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2001 “Gathering of Eagles” Print Signed by NASA’s Bolden, 15 Other Aviators - Bud Day, Blesse, Etc.
Lot 244. 2001 “Gathering of Eagles” Print Signed by NASA’s Bolden, 15 Other Aviators - Bud Day, Blesse, Etc. A former pilot and major general in the U.S. Marine Corps, C. F. (Charlie) Bolden Jr., heads a group of aviation notables who autographed this Jay Ashurst print that was commissioned by the Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) at Maxwell Air Force Base. Bolden piloted Space Shuttles Columbia and Discovery and commanded Discovery and Atlantis crews. He became NASA Administrator last year. Another astronaut signed the print, Joe Engle, commander of the second orbital test flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1981. Three fighter aces are among the 16 aviators illustrated in the three-panel print, numbered 596 of 750, double-matted to 32” x 40” and titled Legends and Leaders of Aerospace: Boots Blesse, U.S. jet ace in the Korean War with nine kills; (Randy) “Duke” Cunningham, one of two U.S. Navy flying aces during the Vietnam War, and Robbie Risner, Korean War ace, decorated Vietnam War pilot and seven-year POW, and the first living member of the service to receive the Air Force Cross twice. (George E.) Col Bud Day received the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam; he is generally regarded as the most decorated U.S. service member since Gen. MacArthur. Others who signed are R. A. (Bernard) Schriever (d. 2005), who had a major role in the U.S. Air Force programs for space and ballistic missile research; Herbert E. Carter, a Tuskegee Airman who reached the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force; Red Blount (d. 2002), who trained to be a B-29 pilot late in WWII and served as U.S. Postmaster General 1969-72; Florene Miller Watson, one of only 25 women to qualify for the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron, later known as the Women’s Air Force Service Pilots (WASPS); Don Parker, who played a central role in developing and modernizing Army Aviation; Jerry Denton, retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, naval aviator and a former Republican U.S. Senator from Alabama who spent almost eight years as a POW in Vietnam, Bob Goebel, Hank Potter, Jerry Denton, Stan Ritchie and Sean D. Tucker. The autographs in pencil are generally nm-m 8 or better. In Blount’s signature, only “Red” is clearly recognizable. Kevin Keating authenticated the signatures. The Gathering of Eagles program emphasizes the study of aviation history and the contributions of aviation pioneers. 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 $113.
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