The Jolly Rogers by Nicolas Trudgian.

With its macabre skull and crossbones insignia, and a reputation for total disdain of authority, VF-17 arrived in the Pacific with a variety of nicknames ranging from the Irregulars to the Cast-offs, but under the dynamic leadership of their Squadron Commander, Tom Blackburn, VF-17 made their presence felt immediately upon their arrival in the fall of 1943. Equipped with the F4U Corsair, VF-17 pilots had what Blackburn was convinced was the best fighter aircraft of World War II, and on 1st November, during the invasion of Bougainville, VF-17 pilots shot down 6 Japanese planes in their first taste of battle - 2 falling to the guns of their C.O. Over the next 8500 hours of combat in the Solomons, its pilots shot down 156 enemy aircraft, 8 Japanese aircraft for each plane it lost, and produced the highest number of Aces of any squadron in the Navy. Blackburns Fighting 17 were the toast of the Navy brass, earned the respect of their peers, and became known throughout the Pacific as The Jolly Rogers.

We have managed to locate two prints of this much sought after edition. - These have slight damage to the top left hand corner with about 2cm of stain in the corner.

Signed by :
Captain Tom Blackburn (deceased),
Rear Admiral Roger Hedrick (deceased),
Lieutenant Dan Cunningham
and
Lieutenant Tom Killefer (deceased).

Limited edition of publisher proofs.

Paper size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm)