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The Jolly Rogers by Nicolas Trudgian. - Cranston Military Prints

The Jolly Rogers by Nicolas Trudgian.


The Jolly Rogers by Nicolas Trudgian.

With its macabre skull and crossbones insignia, and a reputation for total disdain of authority, VF-17 arrived in the Pacific with a variety of nicknames ranging from the Irregulars to the Cast-offs, but under the dynamic leadership of their Squadron Commander, Tom Blackburn, VF-17 made their presence felt immediately upon their arrival in the fall of 1943. Equipped with the F4U Corsair, VF-17 pilots had what Blackburn was convinced was the best fighter aircraft of World War II, and on 1st November, during the invasion of Bougainville, VF-17 pilots shot down 6 Japanese planes in their first taste of battle - 2 falling to the guns of their C.O. Over the next 8500 hours of combat in the Solomons, its pilots shot down 156 enemy aircraft, 8 Japanese aircraft for each plane it lost, and produced the highest number of Aces of any squadron in the Navy. Blackburns Fighting 17 were the toast of the Navy brass, earned the respect of their peers, and became known throughout the Pacific as The Jolly Rogers.
Item Code : DHM1853YThe Jolly Rogers by Nicolas Trudgian. - Editions AvailableExtra....



A photograph of an edition of the print.

DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Limited edition of publisher proofs. Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm)
Blackburn, Tom

Died : 1994
Captain Tom Blackburn (deceased)
From a naval family, Tom Blackburn joined the service in 1929. In 1942 he took part in Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa, commanding VF-29. His first mission ended by ditching in the Atlantic, and 60 hours adrift in a dinghy. Surviving this, Tom Blackburn went on to command VF-17, leading the squadron to become one of the most distinguished naval fighter units of the Pacific War. With the accent on teamwork and mission accomplishment, the success of Tom Blackburns Jolly Ro
Signature Value : £75
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Hedrick, Roger
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2006
Rear Admiral Roger Hedrick (deceased)
After joining the US Navy in 1936, Roger Hedrick served aboard the USS Ranger before joining VF-17 on USS Bunker Hill as Executive Officer to Tom Blackburn. With over 200 hours in fighters before his first combat, Hedrick brought considerable experience to the squadron. Regarded by Blackburn as the top fighter pilot he flew with in World War Two, Hedrick completed over 100 combat missions and shot down 12 Japanese aircraft, with a number of probables unconfirmed. Flying the F4U he took part i
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Cunningham, Dan

Lieutenant Dan Cunningham
Dan Cunningham joined the service in December 1942, being posted to VF-17, his first operational squadron. He later flew with VBF-10. A valuable member of the Jolly Rogers air fighting team, Dan Cunningham scored 7 aerial victories flying the F4U, and a number of unconfirmed probables. His combat career was confined to the south west Pacific theater, where he took part in some of the major air battles of the Solomons.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Killefer, Tom
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 1996
Lieutenant Tom Killefer (deceased)
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Hermosa Beach, Killefer attended Stanford University, where he played varsity baseball and was elected student body president. He earned his law degree at Harvard and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University in England. Tom Killefer joined the navy in 1941, and was posted to his first operational squadron, VF-18, first seeing combat in October 1943. He flew 58 combat missions, scoring 4 victories, and a number of unconfirmed probables. Like all navy pilots he
Signature Value : £40
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Nicolas Trudgian

Signature(s) value alone : £225		£200 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!		Now : £350.00

Quantity:
In 2 Pairs
and 1 Pack
View
.**Limited edition of publisher proofs. (One reduced to clear) Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm)
Blackburn, Tom

Died : 1994
Captain Tom Blackburn (deceased)
From a naval family, Tom Blackburn joined the service in 1929. In 1942 he took part in Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa, commanding VF-29. His first mission ended by ditching in the Atlantic, and 60 hours adrift in a dinghy. Surviving this, Tom Blackburn went on to command VF-17, leading the squadron to become one of the most distinguished naval fighter units of the Pacific War. With the accent on teamwork and mission accomplishment, the success of Tom Blackburns Jolly Ro
Signature Value : £75
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Hedrick, Roger
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 2006
Rear Admiral Roger Hedrick (deceased)
After joining the US Navy in 1936, Roger Hedrick served aboard the USS Ranger before joining VF-17 on USS Bunker Hill as Executive Officer to Tom Blackburn. With over 200 hours in fighters before his first combat, Hedrick brought considerable experience to the squadron. Regarded by Blackburn as the top fighter pilot he flew with in World War Two, Hedrick completed over 100 combat missions and shot down 12 Japanese aircraft, with a number of probables unconfirmed. Flying the F4U he took part i
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
Cunningham, Dan

