Last fall I had the opportunity to contribute photographically to the Wings of Valor book project.  It is an homage to the still-living men who downed at least five enemy aircraft during World War II…otherwise known as "aces."  My assignment was to create portraits of two men in Georgia and South Carolina…Commander Leroy Robinson, and Commander Robert Maxwell.

Recently, work began on a project that I’ve had in the back of my head for quite some time...that being to photograph WWII “bomber jackets”.  More properly known as “A2” jackets, many have distinctive artwork on both sides, and of course are unique to their owners.  As the horrors of WWII recede from memory, it seems to me that now, more than ever, is the time to remember the brave souls who sought to end this collective tragedy.

This portrait was created recently, and after posting it to Facebook, a relative of the subject inquired about the equipment used.  While that is often the most asked question by amateurs (no offense intended...we were all amateurs once), perhaps a better question would be to ask why the portrait was created this way.  The below lighting diagram should help explain how this image was created.

A friend recently alerted me to this recent interview on the Moth website.  Dawn is a WWII veteran and member of the Women Airforce Service Pilot's, otherwise known as the WASP's.

Not to shortchange the efforts, or the content, of our last two "Reaching High" interviews, but it's time to get 'em out on the street.

First up is the interview conducted with Brian Shul, one of only 93 men to ever fly the SR-71.  Not only was Brian a fighter pilot in Vietnam, but he survived a terrible fire to fully return to flight status, eventually being selected for the SR-71 program.  It's not a long interview, but it's packed full of information I've never heard anywhere else.

Colonel Jill Long was initially a KC-10 aerial refueling tanker pilot in the US Air Force.  Later, she became a decorated A-10 Thunderbolt pilot who flew over 50 combat missions in Afghanistan.  She then moved on to become a squadron commander in Germany, and is a recent graduate of the US Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

For anyone who enjoys a good English accent, this interview is a real treat.  John Beattie has had quite the career flying in the Royal Navy, and in several other venues.  When the Seafire restoration project was nearing completion, he was contacted about test flying the aircraft.

Bob "Punchy" Powell doesn't consider himself a "hero", in the military sense.  You see, he was a pilot in WWII, and flew the P-51 Mustang over the beaches of Normandy, during the D-Day invasion.  He has been heard to say that the guys on the ground that day were the real heroes...he was just doing his everyday job.

Ron Alexander is well-known in aviation circles, and he loves the DC-3.  He's owned an original DC-3 for over twenty years now.  According to Ron, there were only about 300 aircraft built as true DC-3's.  The other 10,000+ aircraft were built as C-47's, the military version.  His was built as a passenger liner, and has remained so to this day.

As many of you may know, there has been a show of my work at Georgia's second-largest museum, the Tellus Science Museum, since the First of June.  It is a chronological timeline of aviation history, depicted in images beginning with the Wright Flyer, up to the present day F-22 fighter plane.  Contrary to public opinion, I was not present for the Wright Flyer image, so I can take no credit for it.  However, I was able to photograph a Curtiss JN-4D "Jenny" that is nearing restoration just outside of Atlanta.  The first image in the show, it is a  detail shot of the cockpit, complete with antique instruments.

Recently we had the opportunity to appear as a guest on the simpleflight.net internet radio program, hosted by Al Waterloo and Marc Epner. The archive version of the show is available below, in case you missed it.  I come in at about the 28 minute mark, and the interview lasts for almost an hour.  Enjoy!

The empennage of the #4 (slot) Blue Angels F-18 Super Hornet. Naval Air Station Pensacola.

The Women Airforce Service Pilots that served during World War II are set to receive a Congressional Gold Medal. Former WASP, Bernice "Bee" Haydu talks about her experience and meets with Holly Hutchinson, a modern-day female pilot.