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| Signatures on this item | |
| *The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. 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 |
 Captain Philip De Groot USMC *Signature Value : £10 | Gaining his pilots wings in 1943 on Wildcats he was taught to fly the F4U by Charles Lindberg. He flew the first of his 92 combat missions with VMF-224 in the Marshall Islands before fighting in the Battle of Okinawa, flying ground support and counter air missions. During the Korean War he flew a further 48 combat missions in Corsairs with VMF-223. |
| Chief Master Sergeant Lloyd Deffenbaugh USAAC *Signature Value : £10 | Enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1936 aged 20, he joined the cryptographic division as a codebreaker, translating messages about the positions of ships, troops and aircraft. He took part in the assault on Okinawa, on one occasion using a flame thrower against fanatical Japanese resistance, later serving in Korea and with NATO. |
  Colonel Archie G Donahue USMC (deceased) *Signature Value : £60 (matted) | 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. |
  Colonel Bruce Porter USMC (deceased) *Signature Value : £45 | 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. |
 Colonel Dean Caswell USMC *Signature Value : £20 | In early 1945 he joined VMF-221 Fighting Falcons flying the Corsair from the USS Bunker Hill quickly scoring his first victories, shooting down three Japanese Zekes in less than five minutes on 18th March. During the Battle of Okinawa he flew combat missions over the island, becoming an Ace on 28th April when again he scored three victories on one mission. On 11th May he was on board the USS Bunker Hill when it was hit by kamikazes and was forced to jump overboard. By the end of the war he had flown 78 combat missions and scored 7 victories and one probable. He later flew with the Blue Angels before serving two tours in Korea and a tour in Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Star and 3 DFCs. |
  Colonel James E Swett USMC MOH (deceased) *Signature Value : £50 | 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 Joe McPhail USMC *Signature Value : £15 | Joining the Marine Corps in 1941 his first operational unit was VMF-441, flying the Wildcat on missions in the Central Pacific and on one occasion was forced to bail out after running out of fuel. After a spell in the US as an instructor he returned to combat, flying the F4U Corsair with VMF-323 Death Rattlers over the Marshal Islands and then throughout the Okinawa campaign where he scored two victories over Japanese fighters. During Korea he flew F4Us in combat with VMF-214 the Black Sheep. He flew a total of 240 combat missions and was awarded the DFC. |
 Commander Dean Laird USN *Signature Value : £25 | After sharing a cople of kills whilst flying Wildcats with VF-4 from the USS Ranger off Norway, Dean Laird went with the unit to the Pacific in 1944, serving on USS Bunker Hill and USS Essex. Hee, in late 1944 and early 1945 flying the F6F Hellcat, he increased his score to finish the war an Ace with 5.75 confirmed kills. |
| Commander Donald Schmahl USN *Signature Value : £10 | Initially joining the Navy as an Apprentice Seaman, he was stationed on the island of Okinawa after the US invasion, and during a career spanning almost 30 years retired as a Commander. |
 Commander Willis E Hardy USN *Signature Value : £30 | 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. |
 First Lieutenant Clint Fladland USMC *Signature Value : £10 | A veteran of 271 combat missions, he flew F4U Corsairs with VMF-321 Hell's Angels during the fighting at Guam before taking part in the battle for Okinawa providing ground support and targeting suicide kamikazes. Flying until the end of the war in August 1945, he later served in Korea with VMF-214 the Black Sheep. |
 Jeff de Blanc (deceased) *Signature Value : £35 (matted) | Jefferson De Blanc flew two combat tours in F4Fs and F4Us from Guadalcanal to Okinawa, achieving 9 air victories. He was awarded the Medal of Honor whilst flying an F4F on bomber escort with VMF-112 in 1943. Sadly, he passed away on 23rd November 2007. |
 Lieutenant Colonel Darrell Smith USMC *Signature Value : £10 | Flying F4U Corsairs with VMF-312 Checkerboards at Okinawa, his squadron established their base at Kadena Airfield on the island of Okinawa itself just nine days after the invasion, providing vital ground support for the advancing infantry. He later flew in Korea at the Chosin Reservoir and was awarded the DFC in both WW2 and Korea. |
  Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth A Walsh (deceased) *Signature Value : £60 (matted) | Ken Walsh was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 24th 1916. On December 15th 1933, Kenneth Walsh joined the Marines, becoming a mechanic and radioman. In April 1937 he received his wings while still a Private, but was promoted to Corporal immediately after. Ken Walsh achieved an impressive 21 victories in his 104 combat missions. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for two separate actions in August 1943 when, overwhelmingly outnumbered, he destroyed 7 enemy aircraft before being shot down himself. He scored his final victory on 22nd June 1945 over Okinawa. Walsh remained in the Marine Corps for a full career, flying transports in Korea and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in February 1962. He was the 4th highest scoring Marine Corps fighter Ace of World War Two. Sadly he passed away on 30th July 1998. |
 Lieutenant Colonel Lyle Bradley USMC *Signature Value : £15 | A veteran of 200 combat missions, he was initially with VMF-225 at Guam before joining VMF-123 in late 1944, flying F4Us from the USS Bennington. After fighting at Iwo Jima and taking part in the first carrier strikes against Tokyo since the Doolittle Raid, he flew throughout the Battle of Okinawa. He later flew F4Us in Korea with VMF214 the Black Sheep and was awarded the DFC. |
 Lieutenant Colonel William Lucas USMC *Signature Value : £15 | After gaining his pilots wings in December 1943 he flew the F4U Corsair with VMF-216 in Guam and Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands before deploying to fight in the Battle of Okinawa. He later flew F4Us with VMF-224 in Korea, commanded the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 the Purple Foxes in Vietnam and was awarded the Silver Star and two DFCs. |
 Lieutenant Commander Tom McBride USN *Signature Value : £10 | Joining the Navy in 1942 he flew Corsairs with VMF-1 off the USS Bennington from February 1945. Completing 42 combat missions he flew throughout the Okinawa Campaign, strikes against the Japanese mainland and attacks against the IJN battleship Nagato. He later flew Corsairs in Korea. |
 Lieutenant Keith Quilter DSC RN *Signature Value : £10 | Helping form 1842 Sqn in 1944 he served on board HMS Formidable equipped with Corsairs and attacked the Tirpitz three times, twice on strafing missions and a third dive-bomb attack. Sailing to the Far East with the British Pacific Fleet to support US Navy operations, he flew at Okinawa and was involved in sweeps and ground attacks on Japanese airfields on neighbouring islands. |
| Quartermaster James Pickering USN *Signature Value : £10 | Joining the Navy in 1942 he served with the 27th PT Boat Squadron in the Pacific Theatre, taking part in the assault on Okinawa. He later also fought in the Korean War. |
| Seaman 1st Class Mike Wonderlich USN *Signature Value : £10 | Joining the Navy in December 1942 he was already a veteran of Guadalcanal, Bougainville and Iwo Jima before taking part in the Battle of Okinawa. He was serving on board the destroyer USS Hazelwood when it took a direct hit from a kamikaze, killing 77 crew. |
| Sergeant Harry Momi *Signature Value : £10 | A tank commander with US Army 77th Division, he participated in the bitter assault landings on Guam and the Okinawan island Ie Shima, before moving to the main battle on Okinawa. During these actions he was twice hit by shrapnel, once in the head and once in the leg. |
 Sub-Lieutenant Chris Cartledge DSC RN *Signature Value : £10 | Joining the Fleet Air Arm in 1942 he was posted to 1842 Sqn flying Corsairs from HMS Formidable. In 1944 he took part in operations against the German battleship Tirpitz and later that year sailed to the Far East to form part of the British Pacific Fleet, attacking Japanese held targets. At the Battle of Okinawa he flew low-level attacks to suppress activity at kamikaze staging airfields. |
| Artist Details : Robert Taylor |
| Click here for a full list of all artwork by Robert Taylor |
 Robert Taylor The name Robert Taylor has been synonymous with aviation art over a quarter of a century. His paintings of aircraft, more than those of any other artist, have helped popularise a genre which at the start of this remarkable artist's career had little recognition in the world of fine art. When he burst upon the scene in the mid-1970s his vibrant, expansive approach to the subject was a revelation. His paintings immediately caught the imagination of enthusiasts and collectors alike . He became an instant success. As a boy, Robert seemed always to have a pencil in his hand. Aware of his natural gift from an early age, he never considered a career beyond art, and with unwavering focus, set out to achieve his goal. Leaving school at fifteen, he has never