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Cranston Fine Arts  Aviation Art Inter War Period  Inter War Aviation Print List |
[UP] - Aircraft - Schneider Trophy - Inter War Aviation Print List |
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Lucky Lindy by Stan Stokes. Charles Augustus Lindbergh is generally acknowledged to be the most famous American aviator of all time. Lindbergh was one of a band of flying gypsies who discovered that following WW I there was little interest by the military in aviation and very few jobs available in the fledgling commercial aviation field. These pilots, who were hooked on flying, flew the mail, offered rides at county fairs, and barnstormed around the country in an attempt to eke out a small living and cover the cost of flying. In 1919 a wealthy New York hotel owner had established a prize of $25,000 for the first non-stop flight between New York and Paris. By the mid-1920s, the technology appeared to be on the verge of permitting a successful crossing. In 1926 the famous WW I French fighter ace, Rene Fonck crashed his Sikorsky S-35 while attempting to takeoff from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, killing two of his four man crew. In April of 1927 a similar crash killed Noel Davis and Stanton Wooster. On May 8, another WW I French fighter ace, Charles Nungesser, and his copilot were killed when their flight from Paris to New York disappeared over the Atlantic. Each of these tragedies further aroused public interest in what seemed to be an impossible task. Charles Lindbergh had lots of experience flying in difficult conditions and at night from his years as a US Mail pilot. Unlike the others, Lindbergh believed that he would need to fly alone, and he opted to go with a fuel efficient single-engine aircraft. Lindbergh was an excellent planner, and his second choice for a suitable aircraft for his journey was a Ryan M-1 produced in San Diego. With much of his backing coming from St. Louis businessmen, Lindbergh named his aircraft the Spirit of St. Louis. The M-1 needed many modifications including an enlarged fuel capacity, and was fitted with a 237-HP Wright J-5C engine. To maintain the aircrafts center of gravity one of the additional fuel tanks had to be fitted in the cockpit, blocking all visibility through the windscreen. A small telescope was fitted to provide some forward visibility. Bad weather delayed Lindberghs planned takeoff from Roosevelt Field, but on the morning of May 20, 1927 a small break in the weather allowed Lindbergh to attempt his takeoff. Barely missing power lines and trees at the end of the muddy airstrip Lindbergh got airborne. Less than 34 hours later he touched down at Le Bourget Field in Paris. Throngs of people were present to greet the new hero. Overcoming bad weather, disorientation, and fatigue, Lucky Lindy had overcome the odds, and become one of the greatest American heroes of this century. An interesting historical footnote to Lindberghs journey is the fact that only two weeks after his flight, two others (Chamberlin and Levine) flew non-stop from New York to Germany. |
Balmy Days by Ivan Berryman. The military trained many of their first world war pilots on the Jenny. Several thousand Jennies were produced and after the war many of these aircraft were purchased by some of the 20,000 airmen which left the armed services after world war one, paying a fraction of the cost for these aircraft. Barnstorming began. These pilots would make a living from Barnstorming across the US, giving rides to civilians for as much at 15 to 20 dollars a trip. This was a time when most people had not seen an aircraft let alone go up in one. Barnstorming gradually became saturated with pilots and aircraft and over a short peiod of time the prices paid for a trip in a Jenny went down toas low as 2 to 3 dollars, and making a living became hard for the pilots who could hardly pay for the fuel and living costs let alone aircraft maintenance. There were a number of fatal accidents, but Barnstorming played a vital role in aviation and probably put the idea of becoming a pilot in the minds of many young boys who would later go on to fly in combat during world war two. |
1938 Kings Cup by Michael Turner Alex Henshaw in his winning Mew Gull, swoops low over Hatfield airfield, followed by Giles Guthries Mew Gull and Les Cliffs Hawk Major. Seen on the ground are Geoffrey de Havillands Tk-2 and D.H. Comet G-ACSS. The winners race average of 252.25 mph is the fastest ever recorded by a British winning aircraft. |
