
Colonel Charles Older (deceased)
Charles Herman Older, born on 29 September 1917 in Hanford, California, graduated from the University of California in 1939 with a degree in political science. No the 1st April 1940 Charles Herman Older joined the Marine Corps for flight training, he received his wings and commission at Pensacola. Resigning from the Marine Corps in 1941 to join the A.V.G., Chuck Older took part in the great 'Christmas' air battles over Rangoon shooting down 5 Japanese aircraft. With 10.25 victories to
Signature Value : £70
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Rector, Ed
Died : 2001
Colonel Ed Rector (deceased)
Born 28th September 1916, Ed Rector originally flew dive bombers off carriers before being recruited into the A.V.G. flying with the 2nd Squadron. Ed Rector was one of the five pilots who volunteered for continuous service in China after 4th July, 1942 and joined the 23rd Fighter Group. He returned to China later for a 2nd tour of duty. He had a total of 10.5 air victories. He died on 26th April 2001.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Rossi, Dick

Died : 2008
Flight Leader Dick Rossi (deceased)
Dick Rossi was born in 1915 in Placerville, California. He entered the Navy for flight training in the fall of 1939 and soon became a Flight Instructor at Pensacola. Dick responded to the allure of adventure and resigned his Navy commission in 1941 to join the AVG. Serving with the First Pursuit Adam & Eves squadron, he engaged in his first combat mission over Burma in January 1942. Most of his missions were flown over Rangoon, although he was also assigned detached duty for the 2nd and 3rd squa
Signature Value : £65
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Shilling, Erik
Died : 2002
Flight Leader Erik Shilling (deceased)
Erik Shilling was amongst the first volunteer pilots with the A.V.G. Although credited with only one air victory, Erik flew many dangerous photo missions in his P-40 modified for vital camera work, which included the removal of 4 of his machine guns. In 1942 he joined the China National Airways flying 700 round trips over the Hump. He died 19th March 2002.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Robert Taylor

Signature(s) value alone : £425		SOLD
OUT		NOT
AVAILABLE


Some other related items available from this site.

Part of a small print series of six American WW2 aircraft, signed by some of the great American pilots, some no longer with us. Cranston Fine Arts have purchased the last remaining stocks of this aviation series.

Flying Tiger by Nicolas Trudgian. 		One of America's best known Aces, 'Tex' Hill scored his first victories in 1942 with the American Volunteer Group (AVG) known as the Flying Tigers. In his P-40 Warhawk, he was credited with 12 and a quarter victories while flying in aid of the Chinese against the Japanese, including the Ki.27 'Nate' depicted here. After the AVG was disbanded, he scored 6 more victories flying P-51 Mustangs with the USAAF. Tex Hill died in 2007 aged 92.

Tribute to David Lee 'Tex' Hill by Ivan Berryman. 		Claire L. Chennault retired in 1937 and began a second career in China where he set up a number of flying schools and airfields. A personal friend of Chiang Kai-shek Chennault was asked to organize a unit of experienced American combat pilots to help fight the Japanese. Chennault sent recruiters to American military installations and was able to organize the American Volunteer Group or AVG by late 1941. The group later became better known as the Flying Tigers, and their distinctive shark-mouthed P-40s became a well-recognized symbol. There were three AVG squadron; the Adam and Eves, the Panda Bears, and the Hells Angels. On December 23, 1941 sixty Sally heavy bombers of the 60th , 62nd , and 68th Sentai based at Bangkok and Phnom Penh were supposed to rendezvous over Bangkok and head to Rangoon for a bombing raid. The three units failed to join up as planned and they also failed to rendezvous with their fighter escorts for the mission. As the sixty aircraft approached Rangoon they were strung out and without the benefit of escort. None-the-less the determined Japanese pilots forged ahead. The AVG Flying Tigers were alerted at 10:00 AM with the alert message clear the field! Chuck Older and Ed Overend had been released from duty for some R&R, however when they hear the commotion created by the alert they returned to Mingladon Airfield and located two unused P40s, hopped in and went flying. Reaching an altitude of 8,000 feet they began to catch up with some other aircraft from the Hells Angels Squadron. They then spotted the huge conglomeration of Japanese bombers above them. I aimed at one of the wing planes on the left side of the formation and after my first attack, smoke began streaming from the port engine. I rolled out to the side and came back.... I aimed again at the same plane and closed to about seventy-five yards. I gave it a long burst, and the bomber suddenly nosed down out of the formation with smoke streaming behind. I saw it roll over into an almost vertical dive and disappear below me. As Older further recalled I continued making attacks from below, this time aiming at the leader of the formation.... I saw the bomber explode.... and flame and smoke seemed to pour out from the bottom of the fuselage. I saw debris falling from this plane immediately after the explosion. The bomber nosed straight down with flames and smoke pouring from it. Two days later the AVG would decimate an even larger formation of Japanese bombers, forcing the Japanese to adopt a policy of bombing only at night.

Sayonara Sally by Stan Stokes.		 Curtiss Tomahawk IIB of No.112 Sqn RAF, in combat with a Regia Aeronautica Fiat G.50, North Africa, 1941.

Curtiss Tomahawk IIB by Jerry Boucher.
Signatures on these products
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature and is for the unmatted version where available. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
NameInfo


Squadron Leader Bob Neale (deceased)
Died : 1994
*Signature Value : £50

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1250 prints.


