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Some other related items available from this site. | ||||
  Off to the Turkey Shoot by Stan Stokes. |   Okinawa by Robert Taylor. |   Battle for the Islands by Nicolas Trudgian. |   Scramble for the Marianas 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 Alex Vraciu USN (deceased) Died : 2015 *Signature Value : £45 Editions signed : Aces Edition. Signed limited edition of 450 prints. War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | Vraciu, Alex (Commander Alex Vraciu USN (deceased)) Alexander Vraciu was born in 1918, in East Chicago. Indiana to Romanian immigrant parents, . Alex grew up enthralled by the exploits of aviator Charles Lindbergh and World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker. Alexander Vraciu won a scholarship to DePauw University. Due to his passion for flying he obtained his private pilots license under the governments Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) program at Muncie, Indiana. Vraciu graduated in 1941, and entered the Navy as pilot candidate just before Pearl Harbor. On June 24th 1942 Alexander Vraciu recieved his Naval Aviators wings. He became carrier-qualified on Lake Michigan on USS WOLVERINE, a converted excursion ship, Vraciu qualified on eight straight passes in a F4F Wildcat, demonstrating an early affinity for carrier duty. He went onto fly the Grumman F6F Hellcat in the Pacific theatre. Alex Vraciu first saw combat flying the F6F Hellcat off carriers with VF-6. It was while flying as section leader in LCDR OHares division on October 5th, 1943, that Alex scored his first aerial victory over a Japanese zero at Wake Island. He notched three Zeroes and one Rufe in a wild dogfight at the first Truk raid on February 16, 1944 as part of a 72-Hellcat fighter sweep at the Japanese Naval fortress. During the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot he shot down six dive-bombers in eight minutes. The following day, escorting bombers in an attack on the Japanese Mobiel Fleet (Kido Butai), Vraciu downed his 19th victim, a Zero making him the foremost US Navy ace by a considerable margin, although he would hold that title for only four months. His luck ran out on December 14, 1944, while strafing over Luzon Island in the Philippines, his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire and Alex Vraciu was forced to parachute safely from his damaged aircraft. Bailing out, he spent five weeks with Filipino guerrillas before meeting up with advancing Americans. He ended the war as the US Navys fourth highest Ace. In addition to his 19 aerial victories, he had destroyed 21 enemy aircraft on the ground. During the last few months of the war he served as a test pilot at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, evaluating tactical performances between japanese an US aircraft he retired from the service in 1963. He died on 29th January 2015. |
  Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN (deceased) Died : 2008 *Signature Value : £50 Editions signed : Aces Edition. Signed limited edition of 450 prints. War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | McWhorter, Hamilton (Commander Hamilton McWhorter USN (deceased)) 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. |
 Commander Willis E Hardy USN *Signature Value : £30 Editions signed : Aces Edition. Signed limited edition of 450 prints. War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | Hardy, Willis E (Commander Willis E Hardy USN) Bill Hardy enlisted in the US Navy in 1939, and after working his way up through the ranks was commissioned in 1943, thereby enabling him to change from flying seaplanes to the latest fighters. Assigned to Fighting Seventeen, he flew the F6F Hellcat from the USS Hornet, and took part in the strikes against Tokyo, the landings on Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, where on 6th April 1945 he downed four Japanese planes in a day. That day also saw him make his first night-time deck landing after he remained in combat too long heading off a tenacious attack by Kaikazes against a US destroyer. Bill finished the war with 6.5 aerial victories, and retired from the service in 1959. |
  Colonel Archie G Donahue USMC (deceased) Died : 2007 *Signature Value : £60 Editions signed : War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | Donahue, Archie (Colonel Archie G Donahue USMC (deceased)) 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. |
