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Grinnell, Roy
Close Call!
The following inductees into the American Combat Airman Hall of Fame of the Confederate Air Force, Midland, Texas, October 5, 2001 have signed this Artist Proof print.
Col. Clarence C. "Bud" Anderson
Described by Chuck Yeager as the "best fighter pilot I've ever seen." Col. Anderson flew ll6 combat missions in World War 11, becoming a triple ace with 16-1/4 enemy aircraft destroyed. His 30 year career in the Air Force included 25 years in flight testing, two tours of duty at the Pentagon and two years as commander of the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. When he retired, he had more than 7,500 flying hours in over 130 different types of aircraft.
Commander Harold Buell
Commander Buell served in World War 11 as a dive bomber pilot in three squadrons. His first combat air assignment had him flying with VS-5 during the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadacanal. When the war ended, Buell had participated in l6 battles, raids and invasions during three war cruises and a combat tour. Among his more than 20 decorations are the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, three Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Purple Hearts.
ATC Wayne C. Colley
When the United States went to war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Chief Colley was already serving as radio operator/gunner on the USS Lexington. He participated in some of the most significant action of the war, including the Battle of the Coral Sea and Santa Cruz Island. Colley flew in operations against Kwajalein, Hollandia, Truk, Guam, Saipan, and other islands that were struck as the Navy marched back against the Pacific.
Lt. Gen. Keith K. Compton
In addition to a 31 year career in the Air Force, Lt. Gen. Compton played a key role in the development of the Strategic Air Command, the bomber force that is key to the defense of the United States. During WW11, Compton was assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, the first Air Corps unit equipped with the B-17 Flying Fortress. Compton was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with nine oak leaf clusters and Air Force and Army Commendation medals.
Lt. Ray "Hap" Halloran
In the fall of l944, Lt. Halloran completed training as a navigator/bombardier and joined a crew flying a B-29 called "Rover Boy Express." Flying out of Saipan, the crew joined hundreds of other 20th Air Force bombers in strikes on the Japanese home islands. On its fourth mission, the "Rover Boys Express" was shot down over Tokyo. The crew bailed out and was captured. Halloran endured seven months of imprisonment, random beatings, starvation rations, and no medical attention.
Col. Ralph Parr
A veteran of five combat tours in four types of fighter planes and with 641 combat missions in three wars, Col. Parr must rank as one of America's most experienced combat veterans. Included among his many decorations are the Air Force Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, l0 Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Bronze Star. In March of l968 while supporting the Marines at Khe Sanh through extremely poor weather and intense enemy fire that severely damaged his F-4, Parr attacked and destroyed two North Vietnamese mortar and six gun positions that were located within 200 meters of friendly forces.
19th Bombardment Group - Unit Inductee
Cited twice with the Distinguished Unit Citation for its gallant performance during combat during the earliest days of the war, the l9th Bomb Group held the line against the Japanese in the Pacific. The group was based at Clark Field in the Philippines and later relocated to Townsville, Australia. In April, l944 the unit was activated again and equipped with B-29s, entering combat with the Japanese once again in February l945 and receiving two more distinguished Unit Citations.
John Wallace Fields
Pilot, 435th Squadron, l9th Bombardment Group
Hulet Hornbeck
Navigator, 435th Squadron, l9th Bombardment Group
Their Mission is depicted in Close Call!
In early l942, a lone B-17E if the 435th Squadron, l9th Bombardment Group on a reconnaissance mission near Bougainville is forced down to the deck by weather. Popping out of the overcast sky, pilot John Wallace Fields, navigator Hulet Hornbeck, and crew found themselves flying directly down the centerline of a Japanese man-o-war, which immediately opened fire. The Flying Fortress, narrowly evading both the enemy fire and the resulting water geysers evokes the desperate circumstances into which American Airmen were repeatedly thrust in the dark early days of WW11.
The print was also signed by several other members of the l9th Bombardment Group, Edward M. Jacquet, George A. Weaver, Jim Hall, and Jerry Michael.
Artist Proof Edition of 50 prints, with 12 Signatures
Size: Overall: 22" x 30" - Image: l4-1/2" x 25"
