"Play Ball" James Dietz WW II Operation Torch Print

After graduation from Art Center College of Design in 1969, Jim began a successful career as a commercial illustrator in Los Angeles. The subject matter varied from automobiles to action scenes to romantic book covers. A steady flow of work from New York enabled the Dietz' to move to Seattle in 1978. It was at this time that he took his first concrete steps toward fulfilling his dream to specialize in aviation art, at that time an almost unheard of genre. Since then, aviation art has played an increasingly large part in his career. Jim Dietz's clients include Boeing, Bell Helicopter, Allison, and Flying Tigers, to name just a few.

Jim has also branched out into the fine arts field with his aviation art. A strong following has developed for his originals and a growing number of limited edition prints have introduced Jim's name to print collectors worldwide. Four of Jim's originals were put on display in the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Naval Aviation; one of the paintings was presented by the Navy League to then Secretary of the Navy, John Lehman. A regular contributor to the Air Force Art Program, Jim's work has been featured on the cover of AIR FORCE magazine.

Jim Dietz has been honored with several gold medals from the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators and has won Best in Show in three successive years in the EAA Aviation Art Show. In 1988, at the second American Society of Aviation Artists forum, Jim was awarded the "People's Choice Award" for his painting selected by forum attendees. Major showings of Dietz's originals have recently been held at the EAA Museum and the San Diego Air Museum. His work is found in a number of private and corporate collections.

James Dietz Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Print "Play Ball"

The Western Task Force Assault on Morocco, November 8, 1942.

Operation Torch began November 8, 1942, and was the first major Allied land-sea-air offensive during World War II. The Campaign Plan called for three naval task forces to invade North Africa.

Operation Torch was a joint operation requiring close cooperation between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy in an era when interaction between the two services was uncommon.

Operation Torch further required close cooperation between British and American land, sea, and air forces and constituted the first major combined Anglo-American offensive of World War II. Like most forcible entry situations, Operation Torch was extremely risky as opposing Vichy French forces had powerful land, sea, and air capabilities, and Allied forces came ashore far from supporting friendly bases.

The Western Task Force, commanded by Rear Admiral Henry K. Hewitt and Major General George S. Patton, assaulted Morocco directly from Norfolk, Virginia. Using a code word from the nation’s pastime, baseball, the command to “Play Ball” was issued and the invasion landing began. American Navy and Army units engaged French Vichy Forces to open the North African Campaign.

As the sun rose the morning of November 8, soldiers from the U.S. 2nd Armored Division and the U.S. 3rd Infantry Division disembarked the ships of Admiral Hewitt’s Task Force. Admiral Hewitt’s flagship, the USS Augusta, sailed just off shore. Overhead, U.S. Navy F4F Wildcats flew in close air support. Vichy French Infantry were captured and led to landing craft.

Infantrymen from the 3rd Infantry Division came ashore armed with M1 Garand rifles, Browning Automatic Rifles, and M1 Carbine rifles. M3 light tanks from the 2nd Armored Division rallied and prepared for battles to come. A battalion command group assessed the situation in a Willy’s Jeep, while a Military Policeman prepared to move out on a Harley-Davidson WLA. This print commemorates the men who responded with courage and tenacity as they took the fight to the Axis forces in North Africa in response to the uniquely American command - "Play Ball."

This 12.5" by 25" image size print, limited to 250, is signed by the artist.

This print is also available as an Artist Proof (limited to 100) - $200

All Limited Edition prints are signed and numbered (S/N) by the artist. Limited Edition prints are restricted to a certain number. For example, if 400 prints are made from an original painting, once they’re gone, that’s it. There is no limit to the number of open edition prints of a particular painting. That’s why Limited Edition prints are more expensive — and more valuable to collectors — than "open" edition. Rare objects are more valuable.

An Artist’s Proof (AP), generally, is the first 5% - 10% of the Limited Edition prints that come off the press. This status is noted on the print. Collectors prefer APs because their value increases even more than a Limited Edition as time goes by.

All Limited Edition artwork is subject to availability at time of order. Although seller strives to remain currrent as to inventory, seller reserves the right to cancel a sale if item is no longer available at time of purchase.