Steve Ferguson (B. 1946) "F-15C Eagle Airplane" Signed lower left. Original Mixed Media on Illustration Board painting. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover with the U.S. 29c Flag stamp issued July 27, 1992. In the early morning hours of January 17, 1991, Capt Robert Graeter, based in Saudi Arabia with the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW), initiated his take-off and guided his F-15 Eagle toward western Iraq. Graeter was flying a fighter sweep over a battlefield area when three French-built Iraqi Mirage F-1 fighters scrambled from a forward dispersal airfield ahead. Graeter locked his radar onto the bandit and fired one "Sparrow" air-to-air missile at his target. A huge fireball confirmed the direct hit. Fifteen seconds later, the second bandit plummeted into the ground and exploded. The remaining Mirage turned tail and ran. Although a pilot from the 1st TFW was credited with the first air-to-air hit of the war, the pilots of the 58th TFS were the highest scoring squadron of the Persian Gulf War. Image Size: 16.5 x 13.75 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B13204)