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Member for

19 years 7 months

Posts: 39

"Can't See The Wolves For The Trees" ;)

Member for

19 years 5 months

Posts: 1,358

That forest view is a great concept, Paul!

Member for

17 years 6 months

Posts: 12

Just found this terrific thread - all wonderful stuff! Here's one of my humble pieces - webite with others is www.hmgartwork.com

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c192/jindabyne/32.jpg

Member for

19 years 5 months

Posts: 1,358

I'm glad you posted, Mal, that's pretty good indeed!

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 7,025

:eek: That is good,thanks for posting it:)

Member for

16 years 2 months

Posts: 15

'Josephine's Beau'
Story was recently covered by the Flypast magazine...of Joe Peterburs

''0 APRIL 1945

On the 10th of April 1945 the 20th Fighter Group was escorting 430 B-17's to targets in the Oranienburd area. While over Berlin the bombers were attacked by German ME-262's (twin engine jets). I observed one ME-262 hit two B-17's and I proceeded to attack it. I had about a 5,000 foot altitude advantage and with the throttle wide open, and .50 caliber machine guns blazing, I engaged the jet from the 6 O'clock position and was getting some hits and saw smoke. The jet headed for the deck with me in hot pursuit and Capt. Dick Tracy following close behind me. We chased the jet to an airfield near Berlin that I found out later was Finsterwalde. As we approached, we could see the airfield was loaded with all types of German aircraft. The ME-262 entered a bank of low status clouds and we broke off the chase and started to strafe the airfield. Capt. Tracy was hit on his 2nd or 3rd pass and had to do a quick bailout at about 300 feet. He landed in a river near the airfield and was later captured. I continued to attack the airfield by myself and made about 5 or 6 passes, being hit by intense ground fire on the last three passes. I destroyed at least 5 aircraft including 1 FW190, 1 JU88, 2 ME109's and a FW200. I also damaged several others and inflicted heavy damage on several hangars. With my aircraft severally damaged and burning I headed back towards friendly lines.

When I was about 15 miles from Magdeberg, I came under attack by a FW190 - fortunately he missed! however, by this time, I had lost a lot of altitude. Descending below 1,000 feet and unable to keep my aircraft flying I bailed out at about 300 feet. I hit the tail of my aircraft with my right knee, pulled the ripcord, the chute opened, I swung once and hit the ground. I was captured immediately by local farmers who were ready to do me in when a Luftwaffe sergeant stationed in the area came to my rescue and took me away from the civilians. Ho took me to a nearby airfield where I was placed in solitary confinement and interrogated by the Gestapo for 3 days. While there, the airfield was bombed every night by the British and I spent the nights in a bomb shelter with the Germans. I was moved by rail (boxcar) from the airfield to Stalag 11. it was in the process of evacuating because of advancing Allied forces. After 2 days I was put with about 100 British soldiers and we started our way on foot toward the east. We were on the forced march for about 10 days during which there were constant attacks by Allied fighters supporting advancing Allied forces.

I ended up at a POW camp at Luckenwalde (Stalag 3) where most of the prisoners were Russian and Scaninavian, as well as Capt. Tracy who had been there since he was shot down. Tracy told me he was in the river the entire period of the attack on the airfield. Shortly after the Germans pulled him out of the river Goering showed up really mad and he thought they were going to shoot him. After intense interrogation he was shipped off to Luckenwalde. Within about a week Tracy and I along with an Air Force TSGT (who could speak fluent Russian) escaped (security was practically non-existent) and joined a Russian tank unit. We fought with them from Juterberg to the battle of Wittenberg on the Elbe. Sometime during the trek to Wittenberg Tracy, the sergeant and I got separated. At the Elbe I joined a US Army infantry unit that was meeting with the Russians and doing mop up operations around Halle. I stayed with the unit for a few days and then took off on my own, eventually ending up in Paris. From Paris I was sent to a POW collection point an LeHarve (Point Lucky Strike) and returned to the US on the last convoy to leave Europe, arriving on New York on the 4th of June, 1945.

Most of the information concerning this, my last WWII mission, was written by me during the late 1940's while it was still fresh in my memory and is in greater detail in other documents written by me.

54 years later I was contacted by Werner Dietrich from Burg, Germany. On 10 April 1945 he was a 13 year old boy hiding in a ditch watching the air battles taking place above him. He saw the FW190 fire it's rockets at my aircraft and miss, and saw me bail out and get captured. He knew where my aircraft crashed, and in 1996 (after reunification of Germany) he was able to enlist the aid of a German documentary TV program to help him find my aircraft. using the serial number from aircraft parts he began a long and exhaustive search for the pilot. After searching for 19 months he finally located me. In May 1998 the TV producer contacted me wanting me to come to Germany for a reunion with Werner. My wife had had a stroke and I was unwilling to leave her so the TV producer made arrangements for Werner and their TV crew to visit me in Colorado Springs and make a follow up documentary.

Since then Werner has continued to work on the story, contacting people from Finsterwalde as well as finding the pilot of the ME-262 that I engaged. In his contacts with the people from Finsterwalde he discovered that the airfield was attacked on 10 April 1945. At that time the field was the base for government VIP aircraft, including Hitler's FW200 Condor.

