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Christmas in New York by Stan Stokes. Depicts the return of the USS Arizona to Brooklyn in 1916, where it was commissioned in May of that year. The Arizona would be sunk twenty-five years later during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. This painting is a tribute to the hundreds of USN officers and seamen still entombed on the ship. |
Tribute to the Royal Navy Trawler Crews - HMS Arab by Ivan Berryman. Having departed the Namsen Fjord in Norway, on a course home to England across the North Sea, HMS Arab was intercepted by a Heinkel He.115 and ordered to sail due east or be attacked. His orders ignored, the German pilot began a series of passes over the trawler, raking the small vessel with continuous fire from both of its guns. The gallant crew of the Arab returned fire with all Lewis and Oerlikon guns blazing, the Heinkel being mortally wounded as it made a low pass across the bow of Arab, finally plunging into the sea some two miles astern of the trawler who continued, without further incident, to her destination at Scapa. |
HMS Thrasher by Ivan Berryman. A T-Class submarine of the Royal Navy launched in 1940 and commissioned in May 1941, HMS Thrasher famously survived an attack by aircraft in 1942, her crew gaining two Victoria Crosses in the process. Immediately after attacking a supply vessel on 16th February, HMS Thrasher was bombed from the air but escaped unscathed. After resurfacing, two unexploded bombs were discovered within the casing of the submarine. The first was easily removed but the second took a contorted effort in confined spaces - an hour-long combined effort by Lt Roberts and PO Gould literally manhandled the lethal ordnance safely over the side. For actions that likely save the submarine, they were both awarded the Victoria Cross. |
U-107 by Ivan Berryman. The German Type IXB U-Boat U-107 completed 13 active patrols between 1941 and 1944, well above the average lifespan for a U-boat during this period. U-107 sunk 39 ships with a total tonnage in excess of 200,000 tons. Shown here under attack from a Sunderland, this would be her ultimate demise. On 18th August 1944, Sunderland EJ150 of No.201 Sqn sunk the U-Boat with depth charges in the Bay of Biscay with the loss of the entire crew. |
Arctic guardian - USS Washington by Anthony Saunders In the spring of 1942, USS Washington was the first of Americas fast battleship fleet to participate in combat operations when she was briefly assigned to the Royal Navy. On 28th June 1942, together with HMS Duke of York, HMS Victorious and an accompanying cruiser and destroyer force, she formed part of the distant covering force to convoy PQ17, bound for Russia. In the Pacific later that same year, she became the only modern US battleship to engage an enemy capital ship, sinking the Japanese battlecruiser Kirishima. |
Hotspur by Anthony Saunders HMS Hotspur is shown on Convoy protection duties during 1942 / 1943. HMS Hotspur, the H class destroyer, was built by Scotts at Greenock and launched 23rd March 1936. Participated in the first Battle of Narvik, April 1940 and the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941. In April 1941 took part in the evacuation of Greece and sank the German U-Boat U79 in the Mediterranean north of Sollum on 23rd December 1941. Sold to the Dominican Republic on 23rd November 1948 and renamed Trujillo. |
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. |
Destination Tokyo by Stan Stokes. On April 18, 1942, Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle led a group of 16 B-25 bombers on a carrier-launched raid on industrial and military targets in Japan. The raid was one of the most daring missions of WW II. Planning for this secret mission began several months earlier, and Jimmy Doolittle, one of the most outstanding pilots and leaders in the United States Army Air Corps was chosen to plan, organize and lead the raid. The plan was to get within 300 or 400 miles of Japan, attack military and industrial targets in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kobe shortly after nightfall, and then fly on to a dawn landing at secret airfields on the coast of China. The twin engine B-25 Mitchell bomber was selected by Doolittle for the mission and practice indicated that it should be possible to launch these aircraft from a carrier deck with less than 500 feet of runway. On April 2, 1942 the USS Hornet and a number of escorts set sail from Alameda, California with the 16 B-25s