Blackjack's New Scouts by James Dietz
Limited Edition Print - Public Edition
Edition Size: 750
Image Size: 16 1/2"h x 26"w
Hand signed and numbered by the artist, James Dietz.
Includes certificate of authenticity.
On March 9, 1916, Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa and 500 of his Villistas attacked the border town of Columbus, New Mexico. The United States responded by immediately dispatching U.S. Army forces under the command of General John J. "Blackjack" Pershing to avenge the border penetration and capture the bandit Villa. Pershing deployed eight Curtiss JN-2s of the First Aero Squadron for use as scouts in the mountainous Mexican territory to which Villa and his men had fled.
The Jennys were ill suited for their mission and very soon the combination of fragile aircraft in harsh operating conditions began to take its toll. In all, the aircraft logged only some 400 hours and were never able to perform the duty that Pershing had hoped for.