Neale, Bob
(Squadron Leader Bob Neale (deceased))

Bob Neale was the top scoring ace of the American Volunteer Group, with 15.5 air victories - a remarkable record in such a short period of combat. An ex navy pilot, Neale had volunteered for action in April 1941, and by the time he took command of the 1st Squadron (Adam and Eves) he had built a reputation as a fierce competitor in the air. After the fall of Rangoon, Bob Neale became Chennault's right hand man, directing most of the AVG's field operations. Following disbandment he joined American Export Airlines and flew between New York and Ireland.


Colonel Robert T Smith (deceased)
Died : 1995
*Signature Value : £55

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1250 prints.


Smith, Robert T
(Colonel Robert T Smith (deceased))

R T Smith was a flight instructor in the US Army Air Corps when he resigned his commission in July 1941 to join the AVG. Flying first as a wingman and then as a Flight Leader he took part in the great air battles over Rangoon on 23rd and 25th December 1941, and was credited with 8.66 air victories with the Flying Tigers. Recommissioned into the USAAF he flew a further combat tour in P-51s and commanded a squadron of B-52s. After the war he became Vice-President of the Flying Tigers Line in the Far East. Robert T Smith passed away on 21st August 1995.




Colonel Tex Hill (deceased)
Died : 2007
*Signature Value : £75

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1250 prints.


Hill, Tex
(Colonel Tex Hill (deceased))

Tex Hill was born in Korea on 13th July 1915. Tex Hill graduated as a Naval Aviator in 1939, and after serving as a Navy Pilot, Tex Hill volunteered for the A.V.G., becoming Squadron Leader in the 2nd Sqn (Panda Bears) until disbandment in 1942, by which time he had 12.25 air victories, making him the second highest ranking Ace in the American Volunteer Group. He remained in China, as the first squadron commander of the 75th F S /23rd F G before returning to the U.S. He went back to China to command the 23rd F G, increasing his total to 18.25 victories. In late 1943 he led a group of 30 aircraft on the first strike against Formosa. During this mission, 42 enemy aircraft were confirmed destroyed, with a possible 12 more, while all 30 aircraft under Tex Hill's command returned safely. Returning to the US, he commanded the 412th Fighter Group, the first jet aircraft group. Here, he flew P-80 Shooting Stars and YP-59 Airacomets. His decorations include a Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Air Medals, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, 6 decorations awarded by China, and a Distinguished Flying Cross from the UK. Sadly, Tex Hill died on 11th October 2007.




Colonel Charles Older (deceased)
Died : 2006
*Signature Value : £70

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1250 prints.


Older, Charles
(Colonel Charles Older (deceased))

Charles Herman Older, born on 29 September 1917 in Hanford, California, graduated from the University of California in 1939 with a degree in political science. No the 1st April 1940 Charles Herman Older joined the Marine Corps for flight training, he received his wings and commission at Pensacola. Resigning from the Marine Corps in 1941 to join the A.V.G., Chuck Older took part in the great 'Christmas' air battles over Rangoon shooting down 5 Japanese aircraft. With 10.25 victories to his credit he joined the 23rd F G when the A.V.G. was disbanded, flying P-51s. He led the first strike against Shanghai resulting in the destruction of 77 Japanese aircraft. He completed the war with 18.25 air victories. After leaving the Air Force Colonel Chuck Older obtained a law degree from the University of Southern California and subsequently became a superior court judge in Los Angeles, California. He gained prominence as the presiding judge in the Charles Manson mass murder trial in 1970-71. Charles Older died on the 17th June 2006.


Colonel Ed Rector (deceased)
Died : 2001
*Signature Value : £55

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1250 prints.


Rector, Ed
(Colonel Ed Rector (deceased))

Born 28th September 1916, Ed Rector originally flew dive bombers off carriers before being recruited into the A.V.G. flying with the 2nd Squadron. Ed Rector was one of the five pilots who volunteered for continuous service in China after 4th July, 1942 and joined the 23rd Fighter Group. He returned to China later for a 2nd tour of duty. He had a total of 10.5 air victories. He died on 26th April 2001.




Flight Leader Dick Rossi (deceased)
Died : 2008
*Signature Value : £65

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1250 prints.


Rossi, Dick
(Flight Leader Dick Rossi (deceased))

Dick Rossi was born in 1915 in Placerville, California. He entered the Navy for flight training in the fall of 1939 and soon became a Flight Instructor at Pensacola. Dick responded to the allure of adventure and resigned his Navy commission in 1941 to join the AVG. Serving with the First Pursuit Adam & Eves squadron, he engaged in his first combat mission over Burma in January 1942. Most of his missions were flown over Rangoon, although he was also assigned detached duty for the 2nd and 3rd squadrons as well, serving under all three AVG squadron commanders. His last AVG mission was flown over the East China front in July 1942, by which time he had achieved an official tally of 6.25 confirmed kills. After the AVG, Dick flew for CNAC and spent much of the remainder of the war flying critical supplies over The Hump. By wars end, he had flown this perilous route over 735 times. Since the war, Dick Rossi has been involved in many various aspects of aviation and has carried on the AVG legacy, speaking worldwide and serving many years as President of the Flying Tigers Association. He died April 17th 2008.


Flight Leader Erik Shilling (deceased)
Died : 2002
*Signature Value : £55

Editions signed :

Signed limited edition of 1250 prints.


Shilling, Erik
(Flight Leader Erik Shilling (deceased))

Erik Shilling was amongst the first volunteer pilots with the A.V.G. Although credited with only one air victory, Erik flew many dangerous photo missions in his P-40 modified for vital camera work, which included the removal of 4 of his machine guns. In 1942 he joined the China National Airways flying 700 round trips over the Hump. He died 19th March 2002.
Squadrons Related to This Print
Flying Tigers
Aircraft Related to This Print
Tomahawk

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