Spirit of 76
First place award in the military category at the 2024 American Society of Aviation Artists forum and exhibition.
This painting was done for the cover of the February 2024 issue of Air Classics Magazine and is featured in author Steve Blake's article "War Of The Aleutian Lightnings part two." The scene is based on an "average" mission flown from Adak, Alaska in 1943.
The "Spirit of 76," a P-38F Lightning of the 54th FS, 343rd FG was flown by Lt. John S. Mackey. The B-24s have encountered heavy FLAK and one has lost an engine and is leaking fuel. The Lightning is giving the bombers an escort back to Adak, and the P-39F Airacobra assigned to the 57th FS, 54th FG has become separated from its group and has joined up to provide additional top cover.
The P-39 was featured taking off from Adak in the John Houston film "Report from the Aleutians."
"The Spirit of 76" carried what were probably the most elaborate and colorful markings of any P-38 in the Aleutian theater.
Original painting is available
24"x 36" Acrylic on Gesso board.
Signed, open edition giclee prints are available for $110.00 plus $10.00 shipping.
Image size 16"x 20" on 18"x 22" paper.
Spirit of 76
All orders are handled and fulfilled by the artist including packaging and shipping. A shipping fee of $10.00 is charged for prints mailed in the United States. Prints are sent in protective packaging including acid free paper.
Lastly, all customers are contacted and notified with an arrival date and an air bill for tracking purposes.