Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. At exactly 7:55 in the morning of Sunday December 7, 1941, the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor was attacked without warning by aircraft of the Japanese Navy, dragging the United States (who had remained uncommitted up to this point) into World War II.
At that moment, two young Army Air Corps 2nd Lieutenants, George Welch and Ken Taylor of the 47th Fighter Squadron, were leaving an all-night party at Wheeler Field, the center for fighter operations in Hawaii. Just ten miles to the south, the Imperial Japanese Navy had launched a meticulously planned attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor.
As the two pilots walked past a field of newly delivered P-40B Tomahawks (which were parked wingtip to wingtip to deter sabotage attempts), unfamiliar airplanes suddenly filled the skies. Japanese D3A Vals and A6M2 Zeros strafed and bombed the parked aircraft and buildings, leaving flaming wreckage in their wake.
Driving their car to Haleiwa Air Field at speeds approaching 100 mph, Welch and Taylor survived 3 separate strafing attacks. Without any clearance or knowledge of the enemy situation, they took off with only their .30-caliber guns loaded, and attacked a formation of Val dive-bombers. Welch shot down an enemy aircraft, and Taylor also claimed one. With Welch's P-40 already struck by enemy fire, both pilots turned toward Pearl Harbor. Welch, who's Tomahawk was now down to one working gun, overtook another Val and sent it down in flames.
Low on ammunition and fuel, the two landed at Wheeler Field to rearm. As they prepared to take off a second time, a wave of Vals escorted by Zeros swept toward them. Launching directly into the enemy formation, Welch quickly shot down two more aircraft. Taylor wound up with a Zero on his tail. Welch chased it off, but not before Taylor was hit in the arm by an enemy bullet. Both returned safely to base.
By the time the Japanese aircraft departed for their carriers, the Pacific Fleet was in ruins. Most of the US military aircraft at Wheeler Field had been destroyed. Luckily, the three American Pacific Fleet Carriers were not in port at the time of the attack.
These two courageous young airmen will be remembered as the first US Army Air Corps pilots to shoot down enemy planes in the Pacific War, and as two of the great heroes of Pearl Harbor. The next four years would be marked by the same courage, skill, and determination displayed by so many untested American pilots during our country’s first hours in World War II.
The aircraft is in excellent condition and is still in place as it was originally packaged. It was removed from the box for photo purposes, but was not removed from the bindings that hold it in place.
Comes more than ready for display.
- This product is available for international shipping.
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