The ME-262 pilot was Oberlieutent Walter Schuck, with 206 victories to his credit. He is still alive and has confirmed to Werner the events of this day. He told him he entered a cloud bank at about 3000 feet to escape my pursuit but the damage was already done - his engine blew and he bailed out.''

Pencil on 300gsm smooth card..
http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb48/602RAF_Puff/joe9.jpg

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17 years

Posts: 1,656

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee317/Lindys_Lad/S5032651.jpg

Sneak preview of a private commission. Sea Harrier FRS1, HMS Invincible. Oil on board (3ft x 5ft)

Unfortunately the camera flash has lightened the whole thing - the roundel blue is actually very much darker....

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 7,025

:) Very very nice.It is interesting to see how other people proceed with their paintings.
Can you post the updated or finished version when you're done please.:D
Just out of interest ,how long have you spent on this,the actual painting side?
Thanks:)

Member for

17 years

Posts: 1,656

:) Very very nice.It is interesting to see how other people proceed with their paintings.
Can you post the updated or finished version when you're done please.:D
Just out of interest ,how long have you spent on this,the actual painting side?
Thanks:)

what you see is about 15 hours work so far, spread out over the last 2 months. And, yes - when its done, I'll post a pic. I'll try to take a better one of it now also...

Member for

19 years 7 months

Posts: 1,260

I thought considering that other's have posted there work, I'd promote my series of prints. I'm currently advertising in Flypast, both in the current edition and the next.

This message is directed at those interested in the North American P51D Mustang, both owners and enthusiasts alike.

A few years ago I commissioned UK artist Pete West to create a number of detailed profiles of this famous WWII fighter. As a result, I have created a set of four colourful prints, each measuring 12in x 16in in size.

These superb creations are affordable and available from my website: www.avprints.co.uk.

http://www.avprints.co.uk/LouIVWEB.jpg

http://www.avprints.co.uk/ContraryMaryWEB.jpg

http://www.avprints.co.uk/MissHelenWEB.jpg

http://www.avprints.co.uk/OldCrowWEB.jpg

So, what do you think? Pete West is a brilliantly talented artist and I hope have done justice to his work.

Best Wishes

Phillip Rhodes (http://www.avprints.co.uk)

Member for

17 years

Posts: 1,656

As promised, here are the JP and Jetstream paintings - as always, oil on board. The JP is 3ft x 4ft, and the jetstream is 5ft x 3 ft. Donated to Newcastle College for use in their new building......

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee317/Lindys_Lad/S5032529.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee317/Lindys_Lad/S5032521.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee317/Lindys_Lad/S5032514.jpg

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 7,025

:) Painting seems to be a very individual skill,i wondered if anyone had any websites they use for hints ,tips and guidance.Reading books seems good but sometimes they don't always show you what you want.
This is one site i have looked for ideas http://www.oil-painting-techniques.com/

Does anyone have any good sites that would help,Thanks.:)

Keeping the thread on the aviation side ;;)

This site is aviation art and the artist does show you how he gets to a finished painting. http://wademeyersart.tripod.com/ :)

This guy is very very nice to chat to and he actually paints at his stall during the Duxford legends display. http://www.robin-smith-art.co.uk/
So any helpful sites you know of:)

Member for

17 years

Posts: 1,656

I'm completely self taught. I failed Art at GCSE level....

I started by reading and copying David Shepard books as well as Robert Taylor. Don't be tempted to just concentrate on 'aviation artists'. Look at landscape artists too, aswell as mild interest in masters such as Constable. Turner is particularly good if you like loose styled paintings with alot of mood.

Above all, develop your own style, and have fun!

Member for

17 years 9 months

Posts: 245

I am self taught and have been at it (painting) for over 40 years now. Don't get bogged down with aviation try a bit of everything. For technique, study the masters, if possible in galleries. I was once given advice by Michael Turner..'Take your pencil, pen, paints whatever and paint outdoors from life.' Best advice I ever got. Whether you paint aviation or not paint the sky from life: it's always there and its free. Enjoy it.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Member for

16 years

Posts: 729

Hello,

First post and all that.

Probably the only aviation related picture I've ever done.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/794/horsasunsetzl0.jpg

Member for

19 years 3 months

Posts: 178

Hi all
Time I showed some progress on this one, as always all comments welcome.
Still not sure about a title.

OneEightbit
really like that, great sky and atmosphere

Cheers
Paul C

www.paulcouper.co.uk

Attachments

Member for

17 years 9 months

Posts: 245

Hello,

First post and all that.

Probably the only aviation related picture I've ever done.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/794/horsasunsetzl0.jpg


Thats a very good skyscape.

Best Wishes.
Robert.

Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 7,025

:eek: :D Blimey the talent on this forum is incredible,well done all,WOW :D

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 1,179

Hello,

First post and all that.

Probably the only aviation related picture I've ever done.

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/794/horsasunsetzl0.jpg

And of an Albemarle as well, not a type I've seen done much, though I've got to do a profile of one as part of my latest project.