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1999 “Gathering of Eagles” Print Signed by Pete Conrad, 8 Fighter Aces, Etc.
Lot 243. 1999 “Gathering of Eagles” Print Signed by Pete Conrad, 8 Fighter Aces, Etc. The Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) at Maxwell Air Force Base commissioned Jay Ashurst to produce this lithograph for its Gathering of Eagles program, which emphasizes the study of aviation history and the contributions of aviation pioneers. Twenty-two aviators and Ashurst signed the print in pencil. The signatures are 9s and 10s. Kevin Keating provided the authentication. Astronaut Charles (Pete) Conrad died in a 1999 motorcycle accident after he had joined the other aviators in signing the print. The third person to walk on the moon, Conrad flew on the Gemini 5 and 11, Apollo 12, and Skylab 2 missions. Three of the aces represented in this group were members of the Flying Tigers: John R Rossi, Joe Rosbert (d. 2009) and “Tex” Hill (d. 2007). Other aces are Joe DeBlanc (d. 2007), a World War II Marine Corps fighter pilot who was awarded the Medal of Honor; Bruce Holloway (d. 1999), WWII ace who later headed the Strategic Air Command; Guy Bordelon, the U.S. Navy’s first ace of the Korean War, and Dolph Overton, who shot down five Communist fighter aircraft to become an ace in only four days during the Korean War. Other signers are Ramsay Potts (d. 2006), highly decorated World War II bomber pilot; Chuck Yeager, the U.S. test pilot who was the first to travel faster than sound; Bill Harrell (d. 2006) World War II Air Force pilot who achieved the rank of major general; Woody Crockett, one of the Tuskegee Airmen; Ralph Puckett, Jr., who led the 8th Army Ranger Company during the Korean War and received the Distinguished Service Cross; Linda Finch, aviatrix and aviation historian who restored vintage aircraft and, in 1997, faithfully recreated Amelia Earhart’s ill-fated final flight in a restored Lockheed Electra 10E; Chuck Horner, (Sir Patrick) Paddy Hine, Philip Condit, A. Vybornov, David P. Fowler, Sam Johnson, Amir Nachumi and Dave Ferguson. The unnumbered print is double-matted to 32’ x 40”. A high-quality color softcover book accompanies the print; it contains a description of the artwork, as well as a portrait of each aviator, biographical information and a description of the plane the aviator flew.
Winning Bid $125.
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