Fateful Voyage by Stan Stokes. Construction of the dirigible Hindenburg began in 1931 in Friedrichshafen, Germany. The huge dirigible took nearly five years to complete. It was 804-feet long, and at its widest point was 135-feet in diameter. The Hindenburgs gas capacity (in 16 gas cells) was more than 7 million cubic feet. Each cell was coated with a gelatin solution to insure its permeability against the volatile hydrogen gas. The Hindenburgs frame was made of a special alloy of aluminum and copper. The Hindenburg was powered by four huge 16-cylinder diesel engines. Each engine provided 1300-HP of take off power, and 850-HP for sustained cruising. A navigation room in the control car contained two gyro compasses, a radio compass, and a telephone switchboard. The radio room was directly above the control car. In the bridge located in the control car were the controls for controlling the engines, releasing ballast or hydrogen, and in adjusting rudder or elevators. Each passenger had a 78 x 66 inch cabin consisting of an upper and lower berth, a folding wash basin, and a collapsible writing table with folding chair. Rooms were for sleeping as passengers spent most of their time elsewhere on the ship. The lounge was decorated with a huge mural and was fairly spacious. It included a baby grand piano. The reading and writing room was a quiet area where passengers could write letters, and the smoking room was the only area on the ship that smoking was permitted. Kept under positive air pressure no hydrogen could enter the smoking lounge. The largest space on the ship was the dining room with promenade. On May 6, 1936 the Hindenburg departed Germany with fifty passengers and a crew of fity-five on its maiden voyage to America. The aircraft reached the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, New Jersey approximately 61 hours later. The huge ship was eased into her hangar, and the passengers disembarked for a short plane ride to Newark Airport. On its return trip the Hindenburg completed the journey in less than 49 hours, unprecendented in the days of long distance sea travel. The Hindenburg made ten round trip crossings in 1936. In 1937 the plans called for the Hindenburg to make 18 Atlantic crossings. The first of the 1937 trips began on May 3. Thirty-six passengers and a crew of sixty-one were onboard. Headwinds were very strong on this voyage and it took three full days to reach the New York area. It was late in the afternoon and thunderstorms were reported in the area. The Hindenburg made a courtesy sightseeing tour of Manhattan and at 7:00PM headed into Lakehurst for landing. At about 200-feet in altitude a tongue of flame appeared at the stern. It spread rapidly and within a few short seconds the Hindenburg was a giant fireball, falling to earth tail first. The catastrophe was covered by film and radio broadcasts, and to this day is one of the most devastating disasters ever recorded. Miraculously, there were a fair number of survivors, but the age of the dirigible was over. |
Tribute to David Rittenhouse by Ivan Berryman. The Schneider Trophy is one of the best known air races in history, but excluding a modern revival, there were only 12 of the events held between 1913 and 1931 when Britain won the trophy outright. This painting shows the first of two American winners of the prestigeous competition - Lt. David Rittenhouse of the US Navy - taking off in his Curtiss CR-3 Racer from the Solent on 27th September 1923. With an average speed of 177mph, he was the first competitor to exceed 150mph. When the competition was next held just two years later, the winning average speed was now more than 230mph and the winner was the only other American to win the trophy - one James Doolittle, who went on to become a famous wartime General. |
Singing Wires by Gerald Coulson. Gerald Coulson said of this painting : How very fortunate to be in a position to paint aviation as a result of direct experience. This aeroplane has been featured in many of my paintings. The fact that I have flown this machine for years and still do probably has something to do with it. It is, of course, the de Havilland Tiger Moth, one of the greatest aeroplanes in the world. Not one of the most comfortable, nor noted for its crisp handling qualities. It is, nevertheless, a delight in which to be aloft over a sun-dappled landscape. With the roar of the Gypsy engine, the slipstream singing through the bracing wires and the sun flashing off silvered wing, what more inspiration does an aviation artist require. |
Flagship Over Manhattan by Robert Watts. An American Airlines DC-3, one of the 29 in service by 1936 with right hand doors, outbound from La Guardia Airport. |
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. |
