Cranston Military Prints .com Home Page
Customer Helpline (UK) : 01436 820269
Subscribe to our Newsletter!

You currently have no items in your basket

Payment Options Display
Buy with confidence and security!
Publishing historical art since 1985

Navigation Menus
Military
Art Index 		Aviation
Art Index 		Naval
Art Index 		Artists
Index
Product Search         
Aviation
History Archive 		Naval
History Archive
HALF PRICE AND FREE PRINT SPECIAL OFFERS
ALWAYS GREAT OFFERS :
20% FURTHER PRICE REDUCTIONS ON HUNDREDS OF LIMITED EDITION ART PRINTS
BUY ONE GET ONE HALF PRICE ON THOUSANDS OF PAINTINGS AND PRINTS
FOR MORE OFFERS SIGN UP TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Off to the Turkey Shoot by Stan Stokes. - Cranston Military Prints

Off to the Turkey Shoot by Stan Stokes.


Off to the Turkey Shoot by Stan Stokes.

At the time of the attack of Pearl Harbor the Japanese had superior aircraft and plenty of experienced pilots fresh from combat in China. By 1944 the roles were reversed. Anxious to commence B-29 bombing missions against the Japanese homeland Rear Admiral Marc Mitschers Task Force 58 was given the assignment of supporting the recapture of the Marianas. This proved to be the last major carrier battle of World War II. On June 11, 1944 large formations of Hellcats were dispatched to lure Japanese land-based fighters into combat. Enough Japanese fighters were destroyed to allow the Fifth Fleet to land 140,000 troops on Saipan and Guam on June 15th. Also on June 15th the Japanese main fleet joined up with its mobile fleet about 300-400 miles from Task Force 58. Vice Admiral Ozawa detached a force to use as bait to lure the Americans within range of the main fleet. His bait not taken, on June 19th Ozawa launched three air strikes with about 250 aircraft. The relatively inexperienced Japanese pilots now flying technically inferior aircraft were decimated by the Grumman Hellcats of Task Force 58. By days end Ozawa had lost 218 aircraft, and while unprotected his fleet had been attacked by American submarines resulting in the sinking of two of his carriers. Late in the afternoon of June 20th American Hellcats, Helldivers, and Avengers were launched at Ozawas fleet, resulting in the loss of one more carrier and severe damage to another two. As his airwings returned after dark Admiral Mitscher ordered his fleet to light-up, which enabled many of the American aircraft to return safely. About a third of the planes were forced to ditch with the loss of thirteen crewman. The Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat pictured, became the Navys primary carrier borne fighter plane during World War II. Over 12,000 Hellcats were produced, and the Hellcat was credited with 4,947 of the 6,477 kills of enemy planes downed by carrier pilots during the War. The Hellcat had a top speed of 375 MPH, a range of 1,089 miles and was armed with six machine guns. The aircraft was powered by an 18-cylinder Pratt and Whitney, air-cooled, radial engine which generated 2,000 horsepower. As depicted by Stokes is the aircraft of Squadron Commander David McCampbell of the USS Essex. McCampbell is the highest scoring US Naval aviator of all time.
Item Code : STK0076COff to the Turkey Shoot by Stan Stokes. - Editions AvailableExtra....


A photo of an edition of the print.

DESCRIPTIONSIZESIGNATURESOFFERSPRICEPURCHASINGPACKS
Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Artist : Stan Stokes£15 Off!
Add any two items on this offer to your basket, and the lower priced item will be half price in the checkout!		Now : £35.00

Quantity:
225 prints from the signed limited edition of 4750 prints, with signature of Stan Stokes and pilot, and a remarque.Image size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm)
McCampbell, David
Died : 1996
Captain David McCampbell (deceased)
David McCampbell is the highest scoring ace in the history of the United States Navy. A 1933 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he was selected for pilot training in 1937. McCampbell flew with the 'Red Rippers' of VF-4 on the USS Ranger, and was later assigned to the USS Wasp where he served as signal landing officer until the Wasp was lost in September 1942. McCampbell was given command of VF-15 in September of 1943 when this new unit was commissioned at the Atlantic City Nava
Signature Value : £70
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Stan Stokes