Lieutenant Dan Cunningham
Dan Cunningham joined the service in December 1942, being posted to VF-17, his first operational squadron. He later flew with VBF-10. A valuable member of the Jolly Rogers air fighting team, Dan Cunningham scored 7 aerial victories flying the F4U, and a number of unconfirmed probables. His combat career was confined to the south west Pacific theater, where he took part in some of the major air battles of the Solomons.
Signature Value : £55
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE

Killefer, Tom
NO
PHOTO
AVAILABLE
Died : 1996
Lieutenant Tom Killefer (deceased)
Born in Los Angeles and raised in Hermosa Beach, Killefer attended Stanford University, where he played varsity baseball and was elected student body president. He earned his law degree at Harvard and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University in England. Tom Killefer joined the navy in 1941, and was posted to his first operational squadron, VF-18, first seeing combat in October 1943. He flew 58 combat missions, scoring 4 victories, and a number of unconfirmed probables. Like all navy pilots he
Signature Value : £40
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Nicolas Trudgian

Signature(s) value alone : £225		£280 Off!Now : £320.00
Better Than
Half Price!

Quantity:


Some other related items available from this site.

Corsairs of VMF 121 provide close air support to the US landings on Rendova, June 30, 1943. Fiercely contested, the invasion force was heavily attacked by Zero fighters and Mitsubishi G4M1 Betty bombers, flying from their base at Rabaul. Dog-fighting at tree-top height, VMF 121 Corsairs rip into a bunch of Betty bombers as they try to make their escape following their attack on shipping. On fire, the Betty in the foreground is doomed, and will shortly become one of 19 Japanese aircraft accounted for by VMF 121. Other Marine fighter units brought the total this day to a staggering 58 enemy aircraft destroyed.

Battle for the Islands by Nicolas Trudgian.		 Pappy Boyington bringing his Vought F4U-1A Bu No 17883 of VMF-214 in to land at Turtle Bay Airfield, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, in December 1943. Although often depicted in another aircraft, Boyington flew 883 more than any other of his Corsairs.

Tribute to Pappy Boyington by Ivan Berryman. 		The King George V class battleship HMS Anson is pictured in Sydney Harbour where she joined the Pacific Fleet in July 1945, viewed across the flight deck of HMS Vengeance, where ten of her Vought F4.U Corsairs are ranged in front of a single folded Fairey Barracuda.

HMS Anson at Sydney Harbour, July 1945 by Ivan Berryman 		Pappy Boyingtons VMF-214 Black Sheep squadron continues to fascinate aviation and military enthusiasts to this day. VMF-214 flew three combat tours starting from September 1943 and chalked up a total of 153 aerial victories with more than another 100 Japanese aircraft destroyed on the ground. Rabaul Harbor, more than 200 miles distant from their airfields, was a stronghold for the Japanese and a frequent target for the Black Sheep of VM17-214. Most missions to Rabaul involved the escort of SBD Dauntless dive-bombers, TBF Avenger torpedo bombers, or B-24s. The Black Sheep usually provided high cover at 20,000 to 24,000 feet, and on some occasions Japanese fighters would be waiting in the clouds above them. The Zekes would use their altitude advantage and dive at great speeds to penetrate the top cover and get at the attacking American bombers. The Black Sheep utilized the Thatch Weave to protect their own flights from tail-end attacks by the Zekes. Rabaul Harbor was not an easy target as it was heavily defended with shore batteries and antiaircraft guns on the surrounding mountainsides. Lots of Japanese military supplies, vehicles, and munitions were scattered around the harbor. Several smaller ships were typically at anchor, but the Japanese would only bring its large capital ships into the deep-water harbor during bad weather or under the cover of darkness. There were several aces that flew with the Black Sheep, but only three are still living. One of these is Pappys wingman, USMC Lt. Col. Robert W. Me Clurg. Bob was born in Coshocton, Ohio on February 9, 1919. McClurgs No. 883 Martha is depicted off of Boyingtons wing in Stan Stokes painting. Following a move to Pennsylvania, Bob enrolled at Penn State and later transferred to and earned a degree in Business Administration from Westminister College in 1942. While at Penn State Bob joined the Marine Corps platoon leaders course. He applied for Marine aviation flight training following graduation, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USMC in 1943 at Pensacola. Following only 21 hours of fighter flight time in the F2A Buffalo, MeClurg received his initial combat assignment with VMF-211 who had defended Wake Island. McClurg was then transferred to Boyingtons VMF-214 which was being organized. As a Black Sheep he participated in the intense combat in the Russell Islands, New Georgia, New Britain, New Ireland, and Bouganville areas. He also flew many missions as Pappys wingman. McClurg bagged his first Zeke on September 16, 1943, and he attained ace status by December of that year. His final victory tally was 7 confirmed and 2 probable aerial victories. Following his combat tour in the Pacific, he attended Marine Air Infantry School at Quantico, Virginia, Engineering Officers School at Memphis, Tennessee, and finally trained future Corsair pilots at Cherry Point, North Carolina. Following his service career, Bob earned a Masters of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He retired from the Corp. as a Lt. Colonel. He is the recipient of numerous decorations including five Distinguished Flying Crosses, eight Air Medals, and two Presidential Unit Citations. He currently resides in upstate New York.

