The Big Picture

Written By John Slemp

This piece of "wall-art represents a B-17 of the 92nd Bomb Group, United States Air Force. The 92nd was the oldest group in the Eighth Air Force, having been the first group to make a non-stop crossing of the Atlantic to the UK in August 1942.

This picture was removed from a hut at the Podington site in October 1989 by the Eighth Wall Art Conservation Society, with the assistance of USAF Europe. After the closure of Podington in 1946 the airfield was returned to agricultural use and the hut converted into a pig sty. It is probably for this reason that the picture survived.

Originally painted by S/Sgt Waldschmidt, the picture will be conserved by a team led by H. Bosowitz. It was re-installed in a hangar at the Duxford Aerodrome, as part of the American Air Museum, a subset of the Imperial War Museum.

The jacket is from the collection at the 390th Memorial Museum in Tucson, Arizona and is one of over 100 jackets that were photographed for the book "Bomber Boys: Flight Jacket Art." Contemporary portraits of many of the veterans, and their stories appear in the book, which has already won two international design awards.

Available now, it's not too early to begin thinking about Christmas! The book is also available at these fine museum gift shops across the USA, with the proceeds benefitting the museum. @airandspacemuseum @afmuseum @390thmmf @EAA @marchfieldairmuseum @airzoo_ @wings_museum @100thbgf @eaawarbirds @_warbird @warbirdcoffee @war__birds @warbird_lovers @306bg @100thbombgroup @388thbga

@american_air_museum #wwiiibomberboys #booksforchristmas #bomberjackets

John Slemp

John’s 30 year career has seen him create images for a wide variety of advertising, corporate, and editorial clients worldwide.

After almost 11 years in the US Army, John attended Atlanta’s Portfolio Center, and later assisted established commercial photographers for five years.

Oscar winners, Olympic champions, astronauts, musicians, artists, pilots, veterans and regular people have all been captured by John’s lenses.

An experienced, innovative, and award winning commercial photographer, he deftly brings studio techniques to location work.

John is increasingly involved in showcasing his work through galleries and museums, and is currently writing a book about WWII “bomber jackets.”

Past clients include: The Company of Others and Innis Maggiore ad agencies, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Epps Aviation, Goodyear Aviation Tires, EAA’s Sport Aviation magazine, General Aviation News, Smithsonian Air & Space magazine, Jet Support Services International, Avfuel, The Lindbergh Foundation, and Women in Aviation International.

A long-time member of the American Society of Media Photographers, John served 5 years on the national board, and twice as the Atlanta/SE chapter president.

http://www.johnslemp.com
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