strapped to its deck. This task force rendezvoused with another including the USS Enterprise, and proceeded for the Japanese mainland. An element of surprise was important for this mission to succeed. When the task force was spotted by a Japanese picket boat, Admiral Halsey made the decision to launch the attack earlier than was planned. This meant that the raiders would have to fly more than 600 miles to Japan, and would arrive over their targets in daylight. It also meant that it would be unlikely that each aircraft would have sufficient fuel to reach useable airfields in China. Doolittle had 50 gallons of additional fuel stowed on each aircraft as well as a dinghy and survival supplies for the likely ditchings at sea which would now take place. At approximately 8:00 AM the Hornets loudspeaker blared, Now hear this: Army pilots, man your planes! Doolittle and his co-pilot R.E. Cole piloted the first B-25 off the Hornets deck at about 8:20 AM. With full flaps, and full throttle the Mitchell roared towards the Hornets bow, just barely missing the ships island superstructure. The B-25 lifted off, Doolittle leveled out, and made a single low altitude pass down the painted center line on the Hornets deck to align his compass. The remaining aircraft lifted off at approximately five minute intervals. The mission was planned to include five three-plane sections directed at various targets. However, Doolittle had made it clear that each aircraft was on its own. He insisted, however, that civilian targets be avoided, and under no circumstances was the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to be bombed. About 30 minutes after taking off Doolittles B-25 was joined by another piloted by Lt. Travis Hoover. These two aircraft approached Tokyo from the north. They encountered a number of Japanese fighter or trainer aircraft, but they remained generally undetected at their low altitude. At 1:30 PM the Japanese homeland came under attack for the first time in the War. From low altitudes the raiders put their cargoes of four 500 pounders into a number of key targets. Despite antiaircraft fire, all the attacking aircraft were unscathed. The mission had been a surprise, but the most hazardous portion of the mission lay ahead. The Chinese were not prepared for the raiders arrival. Many of the aircraft were ditched along the coast, and the crews of other aircraft, including Doolittles were forced to bail out in darkness. There were a number of casualties, and several of the raiders were caught by Japanese troops in China, and some were eventually executed. This painting is dedicated to the memories of those airmen who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and the thousands of innocent Chinese citizens which were brutally slaughtered as a reprisal for their assistance in rescuing the downed crews. |
U-99 by Ivan Berryman. Famed for his night time surface attacks on convoys, Otto Kretschmer, commanding U-99 is shown having claimed another victim beneath a full moon during the Summer of 1940. |
HMS Royal Sovereign and HMS Warspite departing Malta by Ivan Berryman No text for this item |
Otoko-Tachi-No Yamato by Randall Wilson. Yamato powers her way, ahead of Yahagi during Operation Ten Ichi Go. |
Tirpitz by Randall Wilson. Flanked by destroyers, Tirpitz departs Altafjord, July 1942. Passing her port bow is a Focke-Wulf FW200 Condor C3, outbound for Recon duties. Fighter escort was performed by Me110s. |
HMAS Sydney By Randall Wilson. Sydney engages Italian ships off Cape Busa, Crete. |
Time to Move by Randall Wilson. Battleship Tirpitz weighs anchor and ups steam to move out of Alta Fjord 1944. |
HMS Pegasus by Ivan Berryman. The last seaplane carrier built for the Admiralty, HMS Pegasus was launched in 1917 and benefited from all the lessons learned from her predecessors, possessing a flying-off platform forward, served by twin derricks, and a hangar and cranes aft, capable of carrying up to nine aircraft. She is shown here with one of her Short 184s (N9290) about to take off, whilst a similar aircraft is preparing to be lowered into the water in the background. |
HMS Duke of York by Randall Wilson. HMS Duke of York keeping station on the starboard bow of USS Intrepid, as air defence ship. |
