Special from Stenberg

Air Classics, May 2001

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Stenberg Aviation Art has a special offer for Air Classics readers!

The well-known aviation art company is offering the limited edition The Sinking of the Battleship Yamato by artist John White for just $80 (regular price is $125). The Yamato was the largest warship ever built - so massive was its displacement that it dwarfed even the American aircraft carriers that would launch the planes which would bring about its demise on 7 April 1945. The ship that was intended to be a symbol of Japan's supremacy on the sea would be one of six ships sunk in the East China Sea on that day.

It took over two hours and three separate attacks including bombs, torpedoes, and strafing runs to send the super battleship to a watery grave, taking almost 2500 of the 2778 man crew with it. The loss of the Ya?nato was a tremendous spiritual defeat to the Japanese. John White's recreation of the first strike on the Yamato won second place in the 1995 National Naval Aviation Contest held by the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Extensive research was conducted for this painting, including interviews of several pilots participating in the battle to ensure the accuracy of the depiction.

The limited edition print (950 signed and numbered prints measuring overall size of 2402 inches with an image size of 18x26 inches) is signed by the artist and two pilots that participated in the attack. As a 25-year-old Lieutenant (jg) with the USS Bennington's VB-82, Francis "Fran" Ferry flew the second Helldiver to strike the Yamato. For his actions that day, he won the Navy Cross and had won a Silver Star for a previous attack on the Yamato less than a month earlier. Among this other honors are two Distinguished Flying Crosses and five Air Medals. An old veteran at 21 years of age, Edward Sieber was one of the youngest pilots in the Navy. Hand-picked as Fran Ferry's wingman, Ed flew the third Helldiver to hit the Yamato. Like Ferry, he won the Navy Cross for his part in the attack and a Silver Star for the previous attack. Only a few prints from the edition remain in stock and Stenberg Aviation Art can be reached at 1-800-270-1943.