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 Limited Edition Print "F4U-1 Marine Corsair Ace, Phillip DeLong"
Limited Edition 12" by 18" Print Signed and numbered by the artist and co-signed by F4U-1 Marine Corsair Ace, Phillip DeLong, VMF-212
Phillip DeLong was given his aviation wings and commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He then attended advanced fighter training at NAS Miami and became carrier qualified at NAS Glenview, Illinois on the USS Wolverine.
He was assigned to VMF-212 and sent to the Solomon Islands. After arriving on the Solomons he was promoted to First Lieutenant. Phillip gained his first aerial victories on January 9, 1944, with two confirmed Zero’s, damaging a third over Kabanga Bay. It happened with a flight after lunch, when Phillip and the squadron's skipper pulled in behind five Zero's. He was flying wing on this mission with the commanding officer of the squadron, Hugh Elwood. Elwood fired first and knocked out the first enemy fighter. Phillip was able to hit and burn another to make his first aerial victory. The flight broke up and Phillip pulled in behind another Zero who was trying to sneak up on a Navy F6F Hellcat. Phillip fired into the Japanese fighter, mortally damaging the aircraft and pilot. Just eight days later on January 17th, Phillip claimed two more Zeros over Blanche Bay.
During a morning escort mission on January 23rd, Phillip helped two fellow pilots shoot down two Zeros, giving him 1/3 victory for each enemy fighter. The flight of Corsairs had broken up during the midair duel when Phillip found himself alone with five Zeros on his tail. The Corsair was faster so he decided to outrun his pursuers. The chase took them along the coast of New Britton. Phillip kept looking back watching the Zeros. He decided that, if the enemy fighters started to turn away, he would give chase to them. As Phillip expected, one by one, the Zeros broke away and headed back to their base. Only one Zero remained and, after a few more moments, it turned. Immediately Phillip swung his Corsair around. Apparently the Zero’s pilot was expecting such a move and turned back onto Phillip. Head on, both fighters bore down on each other until they both fired. Phillip's six 50-caliber machine guns split the Zero, turning it into a fireball with Phillip flying through the explosion.
Later that afternoon, Phillip was on a fighter sweep when he and another squadron mate shared in shooting down a Zero, giving them both 1/2 credit. These shared victories gave Phillip 2 1/2 credits for the day. Before January was over, Phillip scored two more times. Phillip was flying on the 29th when he shot down another Zero. He added a Hamp fighter on the 31st.
Phillip’s best day was February 15th. He was part of an umbrella of Marine Corsairs, covering troops from New Zealand landing on Green Island. Disregarding heavy anti-aircraft fire from the invasion fleet, He shot down three Val dive-bombers, which were attacking the allied invasion. Phillip DeLong was the "Top Gun" of VMF-212, credited with 11.166 aerial victories, one probable and two damaged. He flew a total of 69 combat missions. During the Bougainville Campaign, he was promoted to Captain.
During his service Phillip DeLong earned the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, along with the Distinguished Flying Cross with 6 Gold Stars. He also received the Air Medal with 16 Gold Stars and the Navy Commendation Medal. Phillip's total aerial victories were 11.166 victories in the Pacific during WW II, flying a total of 69 combat missions. He also scored 2 in the Korean War where he flew 127 combat missions. Phillip DeLong is the 13th highest scoring Marine Ace.
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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