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Some other related items available from this site. | ||||
  The Element of Surprise by Robert Barbour |  The Sleeping Giant Awakes by Richard Taylor. |   Tough as Nails by Stan Stokes. |   Gunfight Over Rabaul by Nicolas Trudgian. | |
| 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. | |
| Name | Info |
| Commander Leslie Fortner USMC *Signature Value : £20 Editions signed : Limited edition of 350 prints. Artist Proof edition of 25 prints Collectors edition of 70 prints Medal of Honor Tribute edition of 10 prints. Limited edition of 25 remarques Limited edition of 10 double remarques | Fortner, Leslie (Commander Leslie Fortner USMC) Joining the Navy in 1943, Les Fortner joined VC-88 flying Wildcats off the escort carrier USS Hoggatt Bay in the south west Pacific Theater. In early 1945 he flew in support of the landings at Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Lingayen, destroying several Japanese aircraft on the ground. Les flew over 100 combat missions during the war, and in April 1945 he shot down a Kamikazi 'Nick' off Kerama Rhetto near Okinawa. |
 Captain Stanley Swede Vejtasa USN (deceased) Died : 2013 *Signature Value : £40 Editions signed : Limited edition of 350 prints. Artist Proof edition of 25 prints Collectors edition of 70 prints Medal of Honor Tribute edition of 10 prints. Limited edition of 25 remarques Limited edition of 10 double remarques | Vejtasa, Stanley Swede (Captain Stanley Swede Vejtasa USN (deceased)) 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. |
 Commander Dean Laird USN *Signature Value : £25 Editions signed : Artist Proof edition of 25 prints Collectors edition of 70 prints Medal of Honor Tribute edition of 10 prints. Limited edition of 25 remarques Limited edition of 10 double remarques | Laird, Dean (Commander Dean Laird USN) After sharing a cople of kills whilst flying Wildcats with VF-4 from the USS Ranger off Norway, Dean Laird went with the unit to the Pacific in 1944, serving on USS Bunker Hill and USS Essex. Hee, in late 1944 and early 1945 flying the F6F Hellcat, he increased his score to finish the war an Ace with 5.75 confirmed kills. |
  Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH (deceased) Died : 2009 *Signature Value : £50 Editions signed : Artist Proof edition of 25 prints Collectors edition of 70 prints Medal of Honor Tribute edition of 10 prints. Limited edition of 25 remarques Limited edition of 10 double remarques | Swett, James E (Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH (deceased)) 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. |
 Jeff de Blanc (deceased) Died : 2007 *Signature Value : £40 Editions signed : Medal of Honor Tribute edition of 10 prints. | Blanc, Jeff de (Jeff de Blanc (deceased)) 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. |
  Brigadier General Joseph J Foss (deceased) Died : 2003 *Signature Value : £50 Editions signed : Medal of Honor Tribute edition of 10 prints. | Foss, Joseph J (Brigadier General Joseph J Foss (deceased)) 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. |
 Bob Galer (deceased) Died : 2005 *Signature Value : £35 Editions signed : Medal of Honor Tribute edition of 10 prints. | Galer, Bob (Bob Galer (deceased)) 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. |
  Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth A Walsh (deceased) Died : 1998 *Signature Value : £60 Editions signed : Medal of Honor Tribute edition of 10 prints. | Walsh, Kenneth A (Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth A Walsh (deceased)) Ken Walsh was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 24th 1916. On December 15th 1933, Kenneth Walsh joined the Marines, becoming a mechanic and radioman. In April 1937 he received his wings while still a Private, but was promoted to Corporal immediately after. Ken Walsh achieved an impressive 21 victories in his 104 combat missions. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for two separate actions in August 1943 when, overwhelmingly outnumbered, he destroyed 7 enemy aircraft before being shot down himself. He scored his final victory on 22nd June 1945 over Okinawa. Walsh remained in the Marine Corps for a full career, flying transports in Korea and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in February 1962. He was the 4th highest scoring Marine Corps fighter Ace of World War Two. Sadly he passed away on 30th July 1998. |
| Squadrons Related to This Print |
| VMF-121 |
| Aircraft Related to This Print |
| Wildcat |
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Signature(s) value alone : £60
Signature(s) value alone : £135