Signature(s) value alone : £70		£20 Off!Now : £209.00

Quantity:
Prints from the 225 prints from the signed limited edition of 4750 prints, with signature of Stan Stokes and pilot. Image size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm)
McCampbell, David
Died : 1996
Captain David McCampbell (deceased)
David McCampbell is the highest scoring ace in the history of the United States Navy. A 1933 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he was selected for pilot training in 1937. McCampbell flew with the 'Red Rippers' of VF-4 on the USS Ranger, and was later assigned to the USS Wasp where he served as signal landing officer until the Wasp was lost in September 1942. McCampbell was given command of VF-15 in September of 1943 when this new unit was commissioned at the Atlantic City Nava
Signature Value : £70
CLICK HERE FOR FULL PROFILE
 
+ Artist : Stan Stokes

Signature(s) value alone : £70		£50 Off!Now : £179.00

Quantity:


Some other related items available from this site.

On June 19, 1944 American Navy pilots ripped into wave after wave of enemy aircraft. As each new onslaught arrived there were more fighters there to meet them. Other squadrons joined in the melee and the radio circuits crackled with shouts and cries of encouragement. Hell this is like an old time turkey shoot! yelled one pilot - and thus the battle became known as the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. By the late afternoon two Japanese carriers had been sunk by submarines, and an incredible 373 enemy planes shot down. The U.S. Navy pilots had won an historic victory. Seen hurtling off the deck of the U.S.S. Lexington is the F6F Hellcat of Lt. Alex Vraciu of Fighting Squadron VF-16. With 12 victories already to his credit, Vraciu would add a further 6 to his tally in the space of just 8 minutes on that momentous day.

Scramble for the Marianas by Nicolas Trudgian. 		Truk, the small atoll in the South Pacific, was the major anchorage for the Japanese Fleet. Comprising a magnificent harbor and four heavily defended airfields, it was thought impregnable by the US forces as they fought their way up through the Pacific. But on 16-17 February 1944 a violent two-day aerial assault by carrierborne aircraft of Task Force 58 exploded the myth. In just two days the US Navy flyers sunk over 200,000 tons of Japanese naval shipping and destroyed an estimated 275 enemy aircraft, totally eliminating all effectiveness of the Japanese base. Light as the US Navy losses were only 25 aircraft failed to return the battle for Truk was ferocious. The ground installations, ships, and airfield batteries put up intense antiaircraft fire against the attacking American aircraft, while Zeros did their best to repel the onslaught. The air above the atoll became a maelstrom of flak, tracer, flying lead and shrapnel, while below huge explosions rocked the ground as ammo and fuel dumps were hit, fires raged, and the acrid smoke of battle pervaded the entire area. In this important new painting, his first featuring the F6F Hellcat, Robert Taylor brings to life the scenario that was crucial to Admiral Spruances forceful drive through the Central Pacific. The once feared Japanese base at Truk is being reduced to a statistic of war. Hellcats of VF6 hurtle across the lagoon at masthead height with guns blazing, creating havoc as they tear into the enemy positions below. Seen in the foreground is the F6F-3 of Lt. Alex Vracui, subsequently to become one of the Navys top guns. This exhilarating work dramatically conveys the awesome conditions endured day after day by the pilots of the US Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific.

Hellcat Fury by Robert Taylor.		 On June 19, 1944 American Navy pilots ripped into wave after wave of enemy aircraft. As each new onslaught arrived there were more fighters there to meet them. Other squadrons joined in the melee and the radio circuits crackled with shouts and cries of encouragement. Hell this is like an old time turkey shoot! yelled one pilot - and thus the battle became known as the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. By the late afternoon two Japanese carriers had been sunk by submarines, and an incredible 373 enemy planes shot down. The U.S. Navy pilots had won an historic victory. Seen hurtling off the deck of the U.S.S. Lexington is the F6F Hellcat of Lt. Alex Vraciu of Fighting Squadron VF-16. With 12 victories already to his credit, Vraciu would add a further 6 to his tally in the space of just 8 minutes on that momentous day.

