"Tinkie" was a B-25D-10, #41-30315, assigned to the 498th Bomb Squadron of the 345th Bomb Group in January, 1944. Piloted by Col. Clinton True till her transfer to the 345 B.G.'s 500th Bomb Squadron in early April, -44, she flew many missions in the Southwest Pacific. 1/Lt James Waggle was her pilot in the 500th, where she racked up several more missions before the disastrous April 16 mission to Hollandia. Over 200 planes were launched, but bad weather closed in behind and over 30 B-25s became lost and were assumed to have crashed.
"Tinkie" was among these...
This 18"x24" picture was done in my usual mix of airbrush and hand brush in acrylic and oil on hardboard.
Aside from the attractiveness of "Tinkie" herself I wanted to capture a little bit of the humid, tropical atmosphere of the South Pacific.
I've also attempted to duplicate the real "Tinkie's" finish of faded olive-drab color patched over in places with fresh color. This mix of weathering and the bold color scheme is what made #41-30315 catch my eye!
Warpath Across the Pacific by Lawrence J. Hickey, 1986,
International Research and Publishing Corporation, Boulder Colorado