| “Naval Battle off Santa Isabel Island” by Yasuo Kobori (1902 – 1970). This 1943 painting is exhibited in The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Propaganda as expressed in traditional expression of Japanese art. The actual painting is 62.4 by 100.6 inches (158.5 by 255.5 centimeters). Here the artist has depicted Aichi D3A “Val” Type 99 Carrier Bombers engaging United States Navy warships. Aichi D3A “Vals” sank Clemson-class destroyers USS Edsall (DD-219), USS Pope (DD-225) and USS Peary (DD-226) during early 1942. They resemble the ship in the painting. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy established a seaplane base at Rekata Bay on the northeast coast of Santa Isabel Island in the Solomons. The base was bombed by American forces from August 1942 to August 1943. In the following month, the Japanese evacuated the base. Large bomb craters can still be seen near the former Japanese base. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2113.jpg |
| Image Size | 454.99 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 2500 x 1537 |
| Photographer | Yasuo Kobori |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 1, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | Tokyo |
| State or Province | Tokyo |
| Country | Japan |
| Archive | The National Museum of Modern Art,Tokyo |
| Record Number | X00011 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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