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American Aviation Art
America-Art-Prints  Aviation Art |
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Aviation art prints of the United States Air Force by renowned aviation artists. |
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Eagles Return by Richard Taylor. Ace pilot, Bud Anderson leads P-51 Mustangs of the 357th Fighter Group back to their base in England, after a Bomber escort mission over occupied Europe in late 1944. |
Hell Below Us by Ivan Berryman. Douglas C-47s of the 439th Troop Carrier Group from Upottery, East Devon, try to hold steady amid a barrage of flak and anti aircraft fire as troops of 101st jump into the unknown above Normandy on the night of 5th / 6th June 1944. These aircraft are of the 94th Troop Carrier Squadron. |
D-Day Invaders by Stan Stokes. You are about to embark on the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other fronts, you will bring the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. These were the final words of Supreme Commander Eisenhower to the huge force assembled in June of 1944 on the eve of D-Day. Parachute infantry units would play an important role on D-Day. Although Billy Mitchell had contemplated forming airborne military forces during WW I, it was not until May of 1939 that the United States commenced a study regarding the feasibility of creating an air infantry. By 1940 an all-volunteer test platoon had been organized at Ft. Benning, Georgia. As the threat of War continued, the Army began experimenting with gliders in mid-1941. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Army established Parachute Infantry Battalions, and by early 1943 an Airborne Command was organized as well as an Air Transport Command to facilitate the training of air crews necessary for the deployment of airborne forces. By mid-1942 authorization was received to form two airborne divisions the 82nd and the 101st. With a strength of about 8,000 men, these divisions were about half the normal strength of an infantry division. The first major test for Americas new airborne forces came in North Africa during operation TORCH where the 1st Battalion of the 503rd Infantry was deployed. The 82nd Airborne was later successfully deployed during the invasion of Sicily. Operation OVERLORD, the code name for the D-Day invasion, included both of Americas Airborne Divisions as well as the British 6th Airborne Division. The plan called for numerous parachute jumps and glider landings during the evening prior to the invasion. Supplemental jumps or landings would take place later during daylight hours to reinforce these troops and bring in supplies. Although eighteen aircraft were utilized as pathfinders, the evening jumps were highly scattered and off target in many cases. Despite the massive difficulty in reassembling, the troops of the 101st and 82nd performed their missions with distinction. By June 9 nearly all airborne objectives had been secured despite heavy casualties. Both the 101st and the 82nd each lost about 1,200 men killed-in-action. By occupying German forces behind the invasion front, these airborne forces saved the lives of many on the beaches at Normandy. The 101st and 82nd Divisions continued fighting until mid-July when they were pulled back to England. During these hectic weeks of fighting casualty rates were in excess of 50%. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting, which is dedicated to all those who participated in the Great Crusade, a C-47 Skytrain (bearing white and black invasion stripes) passes over the beaches of Normandy following a drop behind enemy lines on June 6, 1944. |
Tactical Support by Richard Taylor. With bright yellow spinners and distinctive twin-booms glinting in the June sunshine, two P-38 Lockheed Lightnings of the USAAFs 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group hurtle low over Pegasus Bridge as they race across the Normandy landscape shortly after the D-Day landings, June 1944. Flying from their base at Kings Cliffe in Cambridgeshire they have today been tasked to support the advancing allied forces; they will strafe and bomb the enemy lines, destroying enemy communications, armour and ground targets, causing as much chaos and disruption as they can. Dangerous work, these low-level missions, but tasks that the tough P-38 pilots relish. A few days before, the bridge below had witnessed a very different scene. The first action on D-Day happened here when, moments after midnight on the night of 5th - 6th June, three