From the estate of Ensign George H. Gay these classic high quality Battle of Midway Sole Survivor aviation art prints are now almost 30 years old and were found still in mint condition after being in storage for many years. They have been stored flat in acid free materials and have never been framed.

 Each Sole Survivor aviation art print was signed in pencil by late Ensign George H. Gay and Signed and numbered in pencil by the late artist William J. Reynolds. The overall Dimensions are 23 ¾ inches wide by 21 ¾ inches high and the Edition size was only 1000. Each print comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a Letter of Origin signed by the Grandson of Ensign George H. Gay. 

The Artist, the late William J. Reynolds (1918-2008) was born in New Orleans, LA. on June 4th, 1918. He learned to fly in 1939 while a student at St. Edward's University, Austin, Texas.  After graduation from college in June 1941, he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet.  Following graduation from flight school in June 1942, Reynolds served as a fighter pilot, flying the P-40 in the 49th fighter group stationed in New Guinea, S.W. Pacific area.  Mr. Reynolds was a self taught artist, and had been painting since his college days, he had a natural talent that he had developed since his childhood.  While in college he was commissioned to do the drawing for one volume of a 7 volume Catholic history of Texas. The originals are in the Papal Library in Rome.

 As an artist, he was best known for his aviation works. His many varied experiences in aviation gave him a sincere respect and love of flying that was translated in to his canvas. Reynolds had been commissioned to paint many historic aerospace scenes and two each year for the National Congress on Aerospace Education. 

 Mr. Reynolds limited edition signed prints have been sold in a number of galleries across the United States including the bookstore at the National Air and Space Museum. He had produced more than 400 original works of art in his lifetime. In 1995, the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees formally approved the establishment of the William J. Reynolds Gallery at the University of South Carolina Sumter and on Oct. 14, 1997, the Gallery was formally dedicated. Displayed are many of his original oils and more than 50 prints of his original oil paintings.

 Mr. Reynolds was a member of the American Association of Aviation Artists and the American Society for Aerospace Education, where he was elected to the Society's Hall of Honor in 1981. He was a charter member of the Air Force Association, which awarded him a Citation of Honor for military aviation art in 1985. He also received a Certificate of Honor from the National Aeronautic Association in 1994; and was elected as an honorary member of the Order of Daedalians, America's premiere organization of military fighter pilots, in 1997.