My current project that I am working on is titled "Sundown for Bougainville Corsairs."

http://stratoart.blogspot.com/

The scene is set in the years between 1943 and 1944 with Ace Lt. JG. Ira Kepford's famous #29 F4U-1A Corsair.

'He won his first Distinguished Flying Cross for an aerial battle over the Solomon Islands, his squadron confronted 100 enemy aircraft. The citation read: ``In the ensuing attack, Ens. Kepford pressed his attack with such determination that he succeeded in destroying four enemy bombing planes and severely damaged another. He repeatedly went down through anti-aircraft fire to press his attack to completion. He also participated in 48 other combat missions, six of which were opposed by intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire.'

He had shot down a total of 16 enemy aircraft, the highest number of any ace in the U.S. Navy, when he returned home to a hero`s welcome in 1944.

He received two Navy Crosses, the award second only to the Congressional Medal of Honor for naval personnel. The Northwestern University Alumni Association in 1944 awarded him its top honor." (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-01-21/news/8701060217_1_rexall-navy-fighter-pilot-aircraft)

http://acepilots.com/usn_aces2.html/

This piece, "Sundown for Bougainville Corsairs" paints a scene of one of America's top Ace who flew with the fighter squadron, VF-17, during a routine patrol over the Solomon Islands.

The other plane in the background will be Roger Hedrick's.