The Owl Swoops: for Debbielove "In 1940, the Army Air Corps ordered 203 Curtiss O-52s for observation duties. Upon delivery, the aircraft was used in military maneuvers with the USAAC, but following America's entry into World War II, the USAAF determined that the aircraft did not possess sufficient performance for "modern" combat operations in oversea areas. As a result, the O-52 was relegated to courier duties within the U.S. and short-range submarine patrol over the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The O-52 was the last "O" type aircraft procured in quantity for the Air Corps. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the "O" designation was discontinued and the "L" series for liaison-type aircraft was adopted instead. In November 1942, the USSR ordered 30 O-52 Owls through the Lend-Lease program. Twenty-six were shipped and only 19 ever made it to their shores.[1] Of these only 10 were accepted into service. They were used operationally for artillery-fire spotting and general photographic and observation platforms. Some were still flying into the 1950s. The aircraft was generally disliked in Soviet use." --From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I was thumbing through a picture history of Kansas Aviation at our local Barnes & Noble bookstore and saw a black and white photo very similiar to this render of a Curtiss O-52 "buzzing" a bunch of farmers who where cutting wheat. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a decent model of an old tractor-pulled combine for that period and lacked the photos to even try modeling one, so I just left that out. The tractor is dated even for the War years because a lot of older 1930s tractors and horse-drawn farm machinery was brought back into use because new farm implements were not being made, due to the war effort. Still, I think I captured the essence of that old photo. Rob, this one's for you for all your loyal support. Thanks, Mate! Thanks for dropping by for a peek. Thank you also for all those comments on my previous postings and especially thank you to those who added some to their favorites list. Jeremy CREDITS: Vue7 Pro Studio, Poser6, PostShopPro5. Aircraft: D. James "Curtiss O-52 Owl" (Google Warehouse); Ecosystem: "Wheat" plant from Realms Art Farmland (Cornucopia3d). Tractor: Sams3d "Old Fordson Tractor." Figure: DAZ Michael 3, April YSH's "Mitch" hair (Renderosity); clothing is Poser World's "M2 Dungarees" and "Rorkes Drift undershirt," and RDNA's "Legend" hat. Shoes (which you can't see) are "BossyBoots" by HeadKase (ShareCG).