P-40 Warhawk - Hill #48

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"P-40 Warhawk - L. 'Tex' Hill #48"

General Lee 'Tex' Hill was born on July 13, 1915 in Kwangju, Korea, the son of missionaries. He joined the Navy as a torpedo squadron pilot in VT-3 aboard the USS Saratoga, and then a dive-bomber pilot in VB-41 aboard the USS Ranger. He joined the Flying Tigers, and flew P-40 (specifications), number 48 as a flight leader, and then squadron leader of the 2nd Pursuit Squadron. After the Flying Tigers disbanded in July, 1942, he was one of only five Flying Tigers to join the USAAF, 23rd Fighter Group, and flew the P-51 Mustang. In 1946, he left active duty and joined the Air National Guard, becoming the youngest brigadier general in the history of the service. He retired from the military in 1968. He shot down 18.25 enemy aircraft with 20 more probables. His heroics were so legendary, John Wayne portrayed him in the movie “Flying Tigers”. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, two Air medals, British Distinguished Flying Cross, Chinese Order of the Cloud Banner, and Chinese Victory Medal.

Click on aircraft for progressive study.


Original Painting 10" x 8" - Acrylic on Masonite
Signed by 'Tex' Hill - P-40 Warhawk Squadron Leader and 7 Tigers
Lee 'Tex' Hill is a member of our Rogue's Gallery

Original painting displayed in private collection.


Progressive stages of painting development.

1. Line drawings of Flying Tiger logo and P-40 on masonite. Painted the Flying Tiger and 2nd Pursuit Squadron Panda logo. Covered logos with paper and continued with red and black on aircraft, the shark teeth, wheels, and prop. I then painted the underside light gray.	2. I added panel lines and flaps on the wings. Next I painted in the brown camouflage paint on the fuselage. Added highlights, shadows, and panel lines to the brown camouflage.


3. Added green camouflage, including highlights, shadows, and panel lines. Added Panda Bear logo, then number 48. Continued with the cockpit and added air-to-air victory symbols. Finished by adding exhaust stains and battle wear to airplane. The painting was signed by the artist.

The following Flying Tigers, at their San Diego Reunion, signed the painting on June 15, 2003.
	1). Lee “Tex” Hill – Flight Leader, 2nd Pursuit Squadron (Ace 18 air-to-air) 2). Dick Rossi – Flight Leader, 1st Pursuit Squadron (Ace 6.5 air-to-air) 3). Charlie Bond – 1st Pursuit Squadron (Ace 7 air-to-air) 4). R. J. “Catfish” Raine – Flight Leader, 3rd Pursuit Squadron (3.2 air-to-air) 5). Charles Mott – Flight Leader, 2nd Pursuit Squadron – P.O.W. 6). Peter Wright – Flight Leader, 2nd Pursuit Squadron (3.5 air-to-air) 7). Al Kaelin – Group Headquarters, 1st Pursuit Squadron 8). Edwin Forbes – Administration – Group Headquarters

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