"Mission to Balikpapan" B-24 Liberator Giclee Print by Jack Fellows

Jack Fellows has been called a perfectionist at heart, and that attitude toward his work has created a passion for recording the essence of his subjects.

Jack's interest in art began as soon as he could pick up a pencil at about the age of four years old. Painting professionally since 1967, Fellows has drawn wide acclaim and numerous honors for his oils & pastel paintings in galleries and art shows throughout the world.

His favorite subjects, ethnic scenes, World War II vintage aircraft, and especially the Pacific Theater, at first seem to be an odd combination of subject matter. Fellows explains that he paints pictures of scenes that are not likely to be seen any longer. Such influences as having a wife of European descent and a father that was a Boeing Aircraft engineer that worked on the original B-17 project, further explains a basis for his subject selections.

The historic qualities of his paintings are emphasized through his attention to graduations of light, the precision in which he assigns tonal weight to highlight and shadow, creative use of brilliant colors and the feeling of depth that he creates. Fellows draws upon technical skills acquired during his training as a commercial artist, and paints with a realism that pulls the viewer emotionally into the painting.

His works are found in corporate, private, and museum collections as well as various publications worldwide.

"Mission to Balikpapan" Signed and Numbered Limited Edition B-24 Liberator Giclee Print by Jack Fellows

The objective of Imperial Japan in occupying the Dutch colonial oil resources in the Netherlands East Indies and on Borneo was realized shortly after the initiation of hostilities against the Allies on 8 December, 1941. This important resource was unavailable to Japan, since prior to hostilities, the Allies had denied Japanese access to the oil that would, it was hoped, prevent Japan from its expanding pan-Asian ambitions that were too often being realized at the edge of the sword. The subsequent campaign by the Allies to ether destroy or recapture these Dutch assets fell to General MacArthur and his Fifth US Army Air Force, commanded by Maj. General George C. Kenney. The ensuing campaign waged against August, 1943 and was not concluded until the raids commencing on 1 June, 1945 in support of operation OBOE were completed (in support of OBOE landing forces). Raids by heavy bombers of one or more of five heavy bombardment groups from both the 5th and 13th US Army Air Forces commenced in earnest after the August '43 raids on 29 September 1944 when two groups from the Jungle Air Force, the Bomber Barons and the Long Rangers, and the Jolly Rogers from the 5th USAAF attacked Balikpapan, losing three B-24s in the process, but inflicting substantial damage. Subsequent raids took place on October 3, 8, 9, 10, 14, and the 18th - with the raids on the 10th and the 14th being the largest and most destructive.

Pictured are the elements of the 403rd Bomb Squadron and the 65th Bomb Squadron leaving the tow burning target sites at Balikpapan on 10 October as described by Col. James Pettus after he lead the 43rd BG on that day. The picture replicates his view out of the lead Liberator's pilot's window. His left wingman is the nearest B-24, "WOLF PACK" which was usually flown by 403rd Bomb Squadron pilot Lt. Leonard Clark. Beyond Clark's aircraft are elements of the 65th Bomb Squadron Col. Pettus notes in his narrative that at this point, a Japanese float plane inexplicably made an oblique high-angle head-on no aircraft to the enemy defenses on this mission, however one of the aircrew on Col. Pettus' aircraft was killed by Japanese defensive guns.

Taken as a whole, the raids were only partially successful, since the occupying Japanese could quickly repair damage and resume production, however in the meantime the construction of Allied airfields in the area allowed interdiction of petroleum shipments out of Borneo, achieving the desired effect which was to cut off the Japanese war machine from the fuel it needed to continue.

28" by 15" Image Size, 34" by 22" Overall, Giclee Print, Edition of 199 - $200

Also Available:

28" by 15" Image Size, 34" by 22" Overall, Giclee Artist Proof, Edition of 10 - $225

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. If the Limited Edition is 200 s/n, there would be 10 - 20 APs. This status is noted on the print. Collectors prefer APs because their value increases even more than a Limited Edition as time goes by.

A giclée print is created with digital printers using tiny ink jets that spray microscopic ink droplets onto a sheet of canvas, creating a lush, vibrant and textured art print that has the look of an original painting. These canvas giclées come stretched, ready for framing and need no glass in front of the image to protect it. The giclée is typically larger in size than the limited edition print and slightly smaller than the original painting.

All Limited Edition artwork includes a Certificate of Authenticity and 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.