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WILLIAM PHILLIPS
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William Phillips When You see Zeros - Fight Em

" WHEN YOU SEE ZEROS - FIGHT 'EM "
William Phillips
Sept. 2013

45 Signed & Numbered Giclee Canvas
18" x 24"
$395


September 2013 - When You See Zeros - Fight 'Em - William Phillips

A warhorse needn’t be pretty — it earns its oats in combat. The design of Japan’s elegant Mitsubishi
Zero may have enabled it to out-fly the Grumman F4F Wildcat on paper. Armor, self-sealing fuel tanks,
a superior ceiling and dive rate led to the development of combat tactics that made the Wildcat a
dangerous opponent. And when men like Marine Corps Captain Joseph J. Foss were behind the stick,
it couldn’t be outfought.

William S. Phillips When You See Zeros, Fight ’Em depicts October 23, 1943 in the skies over Guadalcanal,
when 28 Japanese Zeros and 16 Betty bombers swarmed over the island. Foss and his men were
in the skies to counter attack. At one point, a Wildcat in pursuit of a Zero became potential prey
himself, pursued by another Zero. Seeing this, Foss brought his plane in behind to within a few
feet of the Zero and opened fire. The Zero burst into flames and the pilot bailed out,
clearing Foss' plane by inches.

Foss had a great appreciation for the Wildcat’s sturdy airframe. After his first victory, he got
separated from his wingman—often a fatal mistake. Zeros “bounced” him and he dove for
the deck, recalling that the Japanese planes were said to shed their wings in a dive. Wrong.
“The wings didn’t come off,” reported Joe, “and they really salted me.” Well-riddled,
he crash-landed his Wildcat and remembered the lesson.

Foss would claim that wasn’t a good shot. “I just got up there and stuck those guns up his tail.
When you see Zeros,” he told his squadron, “fight ‘em.” He was awarded the Congressional
Medal of Honor for his “indomitable fighting spirit” in the skies over Guadalcanal in the
fall of 1942. In just 63 days he shot down 26 planes.

When You See Zero’s, Fight’ Em, an Anniversary Edition Giclèe Canvas, is a gorgeous
tribute to Marine Corps Ace Joseph J. Foss and the unsubduable F4F Wildcat.


 

 

When You See Zeros, Fight Em - William Phillips

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When You See Zeros, Fight Em - William Phillips