Ozark Airfield Artworks is proud to present the artwork of Darby Perrin.
Read a letter from Darby, below.
Read a letter from Darby, below.
My name is Darby Perrin. In 1986 I went through Air Force basic Training,
tech-school and field training before arriving at my first duty station at
Eielson AFB, near Fairbanks Alaska. I was put to work as a Crew Chief in
the 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, maintaining nationally important
RC-135 spy planes.
An accomplished high school artist, I took advantage of every spare
moment to paint and sketch. My subject matter, like many young artists,
varied greatly. More often, I was beginning to paint the aircraft that
surrounded me from day to day. A friend commissioned me to paint an RC-
135V (code named “Burning Wind”) escorted by a Russian Mig-31
Foxhound. In reality this was the peak of the Cold War, and intercepts of
reconnaissance aircraft by Soviet Fighter jets was not uncommon. The
troops who worked on the camera-shy RC-135’s were not allowed to
photograph them. Doing so not only risked your camera and film, but
gave some 19 year old airman with a gun reason to put his knee on the
back of your neck while you lay, whimpering, in the snow. It stood to
reason that an artist’s conception of what these aircraft looked like might
just sell without violating any photography rules. In 1988 I printed my
friend’s commission and titled it, “The Fox and the Wind”. This was the
first of many images I would produce as lithographs, and within a few
months, I was sold out. During this time I was approached by my
Commander who saw my talent as an opportunity to increase morale in an
over-worked and under-appreciated squadron. I was honored with the
task of painting the nose art on all the jets of the 6th SRW. Since then, my
nose art has shown up in many books and magazines and been hailed as
“...some of the best in Strategic Air Command”.
My tour in Alaska was at an end. I received orders to Andrews AFB,
outside of Washington D.C. And reported there in November of 1989. I
worked as a phase dock inspector on the 89th Airlift Wing’s fleet of VC-135’
s, VC-137’s and VC-9’s. This was tedious work, and although I had
tremendous respect for my fellow mechanics, I yearned for something
different. I had wanted to paint and design for the Air Force ever since I
found out there was such a job. Alas, graphic artist jobs are rare and I had
no strings to pull to land such a coveted vocation. Instead I thought I
might retrain into a career field that would bring me closer to the airplanes I
had grown to love. I decided to be a flyer. Only about 2% of Air Force
personnel are enlisted flyers. Not very many jobs to consider. My timing
was also a factor. The Gulf War had begun and all retraining was
cancelled. I had only a small window of opportunity before my enlistment
was up; if retraining didn’t start again, I would be forced out on the street
with my discharge paperwork. The war came to an end and retraining was
again available, but with fewer flying jobs available than before the war. I
put in for and was accepted as an Airborne Communications Technician
aboard the E-3 “sentry” AWACS aircraft. I envisioned myself as an elite
airborne warrior, scanning the horizon for enemy aircraft, all the while
barking orders to F-16’s to kill the bad guys. Reality is sometimes very
harsh. Heck, I didn’t even have a window. AWACS wasn’t all bad. I made
many friends and traveled the world. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention
that some of those friends lost their lives. On September 22nd, 1995, an E-
3 with the call sign Yukla 27 took off from Elmondorf AFB Alaska. The
airplane struck a flock of Geese and went down in the woods a few miles
away. All 24 crewmen were lost. I designed a memorial that stands at
Tinker AFB, East of Oklahoma City. The memorial was paid for by selling
a memorial print titled “Twenty Four”. I donated the original painting to the
962nd Airborne Warning and Control Squadron for whom the men were
lost.
I left Active Duty in 1996 to start a career as a professional artist. I went to
art shows and conventions and lived the dream. The dream wasn’t all
dreamy and I found out the life of a starving artist wasn’t all peaks; there
are many valleys. I had to make ends meet between the peaks somehow.
At the end of 1998 I joined the Air Force Reserve as a KC-135 Boom
Operator. There was the view of the horizon I was looking for. I’m around
aircraft and aviators all the time and the valleys aren’t so deep. I fly and I
paint. I paint and I fly. I opened a gallery on Tinker AFB in 1997. If you
happen to be in the area and you have a DoD ID card, encourage you to
stop by and chat. If I’m not somewhere above you, refueling some elite
airborne warrior, I’d love to talk.
tech-school and field training before arriving at my first duty station at
Eielson AFB, near Fairbanks Alaska. I was put to work as a Crew Chief in
the 6th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, maintaining nationally important
RC-135 spy planes.