worked outside the world of art. After two years at the Bath School of Art he landed a job as an apprentice picture framer with an art gallery in Bath, the city where Robert has lived and worked all his life. Already competent with water-colours the young apprentice took every opportunity to study the works of other artists and, after trying his hand at oils, quickly determined he could paint to the same standard as much of the art it was his job to frame. Soon the gallery was selling his paintings, and the owner, recognising Roberts talent, promoted him to the busy picture-restoring department. Here, he repaired and restored all manner of paintings and drawings, the expertise he developed becoming the foundation of his career as a professional artist. Picture restoration is an exacting skill, requiring the ability to emulate the techniques of other painters so as to render the damaged area of the work undetectable. After a decade of diligent application, Robert became one of the most capable picture restorers outside London. Today he attributes his versatility to the years he spent painstakingly working on the paintings of others artists. After fifteen years at the gallery, by chance he was introduced to Pat Barnard, whose military publishing business happened also to be located in the city of Bath. When offered the chance to become a full-time painter, Robert leapt at the opportunity. Within a few months of becoming a professional artist, he saw his first works in print. Roberts early career was devoted to maritime paintings, and he achieved early success with his prints of naval subjects, one of his admirers being Lord Louis Mountbatten. He exhibited successfully at the Royal Society of Marine Artists in London and soon his popularity attracted the attention of the media. Following a major feature on his work in a leading national daily newspaper he was invited to appear in a BBC Television programme. This led to a string of commissions for the Fleet Air Arm Museum who, understandably, wanted aircraft in their maritime paintings. It was the start of Roberts career as an aviation artist. Fascinated since childhood by the big, powerful machines that man has invented, switching from one type of hardware to another has never troubled him. Being an artist of the old school, Robert tackled the subject of painting aircraft with the same gusto as with his large, action-packed maritime pictures - big compositions supported by powerful and dramatic skies, painted on large canvases. It was a formula new to the aviation art genre, at the time not used to such sweeping canvases, but one that came naturally to an artist whose approach appeared to have origins in an earlier classical period. Roberts aviation paintings are instantly recognisable. He somehow manages to convey all the technical detail of aviation in a traditional and painterly style, reminiscent of the Old Masters. With uncanny ability, he is able to recreate scenes from the past with a carefully rehearsed realism that few other artists ever manage to achieve. This is partly due to his prodigious research but also his attention to detail: Not for him shiny new factory-fresh aircraft looking like museum specimens. His trade mark, flying machines that are battle-scarred, worse for wear, with dings down the fuselage, chips and dents along the leading edges of wings, oil stains trailing from engine cowlings, paintwork faded with dust and grime; his planes are real! Roberts aviation works have drawn crowds in the international arena since the early 1980s. He has exhibited throughout the US and Canada, Australia, Japan and in Europe. His one-man exhibition at the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC was hailed as the most popular art exhibition ever held there. His paintings hang in many of the worlds great aviation museums, adorn boardrooms, offices and homes, and his limited edition prints are avidly collected all around the world. A family man with strong Christian values, Robert devotes most of what little spare time he has to his home life. Married to Mary for thirty five years, they have five children, all now grown up. Neither fame nor fortune has turned his head. He is the same easy-going, gentle character he was when setting out on his painting career all those years ago, but now with a confidence that comes with the knowledge that he has mastered his profession. Sadly he passed away in January 2024. More about Robert Taylor |
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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 |
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Caswell, Dean (signed in person)
(signed in person)
Caswell, Dean (signed in person)
(signed in person)
