Don Greer (American, 20th Century). Hellcat in Action, Squadron Signal Publications cover, 1979. Gouache and airbrush on...

Description

Don Greer (American, 20th Century)
Hellcat in Action, Squadron Signal Publications cover, 1979
Gouache and airbrush on board
18-5/8 x 29-5/8 inches (47.3 x 75.2 cm) (sight)
Not signed

Note:
Navy F6F-3 #40467 flown by Lt. Alex Vraciu of the Fighting Squadron 6 shows 9 kill marks. With part of Task Force 58 seen streaming below, Vraciu is flying C.A.P. (Combat Air Patrol). At war's end in 1945, Vraciu was the Navy's 4th highest ace with 19 confirmed kills.

The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second half of the Pacific War.

This lot is accompanied by the 1979 Squadron Signal Publications by Jim Sullivan.

A Brief History of Squadron Signal Publications:
Squadron Signal Publications was started in 1971 in Detroit, Michigan, by Jerry Campbell. Campbell was a history teacher, aviation and military enthusiast, plus an accomplished modeler. Don Greer, joined Squadron in 1971, he became the in-house artist. Many other artists painted original illustration art, including Lew Drendel, Ewe Feist, Angus McBride & Ray Rubens, Tom Tullis and many others. Since that first "In Action" book in 1971 till today, they have inspired aviation, military enthusiasts modelers by selling over 13 million copies of Squadron Signal books all throughout the world, with several hundred titles. Being offered for the first time, is all original illustration art covers, without titling. Each original cover illustration will come with that complete book.

Don Greer Autobiography:
I was born an artist. My parents used to tell me that I was drawing before I could walk. I'm not sure about that, but I do remember sitting at the kitchen table drawing images of what I could see from the window.
As a child during WWII, the events and armaments used during the war were particularly fascinating to me. I would spend hours drawing the airplanes, tanks and ships that were the pride of our country. I guess that's when my passion for drawing military machine began. One of my favorite airplanes to draw was the P-51 Mustang, a true workhorse of the war.
After high school, I went to work at a small art studio and eventually got a job with GM Trucks as an artist apprentice. I learned a lot from the talented artists there as I observed the technical skills necessary to become an illustrator. I was hired by AMT, a model company in Troy Michigan, to illustrate the cars and trucks that were used on the boxes. It was there I met Al Borst, a veteran of WWII who became an inspiration to me. He was incredibly talented, and he taught me many tricks of the trade.
I worked at AMT for eight years before I met Jerry Campbell at Squadron in Highland Park, Michigan. He hired me as am illustrator in 1970 where I worked on the company catalogue as well as Squadron Signal Books. My first book cover was the P-47 Thunderbolt in 1975.
Throughout my years as an illustrator for Squadron Signal Publications I have illustrated hundreds of books, from aviation, tanks, ships and more. I also have done many Box Art for model companies like Monogram Models, Ertl Toys, Atlantis Models and Classic Airframes.
I retired from Squadron in 2015 after a career of over sixty years.
It's said that an artist is only departed, for the artist never dies. I hope that my art will continue to educate and inspire long after I am gone.
As Bob Ross said, "It's so important to do something every day that will make you happy."
I am a happy man.
Don Greer


More information about Greer, Don Artist.

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