'Twin-tailed Dragons' pencil sketch (459FS P-38s)

[chicoartist]

Hi guys,

Just finished this little pencil sketch for my upcoming Twin-tailed Dragons. The final canvas will be 24 x 32. Next step is to do a small oil sketch the same size as this pencil sketch to nail down the values and colors. After THAT, I have to put this project aside and finish the final 48" wide The Debden Kidd canvas. The final P-38 canvas is going to the same home as The Debden Kidd, so no problem mixing and matching my time on these two!

I didn't bother with much detail or markings at this small size, but I did 'hint' at the distinctive dragon motif art on the booms (459th FS; Chittagong, India). The painting will show a few P-38s in mid-May 1944 led by Capt. Walter F. "Bill" Duke's Miss-V. Duke, a 13-victory ace, was KIA in this plane after a sweep over Heho/Meiktila airfield on 6 June 44 when he voluntarily returned to find his missing wingman after the wingman failed to join up after they cleared the target area. Duke said he had plenty of gas and circled back.

Japanese fighters flying at altitude saw his lone P-38 and attacked. After the war Japanese records investigated by US officers confirmed that Duke knocked down three of his attackers before he was shot down himself. These last three victories do not show up on some "official" lists. His wingman actually made it home OK. The second ship is being flown by Maj. Willard J. Webb.

Twin-tailed Dragons
Pencil on paper
8 x 10 5/8

[SMF144]

Wade,

Nice drawing. Maybe I missed it, but what is your question?

Stephen

[chicoartist]

Hi Stephen,

In relation to this painting, I asked about the plane-in-squadron number (large number painted on the tail) for Lt. Baumeiser's Irish Lassie, which I've since decided to make the "star" of this piece. Baumeister wasn't an ace - indeed I don't think he scored a single victory - but I couldn't resist the shamrock and large lettering on the nose of his kite.

Research by a friend is indicating this P-38 had "7" painted on the tail, and no. 7, lacking a time machine for personal verification with my own eyes, may have to be it considering these really attractive Lightnings were so poorly covered, relatively speaking, in photos. This is a commission piece, and the more I read about these guys, the more excited I am about the work - they got a couple of DUCs and were actually a hot outfit - arse kickers, if you will!

See this page of my site for the progress on "Twin-tailed Dragons". Tomorrow I actually get started on the small oil sketch:
http://wademeyersart.tripod.com/id74.html

Thx,

Wade

[Frank Olynyk]

2nd Lt William George Baumeister was credited with an Oscar damaged on May 23, 1944. He was flying (or scheduled to fly) P-38H-5 42-66979 #120.

Frank.

[chicoartist]

Many thanks, Frank. I have two of your books (Stars and Bars, and ETO Credits) which I consult regularly.

Unfortunately, though - I'm looking for info on Baumeister's J-model.

While I've got you on the line, have you investigated or looked into Walter F. Duke's last three kills (459th FS; June 6, 1944), bringing him up to 13 total? I notice that you and the Air Force "credit" him with only 10.

Several sources say Japanese records showed after the war that Duke got three before he was shot down. US pilots of course didn't know about this (since Duke was alone), but US Intel officers heard and entered into the record the story of Duke's last fight when they went around interviewing JAAF Intel folks right after the war.

Of course, I know there's a thousand such "revisionist" ace stories like this, but I'd like to see Duke get what he deserves ... especially since competent verification is available (or so the story goes), and he was engaged in what could easily be a Medal of Honor-worthy "above and beyond" mission, to my mind.

Wade