Take advantage of the rare opportunity to own commemorative artwork signed by a World War II aviator!
Stan Stokes. The Doolittle Raid of April 18, 1942, was one of the most daring aerial assaults of the entire war. The USS Hornet, with sixteen B-25 Mitchells strapped to its deck, set off with the aim of getting to within 300-400 miles of the Japanese mainland coast before the bombers departed for their strategic targets in Tokyo; however, 600 miles from Japan, they were spotted by an Imperial picket boat and decided to launch the attack prematurely in hopes of maintaining the element of surprise. This meant that, in addition to having to fly much further than anticipated and possibly emptying their fuel tanks, the Chinese airfields onto which they were planning to land after the raid were unprepared for their arrival. Nonetheless, Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and his crew — including Colonel Travis Hoover, who would meet up with him shortly after takeoff — departed the Hornet and set off for Tokyo. Although their assault was indeed successful, and no anti-aircraft fire connected with any of the B-25s, many aviators had difficulty landing safely with some bailing out and being captured by the Japanese.
This limited edition print — an homage to the pilots who lost their lives during the heroic mission — depicts Col. Hoover's bomber after taking off from the USS Hornet on that fateful day. Comes signed by the artist and Col. Hoover! 16"x 11½".
Stan Stokes. The Doolittle Raid of April 18, 1942, was one of the most daring aerial assaults of the entire war. The USS Hornet, with sixteen B-25 Mitchells strapped to its deck, set off with the aim of getting to within 300-400 miles of the Japanese mainland coast before the bombers departed for their strategic targets in Tokyo; however, 600 miles from Japan, they were spotted by an Imperial picket boat and decided to launch the attack prematurely in hopes of maintaining the element of surprise. This meant that, in addition to having to fly much further than anticipated and possibly emptying their fuel tanks, the Chinese airfields onto which they were planning to land after the raid were unprepared for their arrival. Nonetheless, Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and his crew — including Colonel Travis Hoover, who would meet up with him shortly after takeoff — departed the Hornet and set off for Tokyo. Although their assault was indeed successful, and no anti-aircraft fire connected with any of the B-25s, many aviators had difficulty landing safely with some bailing out and being captured by the Japanese.
This limited edition print — an homage to the pilots who lost their lives during the heroic mission — depicts Col. Hoover's bomber after taking off from the USS Hornet on that fateful day. Comes signed by the artist and Col. Hoover! 16"x 11½".