Air Art Northwest

U.S.A./CANADA
1-800-522-6111
INTERNATIONAL.
1-503-359-0424
FAX LINE
1-503-357-4647
EMAIL
airart@aracnet.com


HOME PAGE

TWO NEW LIMITED EDITIONS BY ROBERT TAYLOR COMMEMORATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK IN PEARL HARBOR ON DECEMBER 7, 1941 -
PURCHASE BOTH PRINTS TOGETHER AND RECIEVE A $100.00 DISCOUNT! EACH PRINT IS $295.OO BUT BOTH MAY BE PURCHASED FOR $490.00! RECEIVE FREE A COPY OF THE COMMEMORATIVE POSTER "REMEMBER DECEMBER 7TH!"

As the assault mounted on the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor. the air base at nearby Wheeler Field also came under heavy attack. Most of the P-40 and P-36 fighters were neatly lined up, making easy targets for the marauding Japanese aircraft; almost all were hit.

Bleary-eyed from an all-night party, two young Army Air Force pilots, Kenneth Taylor and George Welch, quickly assesed the situation. Not waiting for instructions, Taylor called Haleiwa Field, a small fighter strip on the north of the island, and ordered their 47th Pursuit Squadron P-40 Tomahawk fighters to readiness. Running through a hail of gunfire and shrapnel, they lept into Taylor's car and raced north, enemy bullets chewing up the road as they went.

Within minuts of arriving at Haleiwa, the two pilots got their P-40s airborne. Only then did they realize what they were up against. "There were between 200 and 300 Japanese aircraft," said Taylor; "there were just two of us!". Winging south toward Ewa Field, they ripped into a dozen or more enemy planes attacking the Marine field. Diving into the formation, they each downed "Val" dive bombers.

Low on fuel and ammunition, they landed at Wheeler, where ground crews got them back in the air in minutes. As he followed Welch into the air, Taylor's aircraft was hit and the young pilot was wounded in the shoulder and leg. Welch jumped on his attacker immediately, scoring his third kill. Wheeling and turning in the humid air above the lush green terrain of Oahu, Taylor and Welch continued their solitary combat against the hordes of Japanese attackers, bringing their total to at least six victories before the Japanese headed out to sea. For their quick thinking and courageous service, Taylor and Welch were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. They were among the very first American pilots to strike back at the enemy in World War II.

Robert Taylor's carefully researched painting shows Ken Taylor in his P-40, bringing down his second enemy aircraft in December 7, 1941 - an Aichi D-3A1 "Val" dive bomber. Goorge Welch is close by as other Vals below head for the sea at Barber's Point. In the background, palls of smoke rise from Hangar 6 on Ford Island, housing the naval float planes, and the upturned battleship Oklahoma. Joining the artist and Brigadier General Taylor in signing this import collectible print are four distinguished American veteran pilots of World War II.

- THE SIGNATURES -

Brigadier General Kenneth Taylor
Ken Taylor was one of America's heroes on December 7th, twice engaging the retiring Japanese planes in his P-40. Together, he and George Welch managed to get airborne - among the few who managed to do so. Ken was wounded, but together they managed to down six Japanese aircraft that day. For his presence of mind and coolness under fire, against overwhelming odds, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Colonel William C. Dickman
William Dickman was a Marine pilot wounded in the attack on December 7th. The Marine air station was located at Ewa Mooring Mast Field, near Barbers Point, turning point for the Japanese torpedo bombers as they began their runs into Pearl. William Dickman went on to fly more than 60 combat missions in the Pacific Theater, including Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima.

Colonel Earl Williams
Flying a stripped-down B-17 with the 38th Reconnaisance Squadron enroute from Hamilton Field, California to Clark Field, the Philippines, Earl's bomber and eleven others were landing to refuel at Oahu when they ran straight into the Japanese attack. Earl's B-17 was hit but managed to land. Williams went on to complete 55 combat missions in the South Pacific, including the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Lt. General Joe Moore
Joining the service in 1937, Joe Moore flew P-40 Tomahawks with the 323rd Tactical Fighter Wing out of Clark Field in the Philippines, accumulating over 100 combat missons in the Pacific Theater, which included two victories over Japanese Zeros. He later transitioned to P-47s, taking part in the Normandy Invasion in Europe.

Colonel David "Tex" Hill
After serving aboard the USS Saratoga, and the USS Ranger as a Navy pilot, "Tex" Hill volunteered to fly for the AVG "Flying Tigers" in China, becoming Squadron Leader in the Second Squadron and notching up over 12 aerial victories. "Tex" Hill remained in China to activate the 75th Fighter Squadron. then commanded the 23rd Fighter Group, where he increased his score of victories to 18.4.