Much as once a week I like to take time off to cover warships (Wednesdays), on Sunday, I like to cover military art and the painters, illustrators, sculptors, and the like that produced them.
Combat Gallery Sunday : And we have yet more Mort!
As you are probably aware, I am a huge pulp art and military art fan. One of the best there ever was in the business is the famous Mort Kunstler (official site) — America’s Artist.
In the past I’ve posted several of the Master’s works in the pulp art category from the 1950-60s and have found enough (new to me) ones to make a fifth extensive post. As always with this blog, “click to big up” and feel free to save for posterity.
Without further “adoo”…bring on the Mort!
Mort Kunstler. Not sure the cover, but this looks like the best possible outcome for this lost British paratrooper
Mort Kunstler, Strange Suicide Crate, Male cover, September, 1961, Via Heritage Auctions The image is one excellent depiction of a German Ju-88 “mistle” (mistletoe) bomber slaved to a Me-109 fighter, likely seen attacking the Oder bridges in 1945
Mort Kunstler
Mort Kunstler, Saigon Sally’s Sin Barracks, For Men Only magazine cover, May 1965. Via Heritage Auctions. Mort did very little Vietnam work, so this one is rare– and you have to love the AKMS by the bed, although the use of the Tommy gun is largely an anachronism.
Mort Kunstler, another Vietnam installment
Mort Kunstler, The Stubborn Leatherneck Who Took China Wall, Men cover, March, 1960. Via Heritage Auctions. A great depiction of the Boxer Rebellion relief expedition in 1900 that saw unlikely allies of the U.S., Japan, France, Germany, Imperial Russia (note the Tsarist dragoon being helped out by the Marine) and Austria unite for a common purpose– screwing China.
Mort Kunstler
Mort Kunstler. Art for the movie poster of “The Bedford Incident,” later used for Male cover, September, 1964. The funny thing was that a British destroyer, HMS Troubridge, actually filled in for the fictional USS Bedford in the movie
Mort Kunstler
Mort Kunstler, The G. I. s Who Took Over Germany’s Castle, Stag cover, January, 1968. Via Heritage Auction
Mort Kunstler showing U.S. Army Air Force B-25 Mitchell gunships coming in low and slow over a Japanese port in WWII. The B-25H, with as many as 18 x .50 caliber machine guns as well as a 75mm cannon were the premier ship-busters of the Pacific.
Mort Kunstler, Only 17 Survived the Atrocity Sub, Stag cover, October, 1963. Via Heritage Auctions.
Mort Kunstler aka Emmett Kaye. Cold War art showing a SH-3 Sea King overhead of the Polaris ‘Boomer” USS Ethan Allen (SSBN-608) and an undisclosed Soviet sub
Mort Kunstler, America’s Worst Naval Defeat, Stag cover, May, 1963. Via Heritage Auctions. Depicting what is likely the 1942 Battle of Salvo Island– although the central ship, the Gearing-class destroyer USS William Rush (DD-714) wasn’t actually commissioned until 1946 and, with the exception of some brief naval gunfire support in Korea, led a charmed and peaceful life.
Mort Kunstler. Showing USAF HH-3 Jolly Greens fighting it out with persons unknown on the Empire State building
Mort Kunstler. Men in Combat cover. Via Heritage Auctions
Mort Kunstler. More Cold War art showing a RAF Avro Vulcan in 1960s scheme coming in low over Moscow, with the Kremlin just ahead.
Mort Kunstler, 1,000 to 1 Shot of Guy Gibson’s Dam Busters,, February 1962. Via Heritage Auctions
Mort Kunstler. Navy Skyraiders and a great flare gun.
Mort Kunstler. Hey be careful with that hand buddy…
Mort Kunstler
Mort Kunstler. Reckless Commando Raid, Male cover, c. 1958. This is a much more correct use of the Thompson submachine gun as the British Commandos loved the controllable but effective room broom for up-close work Winston’s ungentlemanly fighters relished. Via Heritage Auctions.
Mort Kunstler. Who really stops at Soviet border crossings anyway? Bunch of crybabys is who.
Mort Kunstler. Prisoner, Stag cover, June 1960– note the great BAR although I don’t think those hot-pants are official Imperial issue, also, how is the BAR gunner suspended in mid-air?. Via Heritage Auctions A
Mort Kunstler
Mort Kunstler. The Marine Who Hid the Pacific’s 12 Most Wanted Women, Men Only cover, April 1961. Via Heritage Auction. He really did like Tommy guns and titties didn’t he? I guess that’s the magic pulp formula.
Mort Kunstler. Wipe Out the 11th Panzer Division, Stag magazine, True Books Bonus story illustration. Via Heritage Auction The 11th, who saw heavy action on the Eastern Front, had been sent West around the D-Day period and, up until Ramagen Bridge, was perhaps the strongest Wehrmacht tank unit in Western Europe.
Thank you for your work, sir.