gliders swooped silently from the sky to land within yards of their target - this vital road bridge across the Caen canal. Major John Howard and men of the 6th British Airborne Division were to seize and hold this strategic point. After a brief but furious fire-fight the stunned German defenders were overwhelmed and the bridge captured. The Invasion of France had begun, and for the Germans it was the beginning of the end. Hitlers much vaunted armies had begun their slow bitter retreat to the end that was the burning hell of Berlin. When it came to hammering German ground forces in the days after D-Day, Lockheeds outstanding P-38 Lightning gained an awesome reputation. Richard Taylors evocative new painting recreates the scene over Pegasus Bridge shortly after D-Day as a pair of P-38 Lightnings thunder inland in support of the advancing allied armies. Below, signs of the recent action are still plainly visible as trucks and their exhausted drivers hasten back to the beach-head to collect reinforcements. |
Dawn Departure, Arnhem by Geoff Lea. British paratroopers board a Dakota in preparation for Operation Market Garden, the assault on Arnhem. |
Nine O Nine by Philip West. Nine O Nine awaits her next mission over occupied Europe. Part of the 91st Bomb Group, 323rd Squadron, this B-17 went on to complete a record mission tally of 140 without an abort or loss of a single crew member. She started operations in February 1944. By April 1945 Nine O Nine had flown an extraordinary 1,129 hours. This aircraft and crew represented just one of many who fought in war-torn skies for the freedom we now enjoy. |
Safe by Keith Woodcock. Ground crew rush to the assistance of an 8th Airforce Consolidated B24D Liberator as it slides to a halt after an emergency landing at an English airfield following damage sustained during a mission over Germany. This picture won Best Painting at The American Society of Aviation Artists in 1998. |
Mustangs on the Prowl by Robert Taylor. Between 3 and 13 September 1944, the 55th Fighter Group flew eight arduous, highly successful, bomber escort missions to Germany for which the group received a Distinguished Unit Citation. Like those the group had flown before, and would fly again and again until the end of hostilities, each mission took them deep into enemy airspace, involved desperate combat with Luftwaffe fighters, and culminated in rapid descent to low level to strafe enemy airfields on the way home. In that ten day period of intense fighting the 55th covered themselves in glory, destroying large numbers of enemy fighters in the air and on the ground, one of their pilots becoming the top-scoring ground attack pilot of the campaign. Long-range combat missions were typical of the assignments flown by the fighters of the 8th Air Force during that period of the air war. Not content with dog-fighting at altitude, when escort duty was complete, the Eighths aggressive fighter pilots relished the opportunity to hurtle down to tree-top height and, ignoring the inevitable barrage of anti-aircraft fire, shoot up any target of opportunity upon which they could bring their guns to bear. Robert Taylors spectacular new limited edition print, the third in his acclaimed Collector Portfolio commemorating the great Air Commands of World War II, depicts the king of the Eighths ground attack Aces, Colonel Elwyn Righetti. Flying his P-51D Mustang, the 55ths CO of 338 Squadron, already with 20 plus victories to his credit, leads his pilots through the Rhine Gorge, skimming the ancient Castle of Stahleck standing above Bacharach, as they seek out enemy targets on their way back to base at Wormingford, England, in the spring of 1945. A classic Robert Taylor edition endorsed with the signatures of Aces who flew and fought the legendary P-51 Mustang in the greatest air war in history. |
Scramble for the Marianas by Nicolas Trudgian. On June 19, 1944 American Navy pilots ripped into wave after wave of enemy aircraft. As each new onslaught arrived there were more fighters there to meet them. Other squadrons joined in the melee and the radio circuits crackled with shouts and cries of encouragement. Hell this is like an old time turkey shoot! yelled one pilot - and thus the battle became known as the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. By the late afternoon two Japanese carriers had been sunk by submarines, and an incredible 373 enemy planes shot down. The U.S. Navy pilots had won an historic victory. Seen hurtling off the deck of the U.S.S. Lexington is the F6F Hellcat of Lt. Alex Vraciu of Fighting Squadron VF-16. With 12 victories already to his credit, Vraciu would add a further 6 to his tally in the space of just 8 minutes on that momentous day. |