First Across the Pond by Stan Stokes. During WW I, German U-boats took a substantial toll on Allied shipping, and during the War military planners were anxious to explore the possibilities of aircraft being developed which could thwart this menace. Existing land-based patrol aircraft had given a fair account of themselves, but because of their inability to patrol areas far from land, they were of only limited use. What was needed was a very long range flying boat capable of venturing far out to sea in search of enemy shipping, and submarines. The U.S. Navy contacted aviation pioneer Glen Curtiss who was at that time working on a small sea-worthy flying boat for the United States Coast Guard. Curtiss produced two alternative designs of a long-range flying boat for the Navy, and the smaller three engine design was selected. The Navy commissioned work on four aircraft to be designated NC 1 through 4. Incorporating the new Liberty engine, these aircraft were completed at the close of hostilities. On November 27, 1918 one of these flying boats carried aloft a record-breaking 51 passengers. However, it appeared that the Wars end would slow or lead to a discontinuance of the Navys long-range patrol aircraft plans. Commander John Towers proposed that the NCs, or Nancy Boats as they were often called, be utilized in an attempt at the first transatlantic flight. Such a trip would require a long flight to the Azores, with Navy ships stationed along the route to provide navigational headings. On May 16, 1919 three of the Navys NC aircraft departed Newfoundland on the first leg of this record breaking trip. The three aircraft were forced to separate during the long and dangerous flight. NC1, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Bellinger became lost, and a decision was made to put the aircraft down. Although NC1 landed successfully the crew had misjudged sea conditions, which were too severe to attempt a takeoff. The crew of NC1 was rescued by a Greek freighter, but the aircraft was lost. The NC3 faced a not too dissimilar fate. Damaged during a forced landing, the aircraft drifted for two days before taxing into the harbor at the Azores. The third aircraft, NC4, was commanded by Albert Putty Read, and was piloted by Walter Hinton. Although only a Lieutenant Junior Grade, Hinton was an experienced aviator with significant flying boat experience. NC 4 was faster than its sister ships, and ran into severe weather near the end of its flight to the Azores requiring it to fly just above the wave tops. NC4 reached the Azores after fifteen hours aloft, and was met with great fanfare. The ship successfully journeyed on to Lisbon Portugal, completing the first successful crossing of the Atlantic by air. As pictured in Stan Stokes painting commemorating the 75th anniversary of this important achievement, NC4 touches down in Lisbon Harbor late in the day on May 27, 1919 becoming the first aircraft to cross the pond. NC4 has been restored and is on display at the US Naval Museum in Pensacola, Florida. |
Supermarine S6.B Engine Change by Ivan Berryman. The Supermarine S6.B was the aircraft famed for winning the Schneider Trophy outright in 1931. Here, the Rolls Royce R engine is being lowered into the body of the aircraft. The engine cover on the aircraft was so large that when it was removed, there was very little left except a void where the engine would be. |
Lady Pioneer by Stan Stokes. While considerable controversy still surrounds the disappearance of Amelia Earhart in 1937, there is no question that Amelia Mary Earhart was one of the great pioneers of American aviation. Born in Atchison, Kansas in 1897, Amelia was the daughter of a railroad attorney. She exhibited an adventurous spirit at a young age, and was able to travel extensively with her parents. In 1918 at the age of twenty-one, Amelia witnessed a flight demonstration in Toronto, and this inspired her to take a course in engine mechanics. Three years later she was in New York City studying medicine at Columbia University when she had the opportunity to take her first airplane ride to California. She immediately decided to learn to fly, and she remained in California where she obtained her pilots license in 1921. During the next few years Earhart had many jobs in many locales, but her true love was flying. Amelia was the first female passenger to cross the Atlantic in 1928, and the fame this generated allowed her to direct her attention at attempting other record-breaking feats. Amelia met George Putnam during this time, and he supported her flying efforts. They married in 1931. In 1932 Amelia became the first woman to make a solo crossing of the Atlantic flying a Lockheed Vega. Months later she became the first woman to completed a solo flight from Los Angeles to New York. Her next major record came in January, 1935 when she completed a solo flight from Honolulu to Oakland in a little over 18 hours. In 1936 Earhart was appointed to the faculty of Purdue University which provided her a Lockheed Electra as a flying laboratory. Having access to the Electra allowed Amelia to begin planning her dream flight, an around the world crossing as close to the