Limited Edition 12" by 18" Print Signed by the Artist and Co-signed by the 1947 Thompson Trophy Winner, Cook Cleland
ERNIE BOYETTE
Ernie was born to poor parents on a sweet potato farm in Green Cove Springs, Florida. The family raised chickens, rabbits and agriculural foods. The last of seven children, his father died when he was two years old. Growing up, Ernie always helped his mother and encouraged her in her self-taught wildlife painting. When she passed away in 1985, she left him her art supplies and some blank canvasses.
Bored with a job he disliked, he decided to figure out how to paint one night in 1986. He pulled out his mom's "art stuff" and started. Never having an art lesson in life other than what he was taught in public school, Ernie did about ten paintings over the next several years. Trained in marketing, in June 1991, he decided to try art as a business. Convinced he had talent, he swore he would be making his living from his artwork, writing and photography.
Not knowing what he wanted to paint, he liked airplanes and military so he tried that. He started painting one airplane after another. In the spring of 1993, he received his first commission from an F-18 Squadron stationed at Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida. Commander John "Lites" Leenhouts employed him to do a black and white Limited Edition of their squadron aircraft.
In 1994 he started his series "Famous American Aviators". His first prints were his heroes, George Gay and Robert "Bob" Scott. Between January 1991 and December 2000 he painted no less than 150 paintings. From March 1993 to September 2000 he published 42 Limited Edition prints along with 36 poster prints. In the fall of 2002 he was commissioned by Cook Cleland's family to paint all three of the F2G Corsair racers that he flew in the late 1940's at the Ohio Air Races. Cook won the Thompson Trophy in 1947 and 1949. Ernie had worked with Cook in 1997 with a print of the SBD dive-bomber he flew in WWII.
In March of 2003 Ernie was officially knighted as a “Knight of Vision” for his efforts in telling the stories of Great britain's famous aviators. Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette now signs all his original paintings as Sir Hamilton.
His artwork is now marketed nationwide in aviation museum gift shops including the Smithsonian. In November of 2006 his artwork was selected by the new Pearl Harbor Museum, Hawaii, to be sold in their gift shop. Ernie's artwork has also appeared in the Aviation History magazine and his prints are marketed worldwide.
Ernie Boyette S/N Print "Cook Cleland Wins Thompson Trophy 1947"
F2G Corsair
World War II Navy dive-bomber pilot and ace Cook Cleland was one of the most eager aviators of his era. Cook found a new calling after the war with an interest in air racing. Surplus Army aircraft from WWII began dominating the National Air Races.
Cleland, known for his enthusiasm, wanted to compete and win the Thompson Trophy flying a Navy aircraft. Legend has it that Cook appealed to Admiral "Bull" Halsey that the Navy needed to be better represented in the air races. Halsey asked Cleland what it would take to guarantee a Navy aircraft would win the race. Cleland replied, "An F2G, sir!" Cleland convinced Halsey that the Navy should sell him one of the surplus F2Gs. Within days Cleland paid the Navy $1,250.00 for a F2G Corsair that they had just paid one million dollars for six months earlier. Cook picked up his future race plane at NAS Jacksonville, Florida on February 24, 1947.
Cleland scraped together the money and manpower to convert the "Super Corsair" from a bulky fighter to a streamlined racer. By qualifying day in 1947, Cook had lightened the F2G by 1,000 pounds, shortened the wing span, installed the humped back air scoop, and painted the Corsair dark blue with a checkerboard cowling. With new modifications to the engine 4,000 plus horsepower was available in spurts up to 30 minutes! Cook proudly arrived at his first race to fulfill his dream with his F2G-2 BUNO 88463, Civil Race #NX5577N, Race #74.
Cook astounded everyone with the fastest qualifying time of 401.79 MPH in #74! In this race Cook had two friends Dick Becker flying F2G #94 and Tony Janazzo flying F2G #84. Cleland owned all three of the Corsairs however all three men worked day and night getting them ready for the race. Of the thirteen air racers that started the race in 1947 only six of the aircraft finished the race. Tony Janazzo led very early in the race but fell back as Cleland and Becker passed him. Cook Cleland came in first place setting a new closed course world record of 396.13 MPH with Becker placing second. Cleland won $19,500.00 for first place, and Becker won $8,100.00 for second place.
Cook and Becker rejoiced with their winning. However, the moment became bitter when they learned that their friend and teammate Tony Janazzo had crashed and died. During the race extreme heat burned through the firewall and Tony became overwhelmed by carbon monoxide.
In 1949 at the Thompson Races, Becker was flying Cleland's #74 and again set a new race qualifying time of 414.59 MPH! Ironically #74 stripped the propeller reduction gear after the qualifying run and was unable to fly in the race. However Cleland won his second Thompson Trophy flying his modified #94.
All 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.
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