BGuthrie Photos: DC -- Natl Air and Space Museum -- Temporary Exhibit: Fly Marines! (in Gallery 211)

DC -- Natl Air and Space Museum -- Temporary Exhibit: Fly Marines! (in Gallery 211):

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Description of Pictures: Fly Marines! The Centennial of Marine Corps Aviation: 1912-2012
January 14, 2012 – January 13, 2013
Artworks and artifacts are on view to tell the story of the United States Marine Corps aviation over the past 100 years. Artworks include oils, watercolors, drawings, and poster art from such artists as Paul Arlt, Colonel H. Avery Chenoweth, Keith McConnell, R.G. Smith, and contemporary combat artists. Artifacts may include patches, uniforms, and other small objects.

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. SIAIMR_120120_002.JPG: Fly Marines! Honor, Courage, and Commitment are the basic principles embraced by all Marines. Along with a dose of gritty realism, those principles are reflected in the thousands of works of art held by the National Museum of the Marine Corps. "Fly Marines!" presents a broad selection of works from this collection that documents the history of Marine aviation from its birth and growth in the early 20th century, through the two world wars, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, to the present day. The exhibition also includes several works and artifacts from the collections of the National Air and Space Museum.
2. SIAIMR_120120_005.JPG: Fly with the US Marines Howard Chandler Christy, 1920 Howard Chandler Christy, a leading American artist and illustrator of the period, produced this Marine recruiting poster in the early 1920s.
3. SIAIMR_120120_012.JPG: Birth and Growth: 1912-1940: Beginnings: From the arrival of Lt. Alfred A. Cunningham for flight training at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1912 until American entered World War I, the Marine Corps experimented with the airplane in a limited way. By 1917, Cunningham and his fellow Marine aviators had created an "Aeronautic Company" of 10 officers and 40 men. When the Marine Corps commandant offered a brigade of Marines to fight in France, Cunningham pushed to have his aviators join the fight. World War I: The growth of Marine aviation during World War I was remarkable. The 1st Aeronautic Company, stationed in the Azores, flew Curtiss float planes and flying boats to search for German submarines. The four squadrons of the First Marine Aviation Force, which had trained at the newly created Marine Flying Field near Miami, Florida, flew their de Havilland light bombers as part of the Navy's Northern Bombing Force in France. By war's end, Marine pilots had defeated German fighters, dropped supplies to surrounded Allied troops, and engaged in both day and night bombing missions. Marine aviation had proven that it could successfully fly and fight. The Interwar Years: Marine aviation struggled through the interwar years. Funding was limited, and two-thirds of all Marine squadrons existed only on paper. The small fleet of Marine aircraft was heavily committed domestically and overseas. Deployments to Haiti, Nicaragua, and China strained the force to the breaking point. Still, the Corps found new and innovative uses for attack and transport aircraft and forged the foundations of the Marine air-ground team that remains in place today. Newer aircraft slowly replaced World War I aircraft. Through service in the field, record long-distance flights, aerial demonstrations, and air race victories, Marine aviators roved that, through their professionalism and "do more with less" attitude, they could achieve great things. "It is fully realized that the only excuse for [Marine] aviation... is its usefulness in assisting the troops on the ground to successfully carry out their operations." -- Maj. Alfred A. Cunningham, USMC, 1920
4. SIAIMR_120120_059.JPG: A Force Forged by War: 1941-1945: Preparing for War: As America's entry into World War II loomed, Marine Corps aviation rapidly expanded and modernized. Fledgling pilots flooded into newly created squadrons. Modern aircraft designs replaced older types. But this transformation was not yet complete when the Japanese struck Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Marines went to war with what they had. Thrust Into Battle: Defending a string of island outposts across the Pacific, Marine aviators did their best to blunt the Japanese advance. Capt. Henry T. Elrod and Marine Fighter Squadron 211 became America's first aerial heroes of the war for their valiant but hopeless effort to defend Wake Island. During the Battle of Midway in June 1942, Marine air crews threw themselves against better trained and equipped Japanese naval pilots. The sacrifices made by these Marine aviators helped set the stage for the stunning American victory at Midway that marked a turning point in the war. The Hard Fight: A handful of Marine fighters and dive-bombers formed the core of the fmaous "Cactus Air Force," which fought valiantly against vastly superior numbers on Guadalcanal. Aces Joe Foss, Marion Carl, and Gregory "Pappy" Boyington earned fame for their exploits in the Pacific. Other Marine aviators, such as the brilliant tactician Keith McKutcheon, worked without fanfare to perfect the art of close air support -- Marine aviation's most potent weapon. Slowly, they helped turn the tide against the Japanese. Across the Pacific: In the Philippines, Marine aviators pounded