equator as possible. In March of 1937 she embarked on a round the world trip in a westerly direction, but her aircraft was damaged on take off from Hawaii. In June a new route going in an easterly direction, starting from Miami, was mapped out by her navigator, Fred Noonan. Departing on June 1, 1937 Earhart arrived in Lae, New Guinea some 22,000 miles and 146 flying-hours later. The next leg of this record setting trip would cover 2,500 miles over the Pacific with the intended destination being the tiny Howland Island. When Earhart and Noonan failed to arrive, a massive search commenced, which was abandoned in mid-July. Presumably lost at sea, the nation mourned the loss of one of its heroes. In Stan Stokes painting entitled Lady Pioneer, Amelias beloved Model 10E Electra is depicted next to the aviators Cord automobile. This aircraft was delivered to Earhart in 1936. It was powered by twin 550 HP Wasp S3 H 1 engines, and was equipped with extended range fuel tanks, giving the craft a maximum range of 4,000 miles. The Electra was returned to Lockheeds plant in Burbank in 1937 for repairs following the accident in Hawaii. A new right wing was fitted, and repairs were made to the center fuselage and landing gear. The Civilian Aviation Administration officially canceled the registration of Earharts NR16020 in July of 1938, approximately one year after her disappearance. 1997 marked the 100th anniversary of Earharts birth and the 60th anniversary of her disappearance. |
Ryde Airport, 1936 by Ivan Berryman. Opened in 1932, Ryde airport became the principal airport for the Isle of Wight, with routes being operated to destinations as far away as Croydon, Bristol and Shoreham, as well as a regular commuter service that took in Southampton, Bournemouth and Portsmouth. This painting depicts a typical day early in 1936 when aircraft of both Portsmouth, Southsea and Isle of Wight Aviation Ltd and Railway Air Services were using the airport, in this case, Airspeed Courier G-ADAY and de Havilland Dragon Rapide G-ACPR City of Birmingham respectively. The airport closed officially in 1939, but may have been used sporadically after the war. The site of the airport is now occupied by Tesco and McDonalds. |
A Moment of Triumph by Gerald Coulson. On the afternoon of Sunday, 13th September 1931, Flt. Lt J N Bootham, RAF, in a Southampton-built S6B seaplane, tore through the skies over the Solent to average 340.08mph round a 217-mile course. This fly-over was sufficient for Great Britain to gain the Schneider Trophy outright since it meant that the event had been won on three consecutive occasions. That it nearly didn't happen is part of the history of British Aviation, only timely sponsorship saving the whole Supermarine programme. So ended an era in aviation history which, with hindsight, proved so important for the free world as it was from this remarkably-advanced design of airframe and engine that R J Mitchells most famous aircraft of all time, the Spitfire, was developed. Without the advances brought on by the development of the Supermarine racing seaplanes, it is doubtful that the technology required for the Spitfire would have been so readily available. The Merlin and Griffon engines from Rolls Royce were also part of this programme. These were to be the mainstay of the British Aircraft Industry during World War II and become a legend in their own right. A replica of the aircraft which went on to set world air speed records can be seen in the Southampton Hall of Aviation, together with the legendary Spitfire. The Schneider Trophy was won outright by Great Britain on September 13th 1931. Flight Lieutenant J N Boothman flying S6B S1595, completed the seven laps at an average speed of 340.08mph. Fg Off Leonard Snaith and Flt Lt Freddy Long were the first and second reserve pilots of the 1931 GB Schneider Trophy team, behind J N Boothman. |
Fairey IIID by Michael Turner. Fairey IIIDs served from 1924 to 1930. It could be used either as a seaplane or landplane, and was employed as both. It mainly served in the Middle East and home waters, but was used for a great number of roles throughout its service. In all, 227 Fairey IIIDs were built. |
Hawker Horsley by Michael Turner. The Hawker Horsley was the last wooden aircraft to be constructed by Hawker. It was designed initially in 1923 but modified in 1925 to meet the need for torpedoes. In January 1927, No.11 Squadron were equipped with Horsleys and then No.100 Squadron. In 1928, No.33 and No.15 Squadron were also equipped with Horsleys. The first torpedo bomber versions were used by No.36 squadron from June 1928, being sent to Singapore shortly thereafter. No Horsleys were built after February 1934. |
