
" INTO THE ARMS OF THE DRAGON "
William Phillips
April 2008
200 Signed & Numbered Canvas 24" x 30" $995
350 Signed & Numbered Paper
19" x 25" $450
April 2008 - Into the Arms of the Dragon - William Phillips
The Doolittle Raid on Japan was always designed as a one way mission: from the carrier to friendly
airfields in China by way of Tokyo. Because of the early discovery by Japanese picket boats,
Captain David Jones and the rest of Crew 5 (aircraft 02283) left the deck of the USS
"Hornet" knowing their one-way trip was perilously shorter. They knew that their B-25
did not have the range to make those friendly airfields, and getting to the China coast
or past Japanese-occupied China would take great skill and uncommon luck. At a small
break in the cloud cover over Chu Chow the members of Crew 5, who could coax their
aircraft no further, left the plane, trusting their parachutes, the wind and the
Chinese people to lead them to safety.
In Chinese folklore the lóng, or dragon, symbolizes all that is good: abundance, prosperity,
good fortune, nobility and divine protection, as well as the Chinese people themselves.
The dragon is believed to be the benevolent guardian of water, as well as life-giving rain
and storms. As they tumbled into the stormy night sky, David Jones and his crew
entrusted their safety —and their lives — to the arms of the dragon.
The Chinese paid dearly for the aid and shelter they provided to American soldiers.
In the Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign, Japanese forces killed an estimated 250,000
Chinese civilians as retaliation and intimidation to prevent further assistance of
American soldiers. The brave sacrifices of the Chinese saved many lives and
solidified the American people in their determination to succeed. William S.
Phillips inspiring limited edition "Into the Arms of the Dragon" pays
tribute to the combined efforts of two nations.
Countersigners: MSgt. Edwin Horton, Jr., Col. William M. Bower, S/Sgt.
David J. Thatcher, Col. Richard E. Cole, Maj. Thomas Griffin and Col. Robert Hite.
Into the Arms of the Dragon - William Phillips
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