On the flight deck of an aircraft carrier, a catapult officer in a green jersey and goggled helmet stretches one gloved hand high. Behind him a white jet with a yellow tail sits on the catapult, its pilot waiting in the cockpit, while a second crewman crouches by the wing. In the foreground a sailor with Navy Catapult Crew stencilled across his back raises his hand to his helmet. Across the sky: Go With the Bold Ones.
What the poster shows
The painting is loose and fast, all bold brush strokes and blown spray, catching the noise and wind of a launch. The green jerseys are accurate: on U.S. carriers, catapult and arresting gear crews wear green. The jet, with its high wing and chin air intake, resembles a Vought F-8 Crusader, a carrier fighter flown over Vietnam at the time.
A 1966 recruiting poster
The poster was printed for Navy recruiting in 1966, as the Vietnam War escalated; its printing code, RAD 66506, points to that year. The emblem in the corner, a flag inside a ring of thirteen stars beside the word Navy, was the recruiting logo of the period. The poster is unsigned but is usually attributed to Lou Nolan, who painted many Navy recruiting posters in these years.
The restored edition
Our edition was restored from an original 1966 print: the paper and colours cleaned, and creases, stains and wear removed, with the lettering and the Navy emblem kept. We don’t have a usable scan of this print before restoration, so there is no before and after comparison.
The restored poster is available as a paper print in three sizes or framed in black, white or natural wood, printed to order in the USA.
Frequently asked questions
When was Go With the Bold Ones made?
In 1966. The printing code on original copies, RAD 66506, points to that year.
Who painted it?
It is unsigned, but it is usually attributed to Lou Nolan, who painted many Navy recruiting posters in the 1950s and 1960s.
Why are the crew wearing green?
On U.S. aircraft carriers, the colour of a crewman’s jersey shows his job. Catapult and arresting gear crews wear green.
What aircraft is shown?
The white jet with a chin air intake resembles a Vought F-8 Crusader, a Navy carrier fighter of the 1960s.
How big is the restored print?
Our restored edition is available as a paper print up to 23.4 x 33.1 inches, or framed up to 23 x 33 inches, printed to order in the USA.