Harry D Hink USAAF - Signed Aviation Prints

Harry D Hink USAAF

Harry Hinks 28 year military career began during the height of World War Two. After completing training, in 1943 he flew his first of 28 combat missions in heavy bombers against Japan, attached to the 39th Bomb Group. He vividly recalls Iwo Jima, not only as a navigational checkpoint to and from bombing missions over the Japanese islands, but also found it to be a safe haven personally on three separate occasions, when he and his crew made emergency landings in their B29. In April 1945, he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on Guam, and would later fly missions in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. He retired from the U S Air Force in 1970 as a Lieutenant Colonel, with decorations including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Seven Clusters, Distinguished Unit Citation and many others. After the military, he worked with the FAA for 17 years, holding various positions in Airport Safety. Harry resides today in the Washington DC area.

Harry D Hink USAAF - Signed Aviation Art

Iwo Jima - A Hard Won Haven by John D Shaw.
One of 3 editions available.
One of 2 editions featuring up to 14 additional signatures is available.
£260.00

Text for the above items :

Iwo Jima - A Hard Won Haven by John D Shaw.

Only 660 miles from Tokyo, the small volcanic island of Iwo Jima was recognized as early as 1943 as being a vital location to secure an airbase for allied aircraft, in order to achieve victory in the Pacific. Forseeing this goal, the Japanese began extensive fortifications early, preparing for the eventual onslaught. Within Iwo Jimas myriad tunnels, both underground and within the extinct volcano known as mt Suribachi, enemy forces were able to remain virtually unscathed during the 72 day heavy bombardment in late 1944, which preceded the American landings. In mid Ferbuary 1945, the invasion landing forces arrived, and so began one of the bloodiest and most bitter battles of World War II. Over the course of the next 36 days, the United States Marine Corps would experience many of its most horrific hours, but certainly their finest as well. Marine photographer Joe Rosenthals shot of Old Glory being hoisted aloft atop Suribachi came to be recognized as possibly the most famous photo in history. During the first week of March, the first B-29 to make an emergency landing at Iwo touched down. With its nose art bearing the name Dinah Might, this Superfortress and its crew were hastily repaired, aided and again took to the air within half an hour. Many others soon would follow. Shown here, a B-29 of 34th Bomb Group limps in to Iwos runway number one as emergency crews prepare for more incoming planes, some of which would inevitably have to ditch in the water offshore to avoid an explosive pileup. It is estimated that nearly 25,000 airmen lives would ultimately be spared as a result of being able to make emergency landings there. Nearly 7000 Marines died taking Iwo, with many thousands awarded, the largest number during any single campaign. Of the 23000 Japanese troops defending Iwo, only 1083 were taken prisoner. By the beginning of April, Iwo Jima was secure enough to base P-51 Mustangs to escort the B-29s to Japan, as allies prepared for the frightful prospect of a land invasion on Japans mainland, which historians speculate would likely have cost potentially millions more lives. At this time, more than 60 years after the battle, only a small remnant remains of those who participated first hand in this epic battle. Forever a sympbol of freedom, Iwo Jima remains truly sacred ground.

Flying Fortress
Built : 12677

Flying Fortress
In the mid-1930s engineers at Boeing suggested the possibility of designing a modern long-range monoplane bomber to the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1934 the USAAC issued Circular 35-26 that outlined specifications for a new bomber that was to have a minimum payload of 2000 pounds, a cruising speed in excess of 200-MPH, and a range of at least 2000 miles. Boeing produced a prototype at its own expense, the model 299, which first flew in July of 1935. The 299 was a long-range bomber based largely on the Model 247 airliner. The Model 299 had several advanced features including an all-metal wing, an enclosed cockpit, retractable landing gear, a fully enclosed bomb bay with electrically operated doors, and cowled engines. With gun blisters glistening everywhere, a newsman covering the unveiling coined the term Flying Fortress to describe the new aircraft. After a few initial test flights the 299 flew off to Wright Field setting a speed record with an average speed of 232-mph. At Wright Field the 299 bettered its competition in almost all respects. However, an unfortunate crash of the prototype in October of 1935 resulted in the Army awarding its primary production contract to Douglas Aircraft for its DB-1 (B-18.) The Army did order 13 test models of the 299 in January 1936, and designated the new plane the Y1B-17. Early work on the B-17 was plagued by many difficulties, including the crash of the first Y1B-17 on its third flight, and nearly bankrupted the Company. Minor quantities of the B-17B, B-17C, and B-17D variants were built, and about 100 of these aircraft were in service at the time Pearl Harbor was attacked. In fact a number of unarmed B-17s flew into the War at the time of the Japanese attack. The German Blitzkrieg in Europe resulted in accelerated aircraft production in America. The B-17E was the first truly heavily armed variant and made its initial flight in September of 1941. B-17Es cost $298,000 each and more than 500 were delivered. The B-17F and B-17G were the truly mass-produced wartime versions of the Flying Fortress. More than 3,400 B-17Fs and more than 8,600 B-17Gs would be produced. The American daylight strategic bombing campaign against Germany was a major factor in the Allies winning the War in Europe. This campaign was largely flown by B-17 Flying Fortresses (12,677 built) and B-24 Liberators (18,188 built.) The B-17 bases were closer to London than those of the B-24, so B-17s received a disproportionate share of wartime publicity. The first mission in Europe with the B-17 was an Eighth Air Force flight of 12 B-17Es on August 12, 1942. Thousands more missions, with as many as 1000 aircraft on a single mission would follow over the next 2 ½ years, virtually decimating all German war making facilities and plants. The B-17 could take a lot of damage and keep on flying, and it was loved by the crews for bringing them home despite extensive battle damage. Following WW II, B-17s would see some action in Korea, and in the 1948 Israel War. There are only 14 flyable B-17s in operation today and a total of 43 complete airframes

Superfortress

Superfortress
The largest and most powerful bomber of WW II, the Boeing B-29 Super Fortress, played a major role in bringing about the defeat of Japan. In addition to accelerating Japans surrender following the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic bombs, thousands of B-29 crews flew tens of thousands of bombing missions against Japan from bases in China, India, and later in the War from recaptured islands in the Pacific. B-29s entered service in 1943 following a lengthy, problem-filled, development process of three years in response to the governments request for a long range strategic bomber. Only Boeing and Douglas (the B-32 Dominator) responded to the governments requests, and the B-32 had even greater development problems than the B-29. Powered by four giant Wright R-3350-23 radial engines generating a total horsepower of 8,924, the Super Fortresses typically carried crews of ten. They were capable of a top speed of 357-MPH, and at slower cruising speeds had a range of more than 3,200 miles. The B-29 was a large aircraft for its time with a wingspan in excess of 140 feet and a length of just under 100 feet. The Super Forts also had pressurized forward and aft hulls, which made the long distance missions a bit more comfortable for the flight crews. B-29s typically carried defensive armament which included ten machine guns and a single tail-mounted canon. Because of the pressurized hull, the guns were operated by remote control. The first operational B-29 wing was the 58th which flew out of the China-Burma-India theater. On March 9, 1945 General Curtis LeMay ordered an unusual low altitude attack on Tokyo by hundreds of B-29s carrying incendiary bombs. Five such low level missions were scheduled over a ten-day period, and the combined destruction of these missions exceeded that of either of the atomic bomb missions. B-29s were also effectively used to mine Japanese ports and shipping lanes.

Harry D Hink USAAF
Squadron details