Phantom Showtime Aviation Art print Robert Taylor framed 752/800 50 signatures

  

It was January 19, 1972 aboard the USS Constellation in the Gulf of Tonkin. As Cunningham shut down the engines of his'Fighting Falcons' F-4J Phantom, Task Force 77 Commander Admiral Cooper congratulated Cunningham and Driscoll on achieving their first of five air victories They went on to become the US Navy's only Aces of the Vietnam war. Coming under severe fire from AAA and SAMs, Cunningham dodged two missiles, plunging downward from15,000 ft in the process. Spotting two Bai Thiong-based MiG-21s below, he tracked them just above the jungle tops, closing to within range of his heat-seeking Sidewinder.

The MiG pilot broke hard, throwing off the missile, and Cunningham immediately gave his attention to the second enemy fighter. Firing a second Sidewinder, the missile scored a direct hit, blasting off the entire tail section of the MiGsending it crashing straight into the ground in a ball of fire.

Artist Robert Taylor's spectacular painting shows Cunningham's F-4J Phantom, feet above the murky waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, passing the USS Constellation at 500 knots. The mighty carrier was running out of water in the small Gulf as Cunningham called up the Air Boss requesting the traditional victory roll. The mood aboard however was one of celebration for the crew of VF-96's Phantom call-sign Showtime 112. Robert Taylor's incredibly powerful painting depicts Cunningham's returning F-4 Phantom - call sign "Showtime 112" - screaming past the carrier at 500 knots just feet above the murky waters of the Gulf of Tonkin and has become one of the most popular portraits of the Phantom in Taylor's extensive portfolio.

Rare and hard to find edition that is signed by 50 US Naval aviators who flew in Vietnam, some becoming PoWs. This was limited to the last 50 prints out the run of 800 and this is number 752, so the second print signed by 50 aviators. Professionally framed by Michael's with plastic not glass due to the size of this print.