"The Peacemaker and the Smasher"
 
This painting is one I have wanted to do since I first watched the movie "Strategic Air Command".  I didn't know much about Jimmy Stewart for many years, but the visuals in the film were embedded in me. So beautiful and so dramatic.
 
Over time I learned about Jimmy's flying career, his service as a bomber pilot in WWII, his air racing background as an owner of the P-51 Mustang "Thunderbird/Mr. Alex" and his rise to the rank of Brigadier General in the USAF reserve. What an incredible guy! Oh, and he was a pretty good actor, too.
 
When I found that Paul Mantz not only was involved in "Flight of the Phoenix" but was also responsible for much of the aerial footage in SAC, I was determined to tie two of my greatest aviation heroes together in a painting. The scene I chose to illustrate is the climb out sequence for Jimmy's character "Dutch Holland" as he gets his first ride in a B-36, nonstop, from Carswell AFB in Texas to Alaska and back.
 
Mantz used his freshly overhauled TB-25H (N1203) nicknamed "The Smasher" to film the "Big Stick" as it overtook and passed the camera ship. This was the first use of the plane since it's overhaul and installation of a new camera nose. The custom cylindrical optical glass nose window, side gunner positions and the tail camera position were all used to great effect as camera mounts. The elaborate World map and flag graphics had not been applied at this point. 
 
Original painting 18"x24", acrylic on gesso board.
 
Signed, open edition giclee prints are available for $150.00 plus $15.00 shipping. See the ""The Peacemaker and the Smasher" prints sale page for how to purchase prints. 
 
Image size 12.5"x 25" on 14.5"x 27" paper.   
 
Original painting for sale for $2565.00 plus $15.00 shipping.