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P-38 Art Prints

a tribute through art to . . .

the USAAF P-38 pilots and ground crews,

and to Lockheed's P-38 Lightning

Below, just a couple art prints to get this section started

April 18, 1943

Operation Dillinger: The Yamamoto Mission

(See the full story of this mission elsewhere on the web site)

Seven very talented artists unknowingly and separately created seven wonderful paintings and limited edition art prints depicting this highly secret, but now famous mission. (listed chronologically through the mission)

Lonnie Ortega:

Portrait - - John W. Mitchell and Rex Barber with their aircraft.

Robert Taylor:

The Back-Room Boys - - Ground crews preparing P-38s.

John Young:

Search for the Needle - - P-38s skimming over the water.

Robert Taylor:

Bogeys! Elevn O'cock High - - Yamamoto's flight is sighted.

Shigeo Koike:

Rendezvuos Over Bougainville - - Art print shown below.

Roy Grinnell:

Mission Accomplished - - Barber's P-38 and Yamamoto's stricken aircraft.

Jim Laurier

Fighter Two - Guadalcanal - - Art print shown below.

 

 

 Jim Laurier's

Fighter Two - Guadalcanal

This wonderfully detailed art print shows P-38s returning and landing at their island air strip. The primative living and working conditions are depicted well in this print. Army Air Force personnel, the pilots and ground crews, all lived in these conditions as they moved from island to island during the war. P-38s of 339 Fighter Squadron were stationed here. They helped defend the island of Gaudalcanal, and they also made the famous interception on Admiral Yamamoto's aircraft.

Shigeo Koike's

Rendezvuos Over Bougainville

A great art print showing the shoot down of Admiral Yamamoto's "Betty" bomber by Rex Barber. After flying 50-100 feet off the water for over 400 miles to aviod detection by Japanese radar, John Mitchell, the commander of Operation Dillinger, was able to lead his flight of P-38s to a successful conclussion of the longest intercept mission in WWII. This art print is signed by John Mitchell, Rex Barber, and the last surving Japanese Zero fighter pilot escorting Yamamoto's flight.

 

 

A special "Thank You" to some P-38 fighter pilots

for signing a number of art prints from my colletion.

 

Mr. Jack Ilfrey was kind enough to sign a number of art prints I had obtained depicting a some of his aerial victories. Here he signs "Combat For Happy Jack" by Keith Hill, the US 8th Air Force artist in England. These prints are sold only in Europe and without Mr. Ilfrey's signature. Thank you again Jack! (In the background can be seen Robert Taylor's "Coming In Over the Estuary", also signed by Jack Ilfrey and other P-38 pilots)

 

 

 

Mr. John Tilley signs "Pacific Summer" by John Shaw, as well as a number of other art prints depicting Thomas McGuire, America's second leading ace. Mr. Tilley was McGuire's wingman for over 50 missions, a record for McGuire's wingmen. A couple of these prints had other signatures on them from the 433rd Fighter Squadron or the 475th Fighter Group. Now all have the signature of McGuire's best wingman. Thanks John!

 

 

 

Mr. John Cohn also flew with Thomas McGuire as part of the 475th Fighter Group. Here he signs "Pacific Lightning" by Mathew Waki, as well as the other McGuire prints. After WWII Mr. Cohn became the commander of the McGuire Air Force base in New Jersey. Thanks John, for signing and for the Satan's Angels patch!

 

and more in the future...

 

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