Darkest Before Dawn by bmac62
Close
Hover over top left image to zoom.
Click anywhere to exit.
Members remain the original copyright holder in all their materials here at Renderosity. Use of any of their material inconsistent with the terms and conditions set forth is prohibited and is considered an infringement of the copyrights of the respective holders unless specially stated otherwise.
No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Pictured here: an American Eagle Squadron (71 Squadron) pilot, his British crew chief and their Hawker Hurricane.
In the dark days of 1940 following Dunkirk, a seemingly defenseless Britain stood starkly alone in Europe, facing the might of an all-conquering Nazi Germany. Protected only by the narrow waters of the English Channel, it was left to a tiny band of young RAF fighter pilots to stem the Luftwaffe's onslaught as the country braced itself for invasion.
Across the Atlantic, America followed the savage encounters of the Battle of Britain, knowing that soon it too would become involved in the war. Unable to wait, a small band of Americans decided their time had come; some 240 young US pilots, motivated to fight for the cause of freedom, made their way to England to fly with the RAF, and later the USAAF; many paid the ultimate price, more than a third never returning home. By September 1940 these carefree young flyers were united into a reformed 71 Squadron, the first of three Eagle Squadrons, and the first to go into action, followed shortly after by 121 and 133 squadrons.
Showing the same steely determination that had carried their British comrades through the Battle of Britain, they were quickly embraced into the fold of the RAF, their ferocious reputation in combat endearing them to the British people.
Upon such things, a special relationship continues to this day.
Photo above taken in June 2009 at the USAF Museum, Dayton, Ohio.
Thanks for stopping by,
Bill:)
Comments (31)
wonderful work!!!!
Great work!!
nice work
SUPERB!!!!
Superb work Bill this looks great, well done!!
Homage.
Love the post work! Really enhanced this image! Nice work Bill!
Excellence, these images are great bud!
A cunning way of getting a shot of this Hurricane up! NONE of mine came out in focus... No idea why.... Works well like this again, I like it.. Cool one, mate... Rob.
Fantastic combination of photo journalism and illustration type photography....
Excellent work, Look like a comic. :)
Super!!!
Gorgeous Postwork
fantastic work!!! I like the mood here and the light!!! Super text, too!
a new superb creation! really enticing!
Really brings back that era. I like your postwork a lot on this, for enhancing the old-timey look.
Like the way you've done this!
Love the way the pic is presented. Glad those young pilots came over to help us.
Great pic, postwork and tribute to the Yanks in the RAF. The Hurricane is always a favorite!
Well done.
I continue to be impressed! The image is wonderful, and I actually read through the entire writeup without glazing over. :) Very accessible information. Thanks!
very nice capture ! love the postwork ! it looks like a cartoon !
Neat shot of the Hawker Hurricane, seemingly postworked in Poster Edges. I believe Ronald Reagan played one of these American pilots, or something similar, in the 1941 movie, International Squadron. Reminds me of the Flying Tigers of prewar WWII.
cool effect on this proud bird
I love this effect you have used here it looks lovely and aged.
Wonderful postwork and excellent narrative. Dana
This is a wonderful way of showing this plane, your postwork is beautiful and the info---always full interesting a highly readable!! (school was NEVER this much fun!!)
Ditto to all the above ! WOWWWWW
another fine piece of silhouetting, and your story & history are wonderfully written. (Really, a gripping description.) I wasn't aware of the American contingent on the British side, it's an amazing story. (My Uncle was in the French Underground, as he volunteered to stalk the Nazis in France; so I know that American forces were used by allied forces.) Your filter work made this very warm, and reflects the warmth in your description of the camaraderie of the American & British fighters: nice intuitive choice. And I like how you included patches of ground around the plane, too...A fine upload, in image & word. (Yep, school was never this good!)
Greatb Work!!