Hellcat Fury - by Robert Taylor

Hellcat Fury
by Robert Taylor

Truk, the small atoll in the South Pacific, was the major anchorage for the Japanese Fleet. Comprising a magnificent harbor and four heavily defended airfields, it was thought impregnable by the US forces as they fought their way up through the Pacific. But on 16-17 February 1944 a violent two-day aerial assault by carrierborne aircraft of Task Force 58 exploded the myth. In just two days the US Navy flyers sunk over 200,000 tons of Japanese naval shipping and destroyed an estimated 275 enemy aircraft, totally eliminating all effectiveness of the Japanese base.
Light as the US Navy losses were (only 25 aircraft failed to return) the battle for Truk was ferocious. The ground installations, ships, and airfield batteries put up intense antiaircraft fire against the attacking American aircraft, while Zeros did their best to repel the onslaught. The air above the atoll became a maelstrom of flak, tracer, flying lead and shrapnel, while below huge explosions rocked the ground as ammo and fuel dumps were hit, fires raged, and the acrid smoke of battle pervaded the entire area.
In this painting, his first featuring the F6F Hellcat, Robert Taylor brings to life the scenario that was crucial to Admiral Spruance’s forceful drive through the Central Pacific. The once feared Japanese base at Truk is being reduced to a statistic of war. Hellcats of VF6 hurtle across the lagoon at masthead height with guns blazing, creating havoc as they tear into the enemy positions below.
Seen in the foreground is the F6F-3 of Lt. Alex Vracui, subsequently to become one of the Navy’s top guns.

Overall size: 24" x 34½"

Available in the following editions

450	Limited edition	Signed by three Hellcat pilots - Low inventory	$320
300	War in the Pacific edition	Signed by eight Hellcat pilots, one Corsair Ace + companion print.- Low inventory	$425
25	War in the Pacific A/P	As above -Low inventory	$625

Limited edition signatures
Alex Vraciu	Hamilton McWhorter	Willis E. Hardy

War in the Pacific edition signatures
Alex Vraciu	Hamilton McWhorter	Willis E. Hardy
Fred Dungan	John Crosby	James Duffy
John Strane	Ed Wendorf	Archie Donahue (companion print)

Pacific Pirate

named after the Fighting Corsairs, the seafaring pirates of an earlier era,
the Vought F4U Corsair was considered by many to have been the best carrier-borne fighter of World War II.

12" x 15½" - Signed by Corsair Ace Archie Donahue

Included with the 'War in the Pacific' editions only.