More Information on the Cover Art of my Book

Clifford Puckett poses next to his ball turret in this U.S. Army Air Corps photo. Clifford was Kathy Puckett Herbert's father, and Kathy emailed me today with more information about the William Phillips painting on the cover of my book Untold Valor.

I received an email today from Kathy Puckett Herbert, whose late father, Clifford Puckett, was a gunner on the B-17 'Betty Boop/The Pistol Packin' Mama', the 390th Bomb Group B-17 that graces the cover of my book 'Untold Valor'. Kathy and I have been in touch for some time, but she gave me information about the painting that I never knew before, so I'm sharing it with blog readers. Her message follows:

"This was taken from an actual photo. My dad is on the plane during this mission. He is the Turret gunner. All of us (his children) were given a print (signed by four remaining crew members) to hang in our homes. The picture is absolutely gorgeous! My brother, I believe has this original photo. Thank you Rob for using this for the cover of your book!. William Phillips is a great Artist! Best wishes to you all, Kathy"

I had no idea that the painting by Bill Phillips was from a photo. I am very sad that I never got to meet Clifford Puckett the way I was able to meet Gus Mencow the navigator. And I had only brief conversations with pilot James Geary and gunner Shirl Hoffman. Gus and James are no longer with us, but as far as I know Shirl is.

The Story of a Painting

I was instantly mesmerized by this beautiful painting by Bill Phillips. Not only are the P-47s and the B-17 Pistol Packin' Mama presented in realistic detail, but the ethereal background, with the sun's rays reaching from behing the clouds to reflect off the English Channel, shows the work of a man who loves not only planes, but all the elements of the earth as well. Note the White Cliffs of Dover in the distance, and how one of the plane's engines has been feathered. Bill's painting as it appears on my book. The painting has been turned into a wrap-around, with the left-hand side extending across the spine and onto the back of the book.

Anyone who has read my book knows that William Phillips' amazing painting 'When Prayers are Answered" is the cover art of the book. The story behind how this painting became the cover art is really pretty interesting.

In 2002, I flew to Boston to visit several men who flew B-17 bombers over Europe in World War Two. I was completely unknown in the field, had zero books to my credit, but the two vets, Gus Mencow and Maurice Rockett, graciously accepted me into their homes and shared their stories with me. While I was staying at the home of Gus Mencow in Worcester, Massachusetts, Gus showed me a print he'd framed and hung in a place of honor in his home. It was William Phillips' 'When Prayers are Answered' and it showed Gus's B-17 "Betty Boop/The Pistol Packin' Mama" coming home to the white cliffs of Dover after a mission. I immediately thought that the painting would be the ideal cover for my book.

Back in Idaho, I contacted the artist, William Phillips. Bill is one of the world's top aviation artists. His paintings sell for thousands, and his prints sell in the high hundreds. Coincidentally, Bill lived in the same town as my parents in Oregon. I told Bill I would love to use his painting, but that I would not be able to pay him very much. Bill graciously wrote back that as long as I sent him a signed copy of the book, he would let me use the painting for free. Remember, this was at a time when I had never published a book. It was strictly out of the goodness of his heart.

Well, the book has gone on to have four pressings to date, selling around 8,000 copies, and Bill's art has been on every one of the books. I think the art on the cover of a book is a big part of getting someone to pick up and consider buying the book, so I give lots of credit to Bill Phillips for his kindness many years ago. Bill, by the way, was the artist on a series of stamps released by the United States Postal Service a few years back--a series that was so successful that it sold out in a few months and is now highly collectible.

One of the best-selling postal releases in recent years, this series by William Phillips celebrated advances in American aviation.

The print of "When Prayers are Answered", signed by the crew, including Gus Mencow, sells these days for at least $600, but someday, I will have one hanging in a place of honor in my home, just like Gus Mencow did back so many years ago.

Gus is no longer on this earth, but his memory will never die as long as I'm around.