"Tough and Ready; the Memphis Belle"-Rich Thistle-B-17 Flying Fortress Art

Rich has been profiled on national television and radio and his images appear on the covers of Canadian, American and British aviation books, magazines and in television documentaries. One of his paintings is depicted in bronze in the Royal Canadian Mint's Canada Remembers medallion set commemorating the 50th anniversary of D-Day.

Over the years Rich has given numerous, slide-illustrated presentations, featuring his paintings and his career as an artist with particular focus on the Canadian history behind his many aviation images, to service clubs, historical and community clubs, aviation associations and veterans groups. Rich has created commemorative, aviation posters for veterans' associations and various annual or special aviation events. He has written a number of articles about the aviation history represented in his paintings for the American magazine Aviation History and 33 monthly columns for Canadian Flight, the national publication of COPA, the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association.

Rich Thistle Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Print "Tough and Ready; the Memphis Belle"

B-17F Flying Fortress, US 8th Airforce, WWII

If there is an aircraft which successfully symbolizes the American war in the air in World War II, it would have to be the Boeing heavy bomber, the famous B-17. Although perhaps inferior in some ways to some of its contemporaries during World War II, the “Flying Fortress” became a true legend in her own time. Whether legend and fact actually coincide in every way is somehow unimportant. But the symbol remains etched in collective consciousness. The B-17 embodies the tough, rugged spirit of those who fought in her. Those examples which remain, flying and in museums, commemorate the resolve and sacrifice of a whole generation.

TOUGH AND READY: THE MEMPHIS BELLE represents a very famous aircraft. This B-17 F was manufactured by Boeing in late 1941 as #124484. The Belle flew in the 91st Bomber Group, 324th Bomber Squadron, out of Bassingbourn, north of London. Her pilot was Captain Robert Morgan. Memphis Belle commenced operations on November 7, 1942, target Brest, France, and finished its 25th mission on May 17,1943.

Although they may really have been the second bomber crew to finish 25 trips, the Belle and her crew were “officially” the first, and became the stars of a famous Army Air Force propaganda documentary, ostensibly representing their last mission. The film was apparently created from a compilation of footage. Memphis Belle and her crew were sent home to raise funds and recruits for the war effort. The original aircraft survives to this day in an American aviation museum.

In the 1990's, the Memphis Belle came before the public again in Hollywood’s version of that momentous time fifty years before. The movie impressed me, and the vets I talked to said the flying sequences were realistically portrayed. When I decided to paint the Memphis Belle, I chose to paint her close up, “right in your face”. Although it made painting the famous nose art a little more difficult, I feel this view captures not only the pugnaciously aggressive spirit of the aircraft, but also suggests the elegance and power of its design. From behind the reflection on the nose glazing, a visible crew member scans the skies for enemy fighters.

20" by 16.25" image size print, limited to 550, is signed by the artist

A Limited Edition print is restricted to a certain number. For example, if 400 prints are made from an original painting, once they’re gone, that’s it. There is no limit to the number of open edition prints of a particular painting. That’s why Limited Edition prints are more expensive — and more valuable to collectors — than "open" edition. Rare objects are more valuable.

All Limited Edition artwork is subject to availability at time of order. Although seller strives to remain currrent as to inventory, seller reserves the right to cancel a sale if item is no longer available at time of purchase.