The Chamber is proud to offer a limited number of very special prints from a painting by our good friend Jack Lorusso, who passed away recently.  Proceeds from the sale of these signed and numbered prints will benefit Jack's favorite cause, his church -- Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Walton Beach.  These prints are available only through May, 2010 -- or until all have been sold.

The painting, called "Glory Bound," was painted by Jack as we prepared for our Doolittle Raiders Homecoming in 2008.  At that time, eleven of the surviving members of the Doolittle Raiders were invited to return to Fort Walton Beach and Eglin Air Force Base for a grand homecoming weekend.  It depicts six of the B-25s flying in formation over a rolling sea with a lovely pastel sky behind.  Below the image is a short narrative:

In the tense atmosphere after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked his military leaders to seek a way to strike back at the heart of Japan.  He wanted a daring air assault that would boost American morale and prove that the United States was capable of retaliation for the unprovoked attack.

Twenty-four crews were ordered to Eglin Field, Florida for training and preparation.  In March, 1942, these crews, together with ground maintenance proceeded to Eglin as rapidly as the B-25s could be converted and made available.  The first of them arrived on the 27^th of February and the rest shortly afterwards.  The nature of the mission was officially made known to them there, and those who did not feel that they should go were offered the chance to withdraw.  There were no takers on the withdrawal offer. 

Flags were spotted along the training runways at every 100 feet so the crews could find the best techniques for a successful short distance take off.  Considerable time was spent in practicing bomb runs over the Gulf of Mexico at minimum altitude.  Many Florida coast towers were subjected to vigorous low altitude dry run attacks.  The numerous complaining telephone calls to the commander at Eglin Field gave evidence to the enthusiasm displayed by the pilots during this particular practice.

On April 1942, the training was put into effect as the crews took off the Navy carrier Hornet, destination Tokyo.  Their mission, later known as the Doolittle Raid, became the psychological turning point of WWII, dramatically improving American morale and forcing the Japanese to change their war strategies. 

Each purchase will include a special bonus image, "The Green Hornet," by artist Jay Ashurst.  The Green Hornet was plane No. 6 on Doolittle's epic raid on Japan.  It is a 20" by 16" print on heavy vellum. 

The proceeds from the sale of these very special prints will be a memorial donation in Jack Lorusso's name to his church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. 

Please contact the Chamber with questions or to purchase one of these unique items.  Tedcorcoran(at)fwbchamber.org or call Mr. Corcoran at 850-244-8191. 

This is a 16" by 20" limited edition (run of 200), numbered print signed by the artist.  It is on heavy vellum and is of excellent quality.

The price for this print is $25 each ($23.58 + $1.42 tax).

This is the same size and quality print, signed by the artist (not numbered).  It also bears the original signature of Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole, Doolittle's co-pilot. 

The price for these prints is $50 each ($47.17 + $2.83 tax).