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-5 Marine Corsair, Phillip DeLong"
Limited Edition 12" by 18" Print Signed and numbered by the artist and co-signed by F4U-5 Marine Corsair Ace, Phillip DeLong, Korean War
Phillip DeLong earned his aviation wings and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Phillip served in the Pacific during WW II and scored 11.166 aerial victories with VMF-212 flying the F4U-1 Corsair.
In July 1950 Phil received orders to VMF-312, MAG-12 at El Toro, California. The following month the unit was deployed to Japan and then to Korea. Phillip was promoted to Major at the age of thirty-one and joined the “Checkerboards” squadron flying the F4U-4 Corsair. The squadron was stationed on the carrier USS Bataan for duty with the Seventh Fleet, Task Force 95. Their primary missions were to fly reconnaissance along with close air support for Army and Marine units. The “Checkerboards” also escorted Allied ships and took part in the blockade of enemy ships off the coast of Korea.
On April 21, 1951, Captain DeLong was leading his division on an armed reconnaissance flight near Chinnampo, Korea, along the Yellow Sea. Captain DeLong and his wingman First Lieutenant H. Daigh were flying north when they both noticed they had fighters approaching them. Both Phillip and Daigh assumed they were American P-51 fighters. Within moments DeLong called on the intercom that his aircraft had been hit. DeLong quickly split-essed to avoid further fire. Daigh pulled behind a Yak and opened fire. Daigh’s guns struck the Yak in the tail, wing, and fuselage. The Korean’s wing broke off and the aircraft plunged to earth. As DeLong climbed and turned to the left, two of the enemy Yaks attacked him from astern. While in a defensive turn Phil found one of the Yaks crossing his path and fired. The passing Yak caught fire and crashed. DeLong turned and spotted his wingman Daigh, who was in pursuit of one of the Yaks and the other Yak was in pursuit of Daigh. DeLong radioed Daigh to take evasive action, which he quickly did. Daigh evaded the pursuing Yak. Daigh then turned onto the enemy aircraft and fired. The Yak began smoking from his cockpit and wing. The Yak flew off but was found several days later and confirmed as a victory for Daigh. Phil gained on the last Yak and fired on the enemy fighter. The Yak started to stream smoke and tried to get away. Phil fired another burst from his guns into the Yak. Pieces fell away from the enemy fighter and Phil watched the pilot jettison his canopy and bail out.
These were the first Marine aerial victories of the Korean War and the first kills by Corsairs. The “Checkerboards” squadron was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses and eight Air Medals for their service. Phillip flew 127 missions over Korea.
Phillip’s aerial victories in WW II and Korea totaled 13 1/6 with one probable and two damaged. He is the 13th highest scoring Marine Ace. During his service Phillip 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.
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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