Too Little Too Late by Stan Stokes. Heinz Bar joined JG 51 in 1939 as a non-officer pilot. By August of 1940 he had become the highest scoring non-officer pilot in the Luftwaffe. Although shot down once during the Battle of Britain, Bar survived, and was later transferred to the Eastern Front. He received his commission and by the end of 1941 had chalked up 91 victories. By mid-1942, with 113 victories, he was promoted to Hauptman and made Group Commander of I/JG 77. Flying out of Sicily he participated in the siege of Malta, and later was shifted to North Africa where he obtained another 61 victories. With his health suffering, Heinz was reassigned to Germany, where he flew interception missions against the steady onslaught of Eighth Air Force bombers. With his victory total at 202, Bar was put in command of JG 3 and later III/EJG2, a unit equipped with the Me-262 jet fighter. He obtained 16 victories in March and April of 1945 while piloting the 262, making him the top jet ace of WW II. His record for victories in a jet stands until this day, having been equaled in Korea by Capt. Joseph McConnell. Bars final victory count of 220 made him the eighth highest scoring ace of all time. He was killed after the War in a flying accident. The Messerschmitt Me-262 Swallow, a masterpiece of engineering, was the first operational mass-produced jet to see service. Prototype testing of the airframe commenced in 1941 utilizing a piston engine. General Adolf Galland, who was in charge of the German Fighter Forces at that time, pressured both Goring and Hitler to accelerate the Me-262, and stress its use as a fighter to defend Germany from Allied bombers. Hitler, however, envisioned the 262 as the aircraft which might allow him to inflict punishment on Britain. About 1400 Swallows were produced, but fortunately for the Allies, only about 300 saw combat duty. While the original plans for the 262 presumed the use of BMW jet engines, production Swallows were ultimately equipped with Jumo 004B turbojet engines. The wing design of the 262 necessitated the unique triangular hull section of the fuselage, giving the aircraft a shark-like appearance. With an 18 degree swept wing, the 262 was capable of Mach .86. The 262 was totally ineffective in a turning duel with Allied fighters, and was also vulnerable to attack during take off and landings. The landing gear was also suspect, and many 262s were destroyed or damaged due to landing gear failure. Despite its sleek jet-age appearance, the 262 was roughly manufactured, because Germany had lost access to its normal aircraft assembly plants. In spite of these drawbacks the 262 was effective. For example, on April 7, 1945 a force of sixty 262s took on a large force of Allied bombers with escort fighters. Armed with their four nose-mounted cannons, and underwing rockets the Swallows succeeded in downing or damaging 25 Allied B-17s on that single mission. While it is unlikely that the outcome of the War could have been altered by an earlier introduction or greater production totals for this aircraft, it is clear to many historians that the duration of the War might have been drastically lengthened if the Me-262 had not been too little too late. |
B-17 Flying Fortress by Nicolas Trudgian. Part of a small print series of six American WW2 aircraft, signed by some of the great American pilots, some no longer with us. Cranston Fine Arts have purchased the last remaining stocks of this aviation series. |
Red Tail Patrol by Richard Taylor. P-51 Mustangs of the Tuskegee Airmen, high over enemy territory, returning from yet another successful bomber escort mission. |
World Cruisers by Stan Stokes. On April 6, 1924 the US Army Air Service began the first successful aerial circumnavigation of the World by heavier-than-air aircraft. Planning for this mission began in early 1923. Aware that a failure would bring negative publicity to the fledgling air service, the Army mustered a lot of resources to make this event succeed. The most suitable aircraft available for the mission was a Douglas DT-2, a Navy torpedo bomber. After modifying the aircraft for the epic journey the aircraft were designated Douglas World Cruisers. With only one engine, this two seat airplane, might at first appear to be an unusual selection, but the DT-2s were rugged, had an excellent reliability record, and could be quickly reconfigured from