Black Sheep Over Rabaul by Stan Stokes.
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




Captain Tom Blackburn (deceased)
Died : 1994
*Signature Value : £75

Editions signed :

Limited edition of publisher proofs.
.**Limited edition of publisher proofs. (One reduced to clear)


Blackburn, Tom
(Captain Tom Blackburn (deceased))

From a naval family, Tom Blackburn joined the service in 1929. In 1942 he took part in Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa, commanding VF-29. His first mission ended by ditching in the Atlantic, and 60 hours adrift in a dinghy. Surviving this, Tom Blackburn went on to command VF-17, leading the squadron to become one of the most distinguished naval fighter units of the Pacific War. With the accent on teamwork and mission accomplishment, the success of Tom Blackburns Jolly Rogers are legend in the lore of naval aviation. Sadly, Tom Blackburn died on 21st April 1994.


Rear Admiral Roger Hedrick (deceased)
Died : 2006
*Signature Value : £55

Editions signed :

Limited edition of publisher proofs.
.**Limited edition of publisher proofs. (One reduced to clear)


Hedrick, Roger
(Rear Admiral Roger Hedrick (deceased))

After joining the US Navy in 1936, Roger Hedrick served aboard the USS Ranger before joining VF-17 on USS Bunker Hill as Executive Officer to Tom Blackburn. With over 200 hours in fighters before his first combat, Hedrick brought considerable experience to the squadron. Regarded by Blackburn as the top fighter pilot he flew with in World War Two, Hedrick completed over 100 combat missions and shot down 12 Japanese aircraft, with a number of probables unconfirmed. Flying the F4U he took part in the campaigns in the Solomons, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Japan. Sadly, he passed away on 10th January 2006.




Lieutenant Dan Cunningham
*Signature Value : £55

Editions signed :

Limited edition of publisher proofs.
.**Limited edition of publisher proofs. (One reduced to clear)


Cunningham, Dan
(Lieutenant Dan Cunningham)

Dan Cunningham joined the service in December 1942, being posted to VF-17, his first operational squadron. He later flew with VBF-10. A valuable member of the Jolly Rogers air fighting team, Dan Cunningham scored 7 aerial victories flying the F4U, and a number of unconfirmed probables. His combat career was confined to the south west Pacific theater, where he took part in some of the major air battles of the Solomons.


Lieutenant Tom Killefer (deceased)
Died : 1996
*Signature Value : £40

Editions signed :

Limited edition of publisher proofs.
.**Limited edition of publisher proofs. (One reduced to clear)


Killefer, Tom
(Lieutenant Tom Killefer (deceased))

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Hermosa Beach, Killefer attended Stanford University, where he played varsity baseball and was elected student body president. He earned his law degree at Harvard and was a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University in England. Tom Killefer joined the navy in 1941, and was posted to his first operational squadron, VF-18, first seeing combat in October 1943. He flew 58 combat missions, scoring 4 victories, and a number of unconfirmed probables. Like all navy pilots he had a large number of deck landings, and saw action in the North Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Flying the F4F and F4U he took part in the great air battles over Bougainville and the massive campaign against Rabaul. Tom Killefer earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Navy Air Medal and a Purple Heart. Sadly Tom Killefer died at the age of 79 on Sunday 16th June 1996 in Portola Valley, California.
Squadrons Related to This Print
VF-17
Aircraft Related to This Print
Corsair

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