OKINAWA by Robert Taylor

THE OKINAWA VETERANS EDITION 59/110

TOWARDS THE BITTER END
Flying from USS Bunker Hill, F4U Corsairs from VMF-221 assault Japanese positions defending the island of Okinawa, April 1945. Leading the charge, USMC Pilot Lt Dean Caswell climbs away from the target after delivering a blistering rocket attack on a coastal installation.
Following their victory at Midway, American forces had fought a long and bitter campaign to retake the Japanese held islands in the Pacific. By the end of March 1945, however, they had finally captured Iwo Jima and looked towards Okinawa, a province of Japan itself. Less than 400 miles south of its mainland, it was the place from which the Allied invasion of Japan must be launched. Supported by a huge Naval presence, including one of the largest British fleets ever assembled, the assault began on 1 April 1945 with the largest amphibious landing of the Pacific war.
The Japanese response was ferocious seeing the peak of the kamikaze scourge and while the British ships with their steel decks fared much better, the relentless attacks took their toll on the US Fleet, highlighting a conflict worse than anything seen before. The 82 day battle was one of the most severe and bloody campaigns of WWII, accounting for over 14000 Allied deaths and five times that number of Japanese soldiers.

Overall print size: 32 1/4" wide x 24" high
Image size: 25 3/4" wide x 16 1/4" high

In one of the most powerful paintings of Robert Taylor's distinguished career, the prints in this outstanding edition are personally signed by legendary Pilots and Aces who flew Corsairs during the assault of Okinawa, creating a unique collectors piece. Parts of the edition are also autographed by US Army and Navy veterans who fought at Okinawa giving enthusiasts the rare opportunity to acquire a remarkable historic account of one of the greatest battles of WWII, and an important piece to be cherished for generations to come.

THE OKINAWA VETERANS EDITION
To commemorate all those who took part in the most bitter campaign of the Pacific War, we are honored to announce that each print in this FIFTEEN signature edition
Col JIM SWETT MOH USMC / 15 ½ victories
Col DEAN CASWELL USMC / 7 victories
Col JOE McPHAIL USMC / 2 victories
Lt Col LYLE BRADLEY USMC
Capt PHILIP De GROOT USMC
1st Lt CLINT FLADLAND USMC
Lt Col WILLIAM LUCAS USMC
Lt Cdr TOM McBRIDE USN
Col BRUCE PORTER USMC / 5 victories
Lt Col DARRELL SMITH USMC
Cdr BILL HARDY USN / Hellcat Ace with 6 ½ victories
Cdr DEAN LAIRD USN / Hellcat Ace with 5 ¾ victories
Sgt HARRY MOMI US Army / Tank Commander
Cdr DONALD SCHMAHL USN / served on Okinawa
SN MIKE WONDERLICH USN / served on the USS Hazelwood