Fast Cats by Stan Stokes. The F8F Bearcat and the F7F Tigercat were the final family members in Grummans fabulous series of prop driven USN fighter aircraft. The F7F Tigercat evolved from the work of a three-man design team at Grumman, which included Bob Hall, Dick Hutton, and Gordon Israel. The Navy gave an OK to the development of a prototype in mid-1941, however it would not be until April 1944 that the first production Tigercat was delivered. The Navy planned to use the first two hundred F7Fs as night fighters, but due to unsatisfactory carrier suitability trials; the decision was made to scale back the order and equip only shore-based Marine squadrons with this aircraft. Performance tests of the first production F7Fs were impressive. The F7F was almost 80-MPH faster than an F4U Corsair in level flight at sea level. As WW II wound down, the USN changed its plans for the F7F. Newer variants were developed with the most common being the F7F-3N. The 3N was the first F7F to pass carrier qualification on the USS Shangri La in February of 1946. The final variant was the F7F-4N that included a taller rudder, a stronger wing and fuselage, and improved landing gear and tailhook. During the Korean War these aircraft were utilized in the night fighter role. The F8F was the successor to the successful F6F Hellcat fighter which was the US Navys primary fighter during most of WW II. Grummans test pilot, Bob Hall recommended to Grummans President that the successor to the F6F be small and lightweight and faster than anything flying at that time. In competition with both Curtis and Boeing, the Grumman design utilized a 2,100-HP Pratt and Whitney radial engine driving an enormous propeller more than twelve feet in diameter. The prop was so large that the Bearcat needed very tall landing gear. During its early testing the Bearcat was capable of speeds in excess of 440-MPH. The F8F was ordered into production in mid-1944, and the Navy wanted all the Bearcats it could get before November of 1945, which was the presumed date for an invasion of Japan. One interesting design feature of the initial production Bearcats was a break-away section at each wing tip, which was designed to break-off if overstressed, in order to prevent a catastrophic failure of the complete wing. Also unique was the utilization of a bubble canopy, the first on a Navy aircraft. On February 17, 1945 LCDR Robert Elder flew the F8F in its first carrier suitability trials on the USS Charger. Despite terrible weather conditions, Elder made fifteen successful arrested landings. The F8F passed these trials with flying colors. Too late to see action in WW II, the F8F would also see service in Korea, in both the reconnaissance and night fighting roles. In Stan Stokes painting an F8F accompanies an F7F-4N during the carrier qualification of the F7F-4N on the USS Franklin Roosevelt (CV-42) in 1946. |
Practice Makes Perfect by Stan Stokes. The first successful carrier landing and take off took place on January 18, 1911 in San Francisco Bay. It was performed using a Curtiss biplane, which was flown by Eugene Ely, a demonstration pilot who worked for Curtiss Aircraft. A flying platform was built on the stern of the USS Pennsylvania, and a primitive arresting gear was provided by a series of ropes with sandbags attached to each end. Ely took off from Selfridge Field and made the first trap on the Pennsylvania. Following a pleasant lunch he took off from the deck and returned to Selfridge Field. This event was a watershed in the history of naval aviation. Ely would be followed over the next 9 decades by tens of thousands of naval aviators who would experience both the fear and ecstasy of a carrier landing at sea. By the time America was involved in WW II, carrier-based aviation had matured. Victory in WW II, especially in the Pacific, was influenced more by carrier-based aviation then any other factor. By the end of WW II America had a massive fleet of more than 100 aircraft carriers including the fast Essex Class big carriers and scores of light and escort carriers. During the War many of the pilots who earned their Navy wings did their carrier qualifications on the Great Lakes. Two paddle wheel steamboats were converted by the Navy to serve as training carriers. They were the USS Sable and the USS Wolverine. These ships had small decks which were fairly close to the water. A significant number of aircraft were lost during these practice sessions and as in any military training operation there were casualties. The aircraft shown being waved off in Stan Stokes painting appropriately entitled Practice Makes Perfect is an SNJ. This aircraft was one of the primary trainers of WW II, and was utilized by both the Army Air Corps (AT-6) and the Navy (SNJ), as well as many other countries. Designated