the Japanese and secured the flank of the Army as it swept across the central islands. Marine squadrons operating from Navy carriers struck the Japanese mainland and provided crucial support during the brutal fights for Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Marines flew aircraft ranging from single-engine observation planes to four-engine strategic bombers and undertook thousands of logistical, reconnaissance, and liaison missions. Marine aviation grew rapidly during the war and proved its value on the battlefield. But the next war would finally show the full combat power of the Marine air-ground team. "The value of close air support for ground troops as provided by these Marine flyers cannot be measured in words and there is not enough that can be said for their aerial barrages that have cut a path for the infantry." -- Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger, 8th US Army, 1941
5. SIAIMR_120120_081.JPG: Wide-angle photo of the exhibition area
6. SIAIMR_120120_087.JPG: "Fighting Marines" by Frank Tinsley Fighting Marines Cartoon Strips: Frank Tinsley, 1945 Frank Tinsley, a well-known prewar pulp magazine illustrator, prepared a wartime comic strip featuring the exploits of Marine aviators. Marion Carl was the first Marine ace of World War II and scored 18.5 aerial victories. An outstanding post-war test pilot, he set a world speed record flying the Douglas D-558-1. Carl commanded the First Marine Brigade during the Vietnam War and retired as a major general. Capt. Joseph "Joe" Foss destroyed 26 Japanese aircraft and received the Medal of Honor. He later served two terms in the South Dakota legislature and was elected governor of that state.
7. SIAIMR_120120_154.JPG: John Glenn, STS-95, 29 Oct 98, Launch Day Henry Casselli, 1998 John Glenn became the oldest person to fly in space when he launched with the crew of STS-95 on board Space Shuttle Discovery on October 29, 1998.
8. SIAIMR_120120_168.JPG: New Challanges, New Capabilities: 1946-1962 A New Doctrine for a New Era: Thanks to its great success in World War II, the Marine Corps seemed to have a secure future. But the spread of atomic weapons made large-scale amphibious landings, such as those at Iwo Jima, no longer possible against a nuclear-armed foe. So the Marines embraced a new technology, the helicopter, and created the doctrine of "vertical envelopment" -- moving Marines ashore by air. The Korean War provided Marine aviation the chance to highlight the potential of its new doctrine and its helicopters. The Korean War: In Korea, the Marine air-ground team reached its full combat potential for the first time. Operating from austere air fields and small escort carriers, Marine fighters, helicopters, and transports provided round-the-clock support to Marines fighting to repel the North Korean forces. During the march to and from the Chosin Reservoir in the winter of 1950, Marine aviators served as a lifeline to thousands of Marines, soldiers, and civilians fighting their way through overwhelming numbers of Communist Chinese. At no point had the bond between Marine aviators and their fellow Marines on the ground been strong. Transforming the Force: Marine aviation underwent a great transformation between 1946 and 1962. The vertical envelopment doctrine led to the restructuring of the entire Marine Corps into a force that was lighter, more airmobile on the battlefield, and more dependent on air power. It discarded many fixed-wing aircraft in favor of helicopters, and such beloved propeller-driven fighters as the Corsair gave way to newer jet-powered aircraft. "The Chosin Reservoir thing was the proudest I had ever been of Marine aviation... because those guys were just flying around the clock, everything that would start and move. And [Marine] aviation's mood and commitment to that division [1st Marine Corps Division], my God, it was total. There was nothing that would have kept them off those targets -- nothing!" -- Lt. Gen. Leslie E. Brown, USMC
9. SIAIMR_120120_209.JPG: The Long War in Vietnam: 1962-1975: Proving the Doctrine: The Vietnam War proved the value of the Marines' vertical envelopment doctrine and the helicopter. Marine aviators engaged in action over Vietnam from Operation Shufly in April 1962 through the evacuation of Saigon in April 1975. Because of the nature of this sustained conflict, Marine aviation focused less on air superiority missions and more on the direct application of air power in support of Marines and allied ground forces. Places such as Da Nang, Chu Lai, Marble Mountain, and Khe Sahn became irrevocably linked to Marine aviation. A Relentless, Grueling Pace: By 1967, half of all Marine aviation units were supporting operations in Vietnam. During their 13-month tours, Marine helicopter pilots averaged over 1,000 sorties and often flew more than 15 hours a day. The never-ending need for fresh helicopter pilots led to extended combat tours, quicker rotations back to Vietnam, and even the forced transition of fixed-wing pilots to helicopters. Marines had to find creative solutions to the ongoing maintenance and logistical challenged of sustained round-the-clock flight operations. Ordnance shortages led to using bombs left over from previous wars. Training units were stripped of every available aircraft to replace combat losses. Fighting to the Bitter End: Marine fighters and attack aircraft flew thousands of close air support missions, sometimes delivering ordnance