Limited Edition 12" by 18" Print Signed and numbered by the artist and co-signed by Luftwaffe North African Ace Franz Stigler
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 Signed and Numbered Print "Franz Stigler"
Messerschmitt Bf-109F Fighter
Franz Stigler became a glider pilot in 1927 at the age of 12. He upgraded to powered aircraft in 1933. He joined Lufthansa and flew an extensive number of single and multi-engine aircraft between 1933 and 1939. Franz officially joined the Luftwaffe in 1939 and became an instructor pilot, first with multi-engine and then fighter aircraft. Franz was a very effective instructor, with many of his students becoming aces like Gerhard Barkhorn, who was credited with 301 confirmed aerial victories. Franz himself had been instructed by Ritter Von Greim, who later became Field Marshal Ritter Von Greim, replacing Herman Goering as the last Luftwaffe commander. Franz served as an instructor until February 1942 when he was assigned to Squadron 4/II, JG-27, flying the Bf 109 fighter in combat in North Africa.
For the next eighteen months, Franz served in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy, scoring fifteen aerial victories. All of his victories were against allied fighters, mainly the American P-40, the English Hawker Hurricane and the elite Spitfire. Franz and his Squadron were transferred to Sicily, then to Italy, as the Allies advanced in the Mediterranean. After serving briefly in Germany, and then in Bulgaria, Franz was again pulled back to Austria to defend against the American bomber formations. The heavy bombers were targeting German industrial and transportation centers. On one raid to Schweinfurt, sixty bombers were shot down with Franz claiming two, and while attacking a third bomber he was shot down by the tail gunner. In all, Stigler was shot down eleven times by American bomber gunners, leaving him with scars on his forehead and right leg. During his three years of combat with JG-27 Stigler served with Squadrons 4/II and 6/II and commanding Squadrons 8/III and 12/IV.
The Messerschmitt Bf 109F that Stigler flew in North Africa and the Mediterranean, is shown above in the “Tropical” paint scheme that the Luftwaffe used during this campaign. Stigler was credited with 28 aerial victories; including eleven four engine bombers, and over thirty probables. He was shot down seventeen times, including eleven times by American bombers. Franz bailed out six times and rode his aircraft down the other eleven. During the last week of the war, while flying the Messerschmitt 262 Jet with JV-44, Franz shot down two more American bombers. At this time however, the Luftwaffe was scattered and disorganized, so Franz did not receive credit for these aircraft.
During his three plus years of combat flying with the Luftwaffe, Franz flew 487 missions. His decorations include the Iron Cross 2nd Class, the Iron Cross 1st Class, and the German Cross in Gold. Franz was nominated for the “Knight’s Cross”, but the war ended before he received it.
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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