Hostile Sky by Russell Smith at OzarkAirfieldArtworks Aviation Art

"Hostile Sky"

Hostile Sky
Limited edition giclee, 16.5 " x 22 .75 "

Award of Merit winner in the
2005 American Society of
Aviation Artists Annual Juried
Exhibition

Remarques Available
$25 per remarque

Hostile Sky” is a depiction of the final flight of Victor
Chapman, the first US airman to lose his life in
combat. Chapman, a member of the famed Lafayette
Escadrille was flying his Nieuport 16 on June 23,
1916, on a personal errand to deliver a crate of
oranges to a hospitalized friend. While in the air he
noticed a dogfight in which he recognized three of
his squadron mates. Chapman joined to the fight
only to find that his squadron mates had vanished
and that he was now alone against five German
Fokker monoplanes. The fight ended quickly with
Chapman plummeting to his death.

My original design of this piece featured Chapman’s
Nieuport with a brown and olive paint scheme which
was common to the Escadrille at that time. However,
after I began work on the painting a fellow WW1
researcher turned up some vital information
regarding the paint scheme of Chapman’s aircraft. A
report made by one of Chapman’s squadron mates
indicated that the reason his comrades deserted him
during the fight was that only a few days prior he
had painted his aircraft sky blue. The new color
scheme of his aircraft blended with the sky, thus his
friends never noticed him enter the fight.

Printed on acid free rag paper, the edition consists
of 200 prints, each of which is signed and numbered
by Russell Smith.

Remarque 1 -Indian
head logo of the
Lafayette Escadrille

Remarque 2
-Fokker EIV

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.

All images are copyrighted by the individual artist and may not be reproduced
without their consent.

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