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Please note that our logo is used on our website images only and does not appear on our products. Jaws of the Dragon by Stan Stokes. (B) The Republic F-105 Thunderchief, or Thud, as it was nicknamed by many of the pilots who flew it, was conceived as a supersonic, low altitude fighter-bomber capable of carrying a nuclear weapon in its internal bomb bay and two more on its wing stations. The F-105 evolved from a proposal made by Republic to the USAF in 1952. A series of delays, cancellations, spec changes, and other problems resulted in a very long gestation period for this aircraft, with initial production models not reaching operational units until 1958. The Thud was a big, powerful aircraft. With a length of 65 feet and a height of 20 feet, the F-105 would typically fly combat missions with a gross weight at takeoff in excess of 50,000 pounds. Although the F-105 was fortunately never utilized for the nuclear mission it was designed for, it did become the primary tactical bomber utilized by the USAF during the Vietnam War. In fact, the Thud flew more than 75% of all the bombing sorties directed at North Vietnam during the War. The Ham Rong Bridge in North Vietnam was a frequent target for F-105s. Ham Rong translates into English as Dragons Jaws, and this very important north-south rail and highway line was a vital supply link in allowing the North Vietnamese to send streams of men and materials south. The Ham Rong Bridge was 546 feet long and was 56 feet wide. It took eight years to build this incredibly sturdy bridge and Ho Chi Minh himself dedicated the bridge in 1964. SAMs and antiaircraft batteries heavily defended it. Living up to its name, the bridge was one of the most punishing targets to attack, and many American aircraft and pilots were lost during the numerous attacks on the Dragons Jaws. From 1965 to 1968 almost seven hundred aircraft had attacked the bridge, hitting it with more than 10,000 tons of high explosives. Despite these attacks, repair crews worked around the clock, and the bridge remained usable. Rockets proved ineffective and only direct hits with large bombs were likely to do any serious damage. Recognizing this, the North Vietnamese knew that American fighter-bombers would have to pass directly over the Dragons Jaws to release their bombs. A wall of antiaircraft fire would be directed directly over the bridge during such attacks, and a horrific toll was exacted on attacking American aircraft. In Stan Stokes painting an F-105 piloted by Fred V. Cherry is depicted during an attack on the Ham Rong Bridge. Col. Cherry was shot down in October of 1965 and remained a POW until 1973. He retired from the Air Force in 1981. The Dragons Jaw stood as a symbol of North Vietnamese resistance until it was finally destroyed by a laser-guided, smart bomb in 1972. Item Code : STK0047B Jaws of the Dragon by Stan Stokes. (B) - This Edition TYPE EDITION DETAILS SIZE SIGNATURES OFFERS YOUR PRICE PURCHASING PRINT 225 prints from the signed limited edition of 4750 prints, with signature of Stan Stokes and pilot, and a remarque. Image size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Cherry, Fred V + Artist : Stan Stokes Signature(s) value alone : £50 £20 Off! Now : £120.00 All prices on our website are displayed in British Pounds Sterling

Other editions of this item : Jaws of the Dragon by Stan Stokes. STK0047 TYPE EDITION DETAILS SIZE SIGNATURES OFFERS YOUR PRICE PURCHASING PRINT Signed limited edition of 4750 prints. Supplied with signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. Print size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Artist : Stan Stokes £15 Off! Now : £35.00 VIEW EDITION... PRINT Limited edition of 100 giclee art prints. Just two of this print edition now available. Size 21 inches x 14 inches (53cm x 36cm) Artist : Stan Stokes £150.00 VIEW EDITION... PRINT Prints from the 225 prints from the signed limited edition of 4750 prints, with signature of Stan Stokes and pilot. Image size 16 inches x 11.5 inches (41cm x 30cm) Cherry, Fred V + Artist : Stan Stokes Signature(s) value alone : £50 £20 Off! Now : £100.00 VIEW EDITION... GICLEE CANVAS Limited edition of 100 giclee canvas prints. Size 27 inches x 18 inches (69cm x 46cm) none £294.00 VIEW EDITION... General descriptions of types of editions :

Extra Details : Jaws of the Dragon by Stan Stokes. (B)

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Signatures on this item
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
Name	Info
Col Fred V Cherry USAF (deceased) *Signature Value : £50	Born in Suffolk, Virginia in 1928, Fred Cherry graduated from Virginia Union University (Biology Major) in 1951. He entered the USAF in 1951 and went through basic airman training at Sampson Air Force Base in Ithaca, New York. In October of that year he commenced pilot training at Malden, Missouri with later studies at Dennison/Sherman, Texas. At Webb AF13 in Texas he successfully completed Jet Fighter Pilot training and was commissioned at Second Lieutenant in October of 1952. Ten more weeks of intensive combat training ensued, after which Cherry was assigned to the 3 1 01h Fighter Bomber Squadron of the 58 th Fighter Bomber Group. He flew more than fifty combat sorties over North Korea piloting F84Gs prior to the end of hostilities in 1953. From early 1954 until August of 1958 Cherry served stateside with a number of units including the 407 th Strategic Fighter Squadron (F-84s) and the 506 h Tactical Fighter Wing (F- 1 00s.) After a short tour to Germany, Fred returned home as a full time combat crew training inspector at Luke AFB. He then served a two-year tour in Japan with the 35h Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 8h Tactical Fighter Wing where he flew F-100s. As the War in Vietnam escalated, Cherry was assigned to the 35 th Tactical Fighter Squadron, where he flew 52 combat missions while piloting the F-105D. On his last mission over North Vietnam he was shot down on October 22, 1965. He was immediately captured after surviving ejection from his F-105. He remained a prisoner of war in North Vietnam from October 1965 until February of 1973. With the end of hostilities and the return of our POWs, Fred Cherry returned to the States. He attended the National War College in 1973-74, and the Defense Intelligence School the year after. He was assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency from June 1974 until September 1981. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Fred has had an active civilian professional career. He served as the Director of Technical Support Services for E.H. White & Co. in Washington, DC from 1982-87, and as Marketing Manager for Data Transformation Corp. after 1987. Fred Cherry's 30plus military awards and decorations include the Air Force Cross, the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, the Air Force Commendation, the Meritorious Service Award, two President Unit Citations, and a Distinguished Unit Citation. Col. Cherry was commissioned by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the Korean War Veteran's Memorial Advisory Board. He also received the Award for Outstanding Service to the Military Community from the Tuskegee Ainnen. Cherry has been an active member of the Kiwanis International as well as the Masonic Lodge. He resides in the Washington, DC area and is currently President and CEO of Cherry Engineering Support Services. Inc. The Cherry's are blessed with six children, and eleven grandchildren. He died on 16th February 2016.