| Commander John Ted Crosby USN *Signature Value : £25 Editions signed : War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | Crosby, John Ted (Commander John Ted Crosby USN) Ted Crosby joined the Navy in 1942, and was commissioned in May 1943. Serving on board USS Bunker Hill with VF-18 flying F6F Hellcats, he shared in downing a Betty bomber. Transferring to VF-17 he served on USS Hornet from January 1945 where he scored a further five victories, including three in a day on 16th April, to become a Hellcat Ace. |
| Lt Commander Fred Buck Dungan USN *Signature Value : £25 Editions signed : War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | Dungan, Fred Buck (Lt Commander Fred Buck Dungan USN) Commissioned in October 1942, Fred Dungan joined VF(N)-76 and served with them flying the F6F Hellcat from USS Yorktown until April 1944. He then transferred with the unit to USS Hornet until July 1944, when he was wounded and sent back to hospital. He was credited with 7 victories, all in the Hellcat, including four in one day. |
| Lt Commander James E Duffy USN *Signature Value : £25 Editions signed : War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | Duffy, James E (Lt Commander James E Duffy USN) James Duffy joined the Navy in 1942. Designated a naval aviator he was commissioned in July 1943. Assigned to VF-15 flying the F6F Hellcat, he served aboard the USS Essex from May 1944, scoring his first victory in June. He achieved his fifth and final victory to become an Ace on 5th November 1944 against an Oscar over Luzon. |
| Captain John R Strane USN (deceased) Died : 2009 *Signature Value : £35 Editions signed : War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | Strane, John R (Captain John R Strane USN (deceased)) One of VF-15s leading Aces with 13 victories, John Strane had joined the Navy in April 1941. Assigned to VF-15 in August 1943 flying the F6F Hellcat, he served on the USS Essex scoring his first victories - three in a day, on June 19th 1944. On 25th October he downed four Zekes in a day but was shot down into the sea and wounded, being picked up the next day by the destroyer USS Cotten. He scored his victory in November 1944. Sadly, John Roberts Strane passed away on 7th April 2009. |
| Commander Ed Wendy Wendorf USN *Signature Value : £35 Editions signed : War in the Pacific Edition. Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. War in the Pacific Edition. Signed limited edition of 300 prints. Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | Wendorf, Ed Wendy (Commander Ed Wendy Wendorf USN) On his very first combat mission, with VF-16, he was hit by flak, which disabled his compass and radio; downed two Japanese aircraft, was badly wounded in a dogfight, and bleeding heavily flew 120 miles back to his carrier - the USS Lexington, without flaps, tailhook, or brakes. Recovered aboard, he was sent to the sick bay, and almosy immediately the Lexington was hit by an aerial torpedo that flooded the sick quarters. He just escaped with his life! He survived to fly during the Truk raids, took part in the Marianas Turkey Shoot, and survived a ditching during the Mission Beyond Darkness. He finished the war with 6 victories. |
  Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH (deceased) Died : 2009 *Signature Value : £50 Editions signed : Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | 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. |
  Colonel Bruce Porter USMC (deceased) Died : 2009 *Signature Value : £45 Editions signed : Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | Porter, Robert Bruce (Colonel Bruce Porter USMC (deceased)) After a tour in the Pacific, Bruce joined VMF 121 in 1943 at Guadalcanal and soon downed 4 Zeros. He served tours with VMF (N) 511 (first all-Marine carrier squadron) and later VMF (N) 533. He helped lead that squadron on one of the longest over-water flights of WWII for a single engined aircraft - flying from the Marshall-Gilbert islands to Saipan-Iwo Jima. On June 15, 1945 he scored a double night victory at Okinawa, making him an Ace. He was probably the only Marine pilot to gain two or more kills in both the Corsair and Hellcat; and became only one of six Marines to score a double or triple kill in one mission. Sadly, Bruce Porter died 20th April 2009. |
 Captain Stanley Swede Vejtasa USN (deceased) Died : 2013 *Signature Value : £40 Editions signed : Portfolio Publisher Proof Edition. Signed limited edition of 75 prints. | 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. |
| Squadrons Related to This Print |
| VF-6 |
| Aircraft Related to This Print |
| Hellcat |
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Signature(s) value alone : £125
Signature(s) value alone : £330