Balbo's Amazing Flight by Stan Stokes. Italo Balbo, the father of the Italian Air Force, appointed undersecretary for air in 1926, was truly amazing. His first task was to complete a study that concluded that the Aeronautica was woefully inadequate in terms of ground support facilities, supplies, spare parts, fuel, and ammunition. In addition his study concluded that the 551 aircraft of record included only 200-300 combat ready planes. Balbo, like Billy Mitchell in America, believed that a powerful argument for an air force independent from the control of either the army or the navy could be made. Many of Balbos beliefs were derived from conversations with Giulio Droughet, the famous Italian air combat theorist. In Balbos view the Aeronautica should have a first strike capability, and he shared Droughets view that the days of single plane raids were over. Future air attacks would involve waves of hundreds, if not thousands, of aircraft. By 1926 Italy had its share of accomplished aviators including De Pinedo, De Bernardi, and Ferrarin, but Balbo did not appreciate the prima donna image of these record setters. He conceived the idea of record setting massed flights to show the collective heroism of the Regia Aeronautica, and as a way to sway public opinion of his belief, and in the process earn a larger budget. The first massed flight of 61 seaplanes toured ports in the western Mediterranean in May and June of 1928. As the tour progressed the formation flying skills of the pilots improved and wherever they went they were received enthusiastically. A second massed flight of the eastern Mediterranean, utilizing 35 aircraft, took place later, and both these flights increased the prestige of the fascist regime in Italy. In December of 1928 Balbo visited America, and he immediately began planning in his mind the possibility of a massed flight to America. In 1931 Balbo took 12 SM.55X flying boats to Brazil, and by 1933 he was ready for his trip to America. Utilizing 25 aircraft Balbo once again chose the reliable SM.55X. The route would include stops in Amsterdam, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Montreal, and finally Chicago. On July 15, 1933 Balbos aerial armada arrived over Lake Michigan. Hundreds of thousands of spectators jammed the Chicago shoreline to welcome the aviators. Four days later Balbo lead his team to New York, where they made several passes over Manhattan before landing at the Coney Island seaplane base. The Italians drew huge crowds in New York, and Balbo traveled to Washington to meet with President Roosevelt and Wiley Post. Mussolini grew jealous of the attention Balbo was receiving and wired him to return to Italy. He later removed him as head of the Aeronautica and sent him to Libya as Governor. Balbos epic flights were a watershed in the transition of aviation from the pioneering efforts on single aviators to the discipline and organization required to operate a modern air force. |
Fairey IIIF by Michael Turner. Fairey IIIF floatplanes operating from the Nile at Khartoum. |
Supermarine S6.B at Calshot, 1931 by Ivan Berryman. A Supermarine S6.B runs up its engine in preparation for the Schneider Trophy race. The aircraft would go on to win the trophy outright. |
Barnstormers by Stan Stokes. Prior to WW I the US Army had purchased a total of two dozen aircraft (principally Curtiss and Wright machines) and almost half of these had been destroyed in crashes. In addition eight of the Armys fourteen pilots had been killed in flying accidents. The Navy was not much better off with a total of six operational aircraft and only nine pilots on its rolls in 1913. With each accident something was learned, and both the aircraft and their pilots slowly improved. When WW I began, the Germans had more than 500 military aircraft. The French had a similar number and the Brits had about half that amount. Despite the outbreak of War in Europe, the US Congress continued to ignore the prospects for military aviation, appropriating only scant amounts of funds. When America finally entered the Great War in April of 1917 an Aircraft Production Board was organized. The Board recommended a massive appropriation to train 7,500 men for both the Army and Navy aviation efforts, and to assist industry in the production of 3,700 aircraft in 1918, 6,000 in 1919 and 9-10,000 in 1920. When Congress reviewed the budget requests it was heavily swayed, and without a single dissenting vote, appropriated $640 million to procure more than 20,000 aircraft and 40,000 engines. The government overestimated the fledgling American aviation industrys manufacturing capacity, with the result that many of the aircraft flown by American forces in WW I would be either foreign-built, or American-built aircraft of foreign design. One notable exception to this was the Curtiss JN-4 Jenny. The Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company was one of the two dominant American aircraft producers, the