An accomplished high school artist, I took advantage of every spare
moment to paint and sketch. My subject matter, like many young artists,
varied greatly. More often, I was beginning to paint the aircraft that
surrounded me from day to day. A friend commissioned me to paint an RC-
135V (code named “Burning Wind”) escorted by a Russian Mig-31
Foxhound. In reality this was the peak of the Cold War, and intercepts of
reconnaissance aircraft by Soviet Fighter jets was not uncommon. The
troops who worked on the camera-shy RC-135’s were not allowed to
photograph them. Doing so not only risked your camera and film, but
gave some 19 year old airman with a gun reason to put his knee on the
back of your neck while you lay, whimpering, in the snow. It stood to
reason that an artist’s conception of what these aircraft looked like might
just sell without violating any photography rules. In 1988 I printed my
friend’s commission and titled it, “The Fox and the Wind”. This was the
first of many images I would produce as lithographs, and within a few
months, I was sold out. During this time I was approached by my
Commander who saw my talent as an opportunity to increase morale in an
over-worked and under-appreciated squadron. I was honored with the
task of painting the nose art on all the jets of the 6th SRW. Since then, my
nose art has shown up in many books and magazines and been hailed as
“...some of the best in Strategic Air Command”.
My tour in Alaska was at an end. I received orders to Andrews AFB,
outside of Washington D.C. And reported there in November of 1989. I
worked as a phase dock inspector on the 89th Airlift Wing’s fleet of VC-135’
s, VC-137’s and VC-9’s. This was tedious work, and although I had
tremendous respect for my fellow mechanics, I yearned for something
different. I had wanted to paint and design for the Air Force ever since I
found out there was such a job. Alas, graphic artist jobs are rare and I had
no strings to pull to land such a coveted vocation. Instead I thought I
might retrain into a career field that would bring me closer to the airplanes I
had grown to love. I decided to be a flyer. Only about 2% of Air Force
personnel are enlisted flyers. Not very many jobs to consider. My timing
was also a factor. The Gulf War had begun and all retraining was
cancelled. I had only a small window of opportunity before my enlistment
was up; if retraining didn’t start again, I would be forced out on the street
with my discharge paperwork. The war came to an end and retraining was
again available, but with fewer flying jobs available than before the war. I
put in for and was accepted as an Airborne Communications Technician
aboard the E-3 “sentry” AWACS aircraft. I envisioned myself as an elite
airborne warrior, scanning the horizon for enemy aircraft, all the while
barking orders to F-16’s to kill the bad guys. Reality is sometimes very
harsh. Heck, I didn’t even have a window. AWACS wasn’t all bad. I made
many friends and traveled the world. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention
that some of those friends lost their lives. On September 22nd, 1995, an E-
3 with the call sign Yukla 27 took off from Elmondorf AFB Alaska. The
airplane struck a flock of Geese and went down in the woods a few miles
away. All 24 crewmen were lost. I designed a memorial that stands at
Tinker AFB, East of Oklahoma City. The memorial was paid for by selling
a memorial print titled “Twenty Four”. I donated the original painting to the
962nd Airborne Warning and Control Squadron for whom the men were
lost.
I left Active Duty in 1996 to start a career as a professional artist. I went to
art shows and conventions and lived the dream. The dream wasn’t all
dreamy and I found out the life of a starving artist wasn’t all peaks; there
are many valleys. I had to make ends meet between the peaks somehow.
At the end of 1998 I joined the Air Force Reserve as a KC-135 Boom
Operator. There was the view of the horizon I was looking for. I’m around
aircraft and aviators all the time and the valleys aren’t so deep. I fly and I
paint. I paint and I fly. I opened a gallery on Tinker AFB in 1997. If you
happen to be in the area and you have a DoD ID card, encourage you to
stop by and chat. If I’m not somewhere above you, refueling some elite
airborne warrior, I’d love to talk.
Here at Ozark Airfield Artworks we offer a large selection art prints. These prints mainly
depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We also deal
with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are from all the top
national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of our prints are
signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking for a specific
plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
depict modern and historic aviation along with military, civil and space flight. We also deal
with naval subjects and military armor and infantry works. These prints are from all the top
national and international artists along with some local artists. Many of our prints are
signed by the artist and by famous pilots and veterans. If you are looking for a specific
plane, pilot, artist or subject please contact us.
All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be reproduced
without their consent.
without their consent.
Copyright © Ozark Airfield Artworks 2005 All Rights Reserved
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