the AT-6 by the USAAC this capable aircraft was also known as the Harvard and the Texan. The Australians knew the aircraft as the Whirraway. More than 15,000 of these trainers were produced, and this capable low-wing monoplane remained in service for many years following the War. North American, better known for their production of the P-51 Mustang, evolved the AT-6 from an earlier design known as the BT-9. First production models reached service in 1940. Many pilots received aerial gunnery training in the AT-6. A fair number of these aircraft are still in flying condition and can be seen at many air shows throughout the world. Due a general appearance similar to Japanese fighters and dive bombers of WW II, a few of these aircraft have been modified to look like the latter aircraft. |
America's First Flat Top by Stan Stokes. Although the US Navy had been an early leader in supporting naval aviation, during WWI the Navy had emphasized float planes, and with the end of the War, America found itself well behind the British who had several aircraft carriers in service. In April of 1919 the Navy decided to convert a new collier, the USS Jupiter, into a flush deck aircraft carrier, the navy's first. Redesignated as the USS Langley (CV-1), the ship was commissioned in March of 1922. The Langley was the Navy's only carrier until 1928, and would serve in this role until 1936. With the introduction of faster and larger naval aircraft, the Langley's small size and slow speed would result in a decision to change her mission to seaplane tender. The Langley displaced only 13,000 tons, had an open hangar deck, and no island. The ships two stacks were swiveled outwards during air operations, giving pilots a small but unobstructed flight deck. Two catapults were incorporated in the initial design, but were later removed. CV-1 had a turbo electric drive system which allowed the ship a top speed of 14 knots in either direction. This was deemed important so aircraft could be launched in either direction in the event the deck became damaged. The designers initially planned for the Langley to have an air group of only eight aircraft, but this was later increased to as many as forty-two. Most of the Langley's aircraft were stowed on the flight deck, with the practice of stowing aircraft on the hangar deck not becoming common until later. In 1942 CV-1 was utilized to ferry P-40s to Java. She was lost during this mission. The Boeing FB-5 of VB-3 shown in the background in Stan Stokes' wonderful painting was one of the naval variants of Boeings PW-9 series. Boeing built a total of nearly 600 aircraft in this family, making it one of the most widely produced aircraft in the between Wars era. The FB-1 was the first aircraft in this series ordered by the Navy in 1924. The FB-2/3/4 variants included modifications for carrier use and a more powerful 510-HP Packard-IA engine. With the additional power, a taller rudder assembly was deemed necessary to provide adequate flight stability. The Navy ordered twenty-seven FB-5s and began taking deliveries in 1927. The upper wing of the FB-5 variant was moved forward while the lower wing was moved backwards. In addition a slightly more powerful Packard engine was utilized. As the FB-5 takes off from the Langley, a Curtis F6C-2 Hawk passes over the ship. The F6C-2 was a variant of the F6C-1 Hawk which was modified to withstand arrested landings. While only four of these models would be produced, the Navy would go on to purchase sixty of the F6C-3 and F6C-4 variants. |
A Night Action off Cadiz by Ivan Berryman. Skirmishes between frigates were a common occurrence, such as here when the 32-gun HMS Amphion encountered a French opponent off Cadiz in 1806 the latter, to her great cost, straying among the British inshore squadron in the darkness of a moonless night. It is understood that the French vessel managed to escape being taken as a prize, although with much damage to her whales and rigging. |
HMS Sceptre by Ivan Berryman. Commissioned in 1943, HMS Sceptre was built by Scotts Shipbuilding in Greenock, Scotland. In a short career, Sceptre under the command of Lieutenant Ian McIntosh was involved with the X-Craft midget submarine attacks on German capital ships and floating docks in Norway. In addition, she sunk four enemy merchant ships and an enemy naval vessel between March and September 1944. HMS Sceptre was then refitted as a target submarine late in 1944, and was scrapped in 1949. |
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