landing gear to floats. With the lack of suitable airfields for the trip, the use of floats would be mandatory for a good portion of the journey. The World Cruisers were fitted with huge fuel tanks (773 gallons vs the normal 96.) In addition, a modification to the radiator allowed for the size to be changed depending on the climate encountered during the circumnavigation. Two different types of propellers were also used, one with the landing gear configuration and another with the float configuration. Four aircraft set out on the journey, and were named Chicago, Boston, New Orleans, and Seattle. The four aircraft departed from Prince Rupert, Washington in April. They headed north making several stops in Alaska. The Seattle was lost during a crash in Alaska, but the crew survived. The three remaining aircraft followed the Aleutian Island chain, and had to make a refueling stop at sea off the coast of Siberia. The aircraft then proceeded southerly to Japan. Heading west to mainland Asia, they then headed on a southwest course to Hong Kong, Saigon, and Rangoon. Arriving in Calcutta, India the aircraft were then refitted with their normal landing gear. Stops at Karachi, Pakistan, Baghdad took place. Once in Europe the World Cruisers made stops in Paris and London. Refitted with their floats in Yorkshire, the three planes headed northwest, with Iceland being the next main landing area. The Boston was lost during this portion of the journey, but the crew was rescued by the USS Richmond. The two surviving aircraft, Chicago and New Orleans, which were piloted by Leslie Arnold and John Harding, now headed to Greenland then on to Canada. Arriving on September 8 in Boston, the two planes were once again refitted with their normal landing gear. Flying across the continent in short stages designed to maximize the publicity opportunities, the two remaining World Cruisers returned to Seattle on September 28, 1924. Their epic journey lasted 175 days, and covered almost 27,000 miles. A total of 73 separate flight legs, covering an average distance of 363 miles were flown. In Stan Stokes tribute to this epic journey, the World Cruisers land in Alaska in April, 1924 during the early stages of their journey. |
Mauled by a Marauder by Stan Stokes. The B-26 Marauder, dubbed the widow maker by its detractors, was developed by the Glen L. Martin Company beginning in 1939. The first B-26 was completed in November of 1940. The early models had very high wing loading, and were tricky to fly. Added armament increased weight even further leading to an alarming rate of accidents during training. Increasing engine power, wingspan and rudder height solved many of the problems. The B-26 was capable of speeds in excess of 320-MPH, and with a normal crew compliment of six and a bomb load of 4,000 pounds the aircraft, had a range in excess of 1100 miles. Despite the controversy surrounding the B-26, the aircraft served admirably during WW II, and in fact had the lowest loss ratio of any American aircraft. The 386th Bomb Group was organized on December 1, 1942 under the command of Lt. Col. Lester J. Maitland. The 386th, known as The Crusaders, trained at MacDill Field near Tampa Florida. The accident rate during training of earlier B-26 units was alarmingly high, leading to the phrase one a day in Tampa Bay. With improved training methods for both flight and maintenance crews, and with improvements to the B-26s engines and electrical systems, the accident rate began to decline, and the 386th attained 10,000 flight hours of training without an accident. The Crusaders went to Lake Charles, Louisiana for the second phase of their training. On April 20, 1943 the Crusaders completed their training and crews were dispatched to either Selfridge Field in Michigan or the Martin plant in Omaha to pick-up their B-26Bs and Cs for the long flight to England. The 386th had an incredible combat record, flying 409 combat missions against Axis targets such as bridges, railroad yards, and other tactical targets. Most bombing missions were done at an altitude of 10,000-13,000 feet. On 11/29/43 the Crusaders flew a mission which was very memorable for the crew of Sexation. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting, appropriately entitled Mauled by Marauders, the Sexation was attacked by several German Fw-190 and Bf-109 fighters. With the loss of one engine, significant wing damage, and hydraulic system failure, Sexation was a sitting duck. However, Bill Norris, the tail gunner on the B-26, kept the fighters at bay, shooting down 3 enemy fighters and one probable on the mission. This made Norris the top gun of the 386th. The crew was able to nurse the aircraft back to England where they made a belly landing. Both Norris and the aircrafts commander, Pete LaFramboise, received the Silver Star for this mission. This print is dedicated to the memory of Col. Maitland and the 191 Crusaders who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during WW II. |
