Aircraft – F-4J Phantom
Ship – USS Constellation

It was January 19th, 1972 aboard the USS Constellation in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Lieutenant Randy Cunningham shut down the engines of his ‘Fighting Falcons’ F-4J Phantom. Task Force 77 Commander Admiral Cooper, ship’s CO Captain Ward, squadron commanders and the rest of VF-96’s crew were there to congratulate Cunningham and his Radar Intercept Officer, Lieutenant Willie ‘Irish’ Driscoll on achieving their first kill. It was the first of five air victories. Cunningham and Driscoll becoming the US Navy’s only Aces of the Vietnam War.
“Irish and I came into the break smoking at 500 knots, below the level of the flight deck I could see thousands of men watching from the catwalks. I made a six-G break turn with 90degree angle of bank. We landed after one of my best passes of the cruise”. Said Commander Randy ‘Duke’Cunningham.
Robert Taylor’s spectacular painting shows Cunningham’s F-4J Phantom, feet above the murky waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, passing the USS Constellation at 500 knots.

Signed in pencil by the artist Robert Taylor and by Commander Randall H Cunningham USN, Commander Willie Driscoll.

Overall print size: 34½ inches wide x 23½ inches high.

Artist Proof only available

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