*   *   *   *   *

A Royal Air Force 32 Squadron SE5a enjoys a moment of peace while on patrol in May, 1918. The title refers to the sing-song humming as the rigging wires vibrate in the airflow . . .

*   *   *   *   *

4th Fighter Group triple ace 2Lt. Ralph K. Hofer in his P-51B Mustang "Salem Representative" snaps off a burst at a fleeing Fw 190, but loses the nimble German fighter in the morning sun. His aim thwarted, the 'victory' is only on a few frames of gun camera film - this time - thus my title. A fellow 4th Fighter Group Mustang aggressively maneuvers above for the kill. Was he successful? I prefer to let you decide.

Hofer was a natural fighter pilot, scoring 15 confirmed aerial victories while simultaneously upsetting his superiors with his independent ways. He went out in a blaze of glory on July 2, 1944 attacking a German airfield at Mostar, Yugoslavia.

*   *   *   *   *

A flight of four F/A-18F Super Hornets from Strike Fighter Squadron 22 (VFA-22), better known as the "Fighting Redcocks", pull perfect sonic cones as they transit the Gulf of Mexico above Mach 1 while on a flight from Key West destined for New Orleans. VFA-22 is assigned as part of Carrier Air Wing 14 on the USS Ronald Reagan. 

*   *   *   *   *

A pair of AH-64D Longbow Apache attack helicopters belonging to the 1-227th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (call sign: Crazyhorse) arrive on station near Sadr City, Iraq after completing a "Battle Hand-Over" with another Attack Weapons Team two-ship, seen at lower left.

1-227th Aviation Regiment’s Apaches and aircrews were the key kinetic enablers for Multi-National Division - Baghdad during the unit’s tour of duty there. During OIF 06-08 (Sept 2006 - Dec 2007), 'First Attack' solely provided around-the-clock area security and reconnaissance, over watch, and responsive fire for eight Brigade Combat Teams (BCT). The battalion was completely integrated with each BCT as their formations executed intense clear and control operations as part of the overall Baghdad Security Plan, Operation Fardh al Qanoon. The operational environment consisted of the City of Baghdad, a densely populated urban terrain, and the Taji and Mada’in regions, dangerous rural areas lying on the periphery of the city. Tremendously lethal and agile, First Attack was a respected and proven combat multiplier to each soldier in and outside the wire in Baghdad. Crazyhorse became synonymous to the 12th man of an infantry squad who had the power to tip the scales in favor of the coalition during any engagement.

*   *   *   *   *

The client who commissioned this piece is a photographer who took some stunning shots of the Bay of Pozzuoli near Naples. He loves the Frecce Tricolori and wanted to see a painting of a "private airshow" over his favorite vacation villa.  This scene combines his landscape photograph with an 'expanded vertically'' canvas to accomodate the team. The Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori ("Tricolor Arrows") normally fly with nine MB-339A/PAN jets plus a solo, but we decided that the solo pilot is back at the airfield drinking an expresso on us. That leaves five jets in the foreground with a line-abreast four-ship out over the bay pulling up after a low pass.

*   *   *   *   *

Royal Air Force Capt. Gwilym H. Lewis and a couple of 40 Squadron mates wing their way into a magnificent French sky in May 1918.  Lewis is at the controls of 'The Artful Dodger', his personal SE5a.  The ace claimed four of his twelve victories in serial D3540, code letter "K".  As the officer commanding 'B' Flight, his banner streams from the rudder.

Born August 5, 1897 in Birmingham, Lewis was posted to France with the RAF's 32 Squadron at the tender age of eighteen. Later, after a period as an instructor he was posted to 40 Sqdn as a flight leader flying the famous SE5a fighter. By the end of the war, Lewis had amassed a personal tally of 12 confirmed victories and had been awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross. After leaving the military he went into the insurance business, building a very successful career.  He also penned "Wings Over the Somme 1916-1918", a memoir of his wartime experiences.  Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, Lewis rejoined the RAF and became a member of Winston Churchill's Joint Planning Staff in the underground Central War Room. After the war was won, he resumed his insurance career and retired in 1974, remaining active in Great War historical societies.  One of the last surviving World War I aces, Gwilym Lewis passed away at age 99 in December 1996.

*   *   *   *   *

A flight of P-51 Mustangs from the 8th Air Force's 361st Fighter Group "Yellow Jackets" are seen over England returning from a combat mission in early August 1944. The Mustangs are descending to penetrate the thick overcast blanketing the area of their home base of Bottisham, Cambridgeshire. Typically, only the flight leader flew instruments in the clouds - his 'chicks' kept him in sight by flying close formation.

'Daydream' was one callsign of the 375th Fighter Squadron, which displayed the "E2" fuselage code.  A 3-ship from a sister squadron can be seen in the distance veering off slightly to make their own penetration. In my scenario the fourth man is missing - he was hit by flak over enemy territory and a few minutes later the pilot was seen to bail out. He got a good chute, so let's hope he can connect with the Underground or make it 'OK' to a POW camp ...

A complete "Work in Progress" album for this project is on my Facebook art page, "Wade Meyers Studios."

*   *   *   *   *

The client's father, Lt. William J. "Smitty" Smith, a 5th Air Force B-25 pilot with the 71st Bomb Squadron "Wolfpack", a squadron of the 38th Bomb Group "Sunsetters", drops desperately needed supplies to Australian coastwatchers on New Britain in Jan 1944. Due to bad weather several previous drop attempts had failed with other crews. The Smith crew volunteered to go in low level and do all they could to find the DZ. The coastwatchers built several signal fires to help mark their location - the release was to take place on the third one, where the men were gathered. The drop was successful and the grateful coastwatchers could be seen madly waving their arms by their fire. While discussing possible painting scenarios with the artist to honor his father's service, "Smitty" told his son that he regarded this as the most important mission of his combat tour. No further discussion was necessary, and the choice of title was obvious.

Combat photography to this day remains a crucial part of documenting military activities, but sometimes the only way to "Get the Image" or to bring fading memories back to life is through the hands of the artist.

*   *   *   *   *

Limping along in a crippled Flying Fortress over the North Sea and still within reach of enemy fighters, 94th Bomb Group pilot 2Lt. C. Arliss Watts and his crew breathe a sigh of relief at the arrival of an escort of P-51s. Their B-17G, nicknamed "Roll Me Over", had received flak damage while on the bomb run over Kiel, Germany, on 4th April 1945, resulting in the failure of the no. 2 engine and a dangerously windmilling propeller. The suspense was not over yet, for soon after they had passed the island fortress of Heligoland, the Mustangs would depart and the no. 3 engine, seen here trailing an ominous mist, would also fail, forcing Lt. Watts to feather that propeller. However, the crew did return safely to the 94th's home base of Rougham, near Bury St. Edmunds.

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *

*   *   *   *   *