Safe Pastures by Mark Postlethwaite. B-17G 42-37755 NV-A 325th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group from Poddington crash landing in Switzerland on 25th February 1944 after sustaining damage over enemy territory after a raid on Augsburg and Stuttgart. |
Escort Service by Keith Woodcock. In the early morning sun, two North American P51D Mustangs of the 359 FS, 356 FG, take off from their base at Martlesham Heath to escort 8th Air force bombers on another daylight raid. |
Flight for Freedom by Stan Stokes. USN F/A-18 Hornet. |
Liberators by Stan Stokes. In 1938 Consolidated Aircraft was asked by the USAAC to join in production of Americas only long range 4-engine bomber, the Boeing B-17. However, Mack Laddon, the companys Chief design engineer, convinced the Army that an alternative design, incorporating the high aspect ratio wing design of David Davis, would result in a long range heavy bomber superior to the Boeing B-17. The Army Air Corps contracted with Consolidated to build seven prototypes and these were delivered in 1940 for service trials. Consolidated Aircraft had substantial experience in producing long range flying boats, most notable of which was the PBY Catalina. The B-24 incorporated the distinctive twin tailed design of Consolidateds flying boats, and relative to the older but sleeker B-17 was quite an ugly duckling. Despite its deceiving appearance, the B-24 was produced in greater numbers (18,000) than any other American aircraft during WW II, and proved through experience to be one of the most versatile of all Allied aircraft. Nicknamed the Liberator by the British, the B-24 served in many roles. In addition to its very effective use as a strategic bomber, the aircraft proved very successful in anti-submarine activities, and as a long-haul transport for troops, fuel and supplies. The Liberator was the only American aircraft capable of non-stop transatlantic crossings during the war. First utilized by the French and British, the B-24 is credited for helping the Allies win the war in the Atlantic, where the aircrafts incredible range was an important asset. Germanys 1,200 U-Boats sank over 2,600 Allied ships during the War, and in 1942 and 1943 losses were nearly unsustainable. Until the Liberators arrived, Allied convoys lacked air cover for a 300 mile stretch of the Atlantic, and it was in this area that wolfpacks of U-Boats took a devastating toll. The Liberator was utilized in virtually all theaters of operation during the war. The B-24 was produced in several variants, of which the B-24D was the first to be mass produced. The B-24D was powered by four 1200 HP Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp 14-cylinder radial engines which incorporated two-stage superchargers. The aircraft had a maximum speed of 303 MPH, and a range of 2,850 miles. Most Liberators were manned by a crew of nine or ten, and typical armament consisted of ten machine guns. With an official bomb capacity of 8,830 pounds the B-24D could pack quite a wallop. In his painting, artist Stan Stokes captures a pair of Liberators returning to base at dusk after a lengthy submarine patrol mission over the Atlantic in 1942. |
Gear Up - Go! by Ivan Berryman. The F.4c Phantom II of Colonel Robin Olds of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing tucks the landing gear up as he blasts out of a forward airfield in January 1967. |
Vietnam War Veteran by Stan Stokes. The McDonnel Douglas F-4 Phantom II was produced from 1958 Thorough 1981. In excess of 5,000 aircraft were produced in twenty variants. The F-4 evolved from McDonnels earlier work on the F3H Demon and the F-101A Voodoo, an aircraft substantially heavier and larger than first generation jet fighters. The Phantom was initially intended as a fleet interceptor, but the aircraft was asked to take on additional tasks for which it was not totally optimized for. It is a testament to the basic quality of the design of the aircraft, and the skill and determination of the pilots which flew it, that the Phantom was a success in most of the varied roles it was asked to undertake. The F-4 was designed