Details
RABAUL – FLY FOR YOUR LIFE
(Black Sheep Edition – 7 Signatures)
by Robert Taylor
Overall Print Size: 36” x 23½"
Edition Size: 350
Desperate for new pilots in the South Pacific, in August 1943 the First Marine Wing appointed the unconventional fighter ace Major Greg Boyington to pull together a newly formed squadron from a mix of experienced combat veterans and untested novice pilots. The Marine Corps gave him just four weeks to turn this motley group into a fighting force ready for combat -Boyington succeeded beyond all expectations and the rest is history. Equipped with the Chance Vought F4U Corsair, they called themselves 'The Black Sheep', and under Boyington's mercurial leadership, saw action at Guadalcanal, Munda, the northern Solomons, Vella Lavella, Bourganville, and Tokokina; Kahili, and were the first to lead fighter sweeps over the major Japanese base of Rabaul. In a period of just eighty-four days Boyington's pilots recorded 273 Japanese aircraft destroyed or damaged, 97 confirmed air victories producing eight fighter Aces, sank several ships, destroyed many ground installations and numerous other victories.
For their outstanding contribution to the war in the South Pacific, the 'Black Sheep' were awarded one of only two Presidential Unit Citations accorded to Marine Corps squadrons during the war in the Pacific.
With typical Taylor mastery, "RABAUL – FLY FOR YOUR LIFE" brings to life an encounter over Rabaul in late December 1943, paying tribute to one of the US Marine Corps' most famous fighter squadrons, and its outstanding leader. With the Japanese airbase at Rabaul visible in the distance, 'Pappy' Boyington and his fellow pilots of VMF-214 tear into a large formation of Japanese Zekes and a series of deadly dogfights have started, one Zeke already fallen victim to their guns. A few days later, on 3 January 1944, during a massive engagement, Boyington and his wingman took on a force of ten Japanese Zeros. After destroying three, a swarm of twenty more Japanese joined the fray, downing his wingman. Hopelessly outnumbered, Boyington finally fell victim and was shot down, to be taken prisoner by the Japanese. His final victory tally stood at 28. With their leader gone, and eleven other pilots lost in action over the preceding weeks, VMF-214, one of the US Marine Corps' most illustrious yet short-lived squadrons, was disbanded a few days later.
In addition to the artist "RABAUL – FLY FOR YOUR LIFE" (the main print in this edition) was individually signed in pencil by FIVE "Black Sheep" pilots who flew with Corsairs VMF-214:
Brigadier General BRUCE J. MATHESON USMC
Major HARRY JOHNSON USMC
Lieutenant Colonel W. THOMAS EMRICH USMC
Lieutenant Colonel JAMES J. HILL USMC
Captain FRED S. LOSCH USMC
Issued with the main print in this edition is a matching-numbered pilot signed 19¾" x 15¼" companion print of Robert Taylor's working drawing "BLACK SHEEP." Signing this companion print along with the artist are Corsair pilots:
Lieutenant Colonel HENRY M. BOURGEOIS USMC
Colonel EDWIN A. HARPER USMC
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