just yards from friendly troops. Marine electronic warfare aircraft supported Air Craft and Navy operations over the heavily defended skies of North Vietnam. Marine helicopters moved troops, supplies, and equipment across South Vietnam and, for a brief time, into Laos. Crews routinely flew during horrendous weather and into heavy enemy fire. Marine aviators and the enemy played an ongoing game of tactical cat and mouse. The Marines developed innovative flight formations and deployed fixed-wing and helicopter gunships to suppress anti-aircraft fire and cover transport helicopters into and out of landing zones. In the end, Marine helicopters lifted the last remaining American forces out of the country. "When it had to be truly light support I ALWAYS sought out Marine aircraft because I [knew] they could lay it in tight." -- Lt. Col. Wayne C. Anderson, USMC airborne forward air controller at Khe Sahn, 1968
10. SIAIMR_120120_313.JPG: "No Better Friend, No Worse Enemy": 1976-2012: Myriad Missions: Marine aviation emerged from Vietnam to face a tumultuous period of budget cuts and technological change. Their missions became more diverse. Whether rescuing American citizens and dependents, enforcing United Nations mandates, or providing emergency relief to the victims of natural disasters, Marine aviation had become a vital component of American foreign policy. Marines responded to many crises, both manmade and natural, in California, Haiti, Grenada, Beirut, Bosnia, Somalia, Liberia, Pakistan, and elsewhere. In the summer of 1990, more than half of the Marine Corps deployed to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield. As coalition forces repelled the Iraqi army from Kuwait, Marine helicopters closely supported the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force's drive to Kuwait City, while Marine attack aircraft struck Iraqi units behind the line of battle. Afghanistan and Iraq: Since October 2001, Marine aviation has supported operations against the Taliban and its allies in Afghanistan, where Marine units operate across large distances, often without mutual support and at the end of long and tenuous supply lines. The unique capability of Marine aviation to provide aerial support day and night for extended periods, while operating from basic forward bases, had proven crucial. In Iraq, as American-led forces removed Saddam Hussein from power, Marine aviation covered the 1st Marine Division [Reinforced] as it advanced into Baghdad. It then found innovative ways to face the challenges posed by the Iraqi insurgency. In both Afghanistan and Iraq, Marine aviation's ability to deliver humanitarian aid and enable local government officials to reach distance villages has been an effective weapon against terrorist forces. Modernizing the Fleet: Over the past four decades, Vietnam-era aircraft operated by the Marine Corps have been retired or modernized. New and more capable aircraft have entered the fleet, including the F/A-18 fighter-bomber; the AV-8A Harrier, the first American combat aircraft that can take off and land vertically; and the advanced AV-8B Harrier II. After a long and difficult development program, the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor made its first combat deployment in 2007. "The Marine Corps' ability to serve as our nation's Expeditionary Force in Readiness is built on a century of achievements in naval aviation. From our first forays into the skies to today. Marines have done what we always do: We respond to today's crisis, with today's forces, today!" -- Gen. James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps
11. SIAIMR_120120_326.JPG: Meeting Today's and Tomorrow's Challenges: For the past 100 years, whenever and wherever the Marine Corps had been ordered into action, Marine aviators and ground crews have stood ready to support their brother and sister Marines on the ground. As Marine aviation marks its centennial, it faces the daunting challenge of supporting a lengthy war while continuing to meet routine training and operational needs. Longer and more frequent deployments are consuming aircraft at rates faster than planned, and placing great emotional strain on Marines and their families. But Marine aviation's proven ability to embrace new ideas, find innovative uses for new technologies, and adapt to new situations has assured its success through the long fight.
12. SIAIMR_120120_400.JPG: The Marine Corps Art Program: Brig. Gen. Robert Denig initiated the Marine Corps Combat Air Program in 1942. Its mission: to keep Americans informed about what "their Marines" were doing at home and overseas. Managed today by the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the collection has grown to include over 350 artists and nearly 8,000 works of art. The collection is broad based and encompasses works from Marine combat artists, leading civilian illustrators and artists commissioned to paint significant events of Marine Corps history, original art for recruiting posters, and other gifts to the collection. The strength of the collection rests on the authentic and unvarnished focus these works have on individual Marines under the most trying of circumstances: war. Marine Corps combat artists continue to document the experiences of the Marines around the globe today. All of these artists have been given the same simple guidance since 1942: "Go to war, do art."
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