In 1946, the US Navy Flight Demonstration Team was flying their first aircraft, the Grumman F-6F Hellcat, and had just started flying their first airshows under the new name The Blue Angels. Resplendent in their dark gloss blue with gold leaf trim, the team also operated a North American SNJ trainer to act as a Japanese Zero. Painted a bright chrome yellow with large red "meatballs" it soon picked up the nickname "Beetle Bomb" After engaging in mock combat with the Hellcats the SNJ would fire off a smoke canister and the plane captain in the rear gunner seat would toss out a dummy pilot with a static cord activated parachute. the painting depicts the team practicing for their first show over an auxiliary airfield near Jacksonville Florida.
Original painting collection of Jim Larsen. Acrylic on gesso board 16"x20."
Signed open edition giclee prints are available for $110.00 plus $10.00 shipping. Print size in inches: 16 x 20 on 18 x 22 paper.
The Beetle Bomb
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