to be a platform for high-tech weaponry, with highly supersonic qualities, excellent range, and the ability to lift a large external payload. Initially only ordered by the U.S. Navy, the aircraft was carrier qualified in February 1961. In 1962 under intense pressure from the Department of Defense the Air Force relented and announced that four wings of F-105s would be replaced with Phantoms. By the mid-sixties over 1,000 Phantoms had been delivered, and it was generally anticipated that the aircraft would be in production for only four or five more years. However, forecasters failed to fully comprehend the eventual scope of the United States involvement in Vietnam, and the serious problems with the development of the F-111 (also known as the TFX). As a result the Phantom got a second lease on life, and production of improved versions of the aircraft were accelerated. The ultimate Air Force version of the Phantom was designated the F-4E, and 1,242 were manufactured from 1967 to 1978. The Vietnam War gave the Phantom an assured place in aviation history. One version of the Phantom was equipped with additional electronics and given the mission of detecting and destroying enemy Surface-to-Air missile sites. Aircraft so-equipped were accurately nicknamed Wild Weasels. During the Vietnam War the F-4s aerial adversaries included the Mig-17, Mig-19, and the Mig-21. A shark-mouthed Air Force F-4 in a near miss situation with a Mig-19 over the cloudy skies of North Vietnam. The Phantoms two-man crew is looking to the port side of the aircraft, as they anticipate a close encounter of the wrong kind. |
The Unlucky Eight by Stan Stokes. James Elms Swett was born in Seattle, Washington on June 15, 1920. He attended San Mateo Junior College in California, and entered the Navys flight training program during his second year of college. In April of 1942 Jim received his wings and was commission as a second lieutenant in the USMC at Corpus Christi, Texas. Swett arrived at Guadacanal for his first combat duty tour in March of 1943. Assigned to VMF-221 Swett flew the older F4F Wildcat, whereas the more experienced pilots in his squadron flew the newer and more advanced F41J Corsair. On April 7, 1943 Swett would get his first taste of aerial combat, and it would be a day for the record books. More than 150 Japanese bombers attacked Guadacanal on April 7 h . Hurling his four plane division into a formation of fifteen enemy aircraft, Swett personally splashed three Japanese Val bombers before his aircraft was hit with antiaircraft fire, and he became separated from his division. While proceeding alone to Florida Island, Swett encountered another six enemy planes. He downed four more Vals before he was winged by the rear gunner of a fifth. The young USMC Lieutenant recovered and moved in to take out another Val. He put a short burst into the rear gunners position, but at this point his ammunition gave out. In spite of his wounds, a partially disabled engine, and a shattered windscreen, Swett was able to crash land his Wildcat in the waters off of Tulagi, breaking his nose in the process. For his heroic actions in his first combat, Jim Swett was awarded the countrys highest honor, The Congressional Medal of Honor. Promoted to Captain, the ace-in-a-day bagged four more enemy aircraft on June 30, and on July 11 he added two more before both he and his wingman were shot down over Rendova Island. After four days at sea, and badly sunburned and dehydrated, the USMC ace was rescued by native fisherman and taken to a Navy patrol boat. Later in his combat tour, during the battle for Bouganville, Swett would shoot down three more enemy planes. Returning to the States in late 1944, Swett was sent to Santa Barbara for carrier familiarization. He married the former Loie Anderson of Oakland, California in January 1945. After completing his carrier qualification course, he was assigned to the USS Bunker Hill, Admiral Marc Mitshners flag ship. In May of 1945 during the battle for Okinawa, which witnessed horrific kamikaze attacks, Swett would bag one more enemy aircraft. However, the Bunker Hill was severely damaged, and many crewmen, including 29 Marines, were killed. Swett left active duty in 1945, but remained active in the USMC reserve until his retirement with the rank of Colonel in 1970. Jim Swett ended the War with a total of 16 1/2 confirmed aerial victories. He has had the honor of seeing two of his sons and one of his grandsons follow in his Marine Corps footsteps. |
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