other being the Wright-Martin Aircraft Company. The Jenny became the primary trainer for training American pilots during the War, and many thousands of these aircraft were produced. Following the War, many surplus Jennies were available for purchase, and these aircraft were used in many roles, including flying the US Mail. Some of the 20,000 American pilots of the Army and Naval air services that reentered civilian life after the War purchased these surplus Jennies at a fraction of their original cost, and began barnstorming the country to earn a living. Taking their fragile airplanes to all areas of the country, these barnstormers exposed aviation to the general public. Remember, at that time the majority of people had never even seen an airplane, let alone taken a ride in one. Early on, the barnstormers could charge as much as $10-20 for an airplane ride, but as competition increased prices plummeted to as little as $2-3. Living as flying gypsies, these flyers had their share of tragedies, as they often had little knowledge of, and few funds for performing, even routine maintenance on their aircraft. Nonetheless, barnstormers are an important part of American aviation history, and Stan Stokes painting captures the feel of this between-wars era. |
Billy Shows Them by Stan Stokes. In the period following WW I, Americas military spending was severely curtailed. The Air Service of the United States Army, which had performed admirably in the latter stages of the War, was treated like an unwanted child. The Air Service had detractors within the regular Army, the Navy, and the Naval Air Service. Rivalry between the Navy and Army was fierce during these times, and competition for the limited amount of funds available for defense spending further intensified matters. Brigadier General Billy Mitchell was one of the senior officers in the US Army Air Service. A veteran of WW I, Billy was an outspoken advocate of the Air Service. Mitchell requested permission to attempt to sink the German dreadnought Ostfriesland in a demonstration off the Virginia coast. The Navy was anxious to discredit the Air Service, and even within the Army itself there were many rooting against Mitchell. Mitchells commanding officer ordered him to attack the Ostfriesland from a minimum altitude of 5000 feet, and to utilize nothing greater than 1000 lb bombs. Mitchells first attempt was not successful, but on his second attempt on June 21, 1921 he disobeyed his direct orders and used 2,000 pounders dropped from low altitude. These bigger bombs shattered the hull plates of the German ship and she sank in about twenty minutes. This infuriated the Navy, which did not anticipate this result, and also resulted in Mitchell being demoted to Colonel. For the attack Mitchell utilized six Curtis MB-2 twin-engine bombers. The MB-2 was developed by Curtis in response to the Armys request in 1917 for a medium-range bomber superior to anything available at that time. The MB-1 first flew in 1918, and in 1919 an improved variant, the MB-2, took to the air. Following the crash of the USN airship Shenandoah, Mitchell publicly criticized Admiral Moffett, head of the Navys Air Service. He also strongly criticized senior Army officers due to the terrible safety record for the Air Service. These remarks lead to the much publicized court marshall of Billy Mitchell. Mitchell was found guilty and stripped of his rank, and suspended from duty for a period of five years. Despite this set back, Mitchell continued to lobby for both a safe and strong independent Air Force. He was convinced that the outcome of the next major world conflict would be determined by air power. Many of Mitchells ideas would ultimately be implemented, and he is generally acknowledged to be the Father of the modern American Air Force. |
Stearman PT17 by Gerald Coulson. The Boeing Stearman PT 17 is a picture painted by Gerald Coulson essentially for the American Market and as a little self-indulgence. The U.S. equivalent to the Tiger Moth, it was typically larger and more powerful, being based around a comparatively large radial engine. Tough and easy to fly the Stearman still exists in large quantities and is used by fun fliers on both sides of the Atlantic, it being an extremely agile aerobatics machine capable of exciting continuous manoeuvres pulled along by its tremendous power. The sound of the Stearman, like the Harvard, is unmistakable with its propeller tips going supersonic at maximum revs. As trainers they were painted in the most attractive colours and against the typical Coulson sky this machine makes a brilliant impact and striking print as U.S. Army trainer 530 buzzes angrily through the sunlit skies probably taking yet another potential World War II ace on his first solo flight. |
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