Shannon Stirnweis (B. 1931) "Japanese Defeated at Truk" Signed lower left. Original Oil painting on Illustration Board. This painting originally appeared on the Republic of the Marshall Islands 29c Japanese Defeated at Truk 1944 stamp issued February 17, 1994. Just 10 hours from Tokyo, Truk was a major Japanese stronghold -- one reputed to be invincible. Yet planes from U.S. carriers quickly disproved that myth, eliminating more than a dozen Japanese warships, over 270 aircraft and a number of merchant vessels in a potent two-day raid. U.S. losses were minor by comparison -- only about two dozen aircraft. The 50,000-man Japanese garrison on Truk was left virtually untouched, yet without a means of easily leaving the atoll. Thus, what might have been a real threat to Allied forces in the Pacific was quickly and effectively neutralized. The painting portrays victorious U.S. Admiral Spruance and Vice Admiral Mitscher above an American torpedo plane. Below is a Japanese freighter being devoured by flames in Truk lagoon. Image Size: 22.25 x 15.5 in. Overall Size: 25.75 x 18.75 in. Unframed. (B14578)