The Sword and the Pen

L/E of 199 Giclee paper reproductions, 10 A/P, and 10 canvas prints
S/N by the Artist
Image Size: 22.25" x 16.75"
Paper Size: 28" x 24"

Plane Type:B-25 Mitchell


(Click Image for Detail)

Regardless of which is the mightier, both the sword and the pen were in the air over the busy Japanese-occupied harbour at Rabaul on the day that history records as “Bloody Tuesday”. Former child actor and now Hearst International News Service correspondent, Lee Van Atta had become known in the 5th United States Army Air Force as a daring risk-taking reporter who, like Ernie Pyle and others, liked to be in the thick of the action to get a better feel for what he would report via INS. Sitting in the navigator’s seat directly behind pilot Capt. Richard “Dick” Ellis, with Lt. John Dean, copilot to Ellis’ right, young Lee Van Atta rode out the storm of fire and destruction over Simpson Harbour in a B-25D nicknamed “SEABISCUIT” to write his stirring account of the battle on the return trip from Rabaul. This was not the first trip to Rabaul for Van Atta—on October 12th he rode behind command pilot Major John “Jock” Henebry and copilot, Lt. Edward Murphy in Henebry’s B-25D strafer nicknamed by Henebry “NOTRE DAME DE VICTOIRE”. This aircraft was lost on the Nov. 2 mission but all of Henebry’s crew were rescued by a PT boat off Kiriwina Island in the Trobriands. The 12 October mission pitted Henebry’s aircraft against the determined Japanese anti aircraft gun crews defending the airfields at the Rabaul area airfields at Rapopo and Vunakanau, whereupon he also had written an equally-stirring account of the battle. In the picture, 90th Bomb Squadron, 3rd Attack Group pilot Ellis with Van Atta seated just behind Ellis have loosed a 1000 Lb bomb on a Japanese merchant ship and in the background, 90th Bomb Squadron pilot Chuck Howe’s B-25 nicknamed “HERE’S HOWE” can be seen running the gauntlet of anti-aircraft fire as well. On the return trip, Howe escorted Henebry’s crippled aircraft to a safe ditching off Kiriwina Island. On November 2, 1943, the 5th USAAF lost 8 B-25’s (11% of the attacking Mitchell's) and 9 P-38’s in exchange for 15 enemy ships sunk and 22 others damaged. PLANE JUNKIE - The Sword and the Pen by Jack Fellows (B-25 Mitchell)