Details
CHANCE ENCOUNTER AP
by Robert Taylor
Overall Print Size: 27" x 19"
Edition Size: 45
"December 7, 1941 was", said President Roosevelt "a day of infamy." The surprise attack by Japanese aircraft on that fateful day brought America into a war that was to become global. The Japanese air strike was the first of many attacks that day against America and other Allied Forces in the Pacific. Within a few days the British capital ships Prince of Wales and Repulse were sunk, the Japanese had landed on the coast of Malaya, Guam was seized, Hong Kong taken, and landings were made in the American held Philippines. In those first grim days of the Pacific War one territory after another quickly fell to the Japanese onrush - resistance, though heroic, was almost futile as the unprepared Allies were simply overwhelmed. Retaliating as best they could, Allied Forces hit back wherever possible and one of the first successes was by Dutch Forces on December23rd, just 16 days after Pearl Harbor. A Japanese invasion fleet had been spotted steaming south towards British Borneo. Royal Netherlands Navy submarine K XIV, alerted to their position, was heading west in order to make an interception. But the Japanese changed course on to an easterly heading during the night and made for the beaches off Kuching - the opposite direction to that of the submarine. However, a patrolling Dornier 24 of the Royal Netherlands Navy sighted the fleet on its new course, and by a remarkable chance encounter also spotted the submarine on the surface, and immediately signaled the location, course, and speed of the convoy. The submarine quickly engaged the Japanese in the shallow waters off the landing beach head, causing chaos amongst the fleet. Two ships were sunk and another two severely damaged. The Dornier, despite being heavily engaged by 'Pete' floatplanes from a Japanese heavy cruiser, managed to return safely to base.
Robert Taylor's masterful print, commissioned to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the Royal Netherlands Navy Air Service, portrays the "CHANCE ENCOUNTER" between a Dornier flying boat and submarine. Receiving the pilots Morse signal by flashing light "enemy to the north east" the submarine will change course to engage the enemy. )
In addition to the artist this print was individually signed by Dutch veterans of World War II; 2 survivors of the flying boat?s aircrew plus 3 crew members from submarine K-X1V:
- Oud Adjudand Onderofficier Vlieger PAUL KOMMER
- Luitenant ter Zee VK 20C b.d. GERARDUS "GERARD" van SCHOOTEN
- Kapitein-Luitenant ter Zee KMR b.d. JULIUS "RED" van NIEUWENHUIZEN
- Luitenant ter Zee SD 20C b.d. HENDRIK "HENK" van den ENDE
- Luitenant ter Zee VK 20C b.d. EELKE "BOB" SCHOLTE
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity.