Scramble for the Marianas by Nicolas Trudgian. 		Truk, the small atoll in the South Pacific, was the major anchorage for the Japanese Fleet. Comprising a magnificent harbor and four heavily defended airfields, it was thought impregnable by the US forces as they fought their way up through the Pacific. But on 16-17 February 1944 a violent two-day aerial assault by carrierborne aircraft of Task Force 58 exploded the myth. In just two days the US Navy flyers sunk over 200,000 tons of Japanese naval shipping and destroyed an estimated 275 enemy aircraft, totally eliminating all effectiveness of the Japanese base. Light as the US Navy losses were only 25 aircraft failed to return the battle for Truk was ferocious. The ground installations, ships, and airfield batteries put up intense antiaircraft fire against the attacking American aircraft, while Zeros did their best to repel the onslaught. The air above the atoll became a maelstrom of flak, tracer, flying lead and shrapnel, while below huge explosions rocked the ground as ammo and fuel dumps were hit, fires raged, and the acrid smoke of battle pervaded the entire area. In this important new painting, his first featuring the F6F Hellcat, Robert Taylor brings to life the scenario that was crucial to Admiral Spruances forceful drive through the Central Pacific. The once feared Japanese base at Truk is being reduced to a statistic of war. Hellcats of VF6 hurtle across the lagoon at masthead height with guns blazing, creating havoc as they tear into the enemy positions below. Seen in the foreground is the F6F-3 of Lt. Alex Vracui, subsequently to become one of the Navys top guns. This exhilarating work dramatically conveys the awesome conditions endured day after day by the pilots of the US Navy and Marine Corps in the Pacific.

Hellcat Fury by Robert Taylor
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 David McCampbell (deceased)
Died : 1996
*Signature Value : £70

Editions signed :

225 prints from the signed limited edition of 4750 prints, with signature of Stan Stokes and pilot, and a remarque.
Prints from the 225 prints from the signed limited edition of 4750 prints, with signature of Stan Stokes and pilot.


McCampbell, David
(Captain David McCampbell (deceased))

David McCampbell is the highest scoring ace in the history of the United States Navy. A 1933 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he was selected for pilot training in 1937. McCampbell flew with the 'Red Rippers' of VF-4 on the USS Ranger, and was later assigned to the USS Wasp where he served as signal landing officer until the Wasp was lost in September 1942. McCampbell was given command of VF-15 in September of 1943 when this new unit was commissioned at the Atlantic City Naval Air Station. This new unit was equipped with the Grumman F6F Hellcat, which would prove to be superior to the Japanese aircraft which had dominated aerial combat during the early months of the War in the Pacific. VF-15 was initially assigned to the USS Hornet, and during the Hornet's shakedown cruise McCampbell was promoted to Air Group Commander. In May of 1944 Air Group 15 was reassigned to the USS Essex, which took part in the action against the Marianas later that month. On June 19, McCampbell participated in what has been referred to as the biggest carrier battle in the history of naval warfare. McCampbell scored seven victories on that day. During the Marianas campaign Air Group 15 was credited with 104 aerial victories and an additional 136 enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. The Group also sank 22 enemy ships, and damaged an additional 38 more. During further battles in the Philippines and Formosa, McCampbell continued to achieve victory after victory, despite instructions by his Admiral to avoid taking part in scrambles. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf on October 24, 1944, the Japanese launched three waves of planes totaling in excess of 150 aircraft. The initial wave of this attack was met head-on by only 7 Hellcats including Dave 's. During this engagement, McCampbell shot down eleven enemy aircraft, nine of which were confirmed. On November 5 McCampbell attained his last multiple victory by downing a WaP over Subic Bay, and then a Zeke. Air Group 15 shot down 138 Japanese aircraft and destroyed another 117 on the ground during its final month of operations in the Philippines. The entire unit was awarded a Presidential Citation, and McCampbell was invited to the White House where he was presented the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Franklin Roosevelt. With 34 confirmed aerial victories to his credit, McCampbell also received the Navy Cross, The Legion of Merit, The Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. McCampbell modestly credited his success to his ability to conserve both fuel and ammunition. However, it is safe to say that this greatest of all US Navy fighter aces was also both a great pilot, and an excellent marksman. Captain McCampbell passed away on 30th June 1996.
Aircraft Related to This Print
Hellcat
Ships Related to This Print
USS Essex (1942)

Contact Details
Shipping Info
Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy

Sign Up To Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with all our latest offers, deals and events as well as new releases and exclusive subscriber content!

This website is owned by Cranston Fine Arts.  Torwood House, Torwoodhill Road, Rhu, Helensburgh, Scotland, G848LE

Contact: Tel: (+44) (0) 1436 820269.  Email: cranstonorders -at- outlook.com

Return to Home Page