Fortresses Under Fire (1975) by Keith Ferris showcases the 25′ high by 75′ wide mural in the World War II Gallery of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The B-17G, 42-38050, “Thunder Bird” of the 303rd Bomb Group, based at Molesworth, England, is seen at 11:45 AM, 15 August 1944, over Trier, Germany, on its return to base from a mission to Weisbaden. B-17Gs “Bonnie B”, “Special Delivery”, and “Marie”, are seen below as a Messerschmitt 109G and Focke Wulf FW 190 attack “Thunder Bird’s” element. Jeff Ethell’s research for the mural revealed the names and aircraft identities of all U.S. and many German participants in this battle in which the 303rd lost nine Fortresses in this attack by Luftwaffe fighters.
Concept miniature 9" X 3"
The Original Sketch
Oil Study - 75" X 25"
The Artist In Action
An actual image of Keith Ferris painting the 25′ x 75′ Fortresses Under Fire mural at the NASM in Washington D.C. This visually stunning mural depicts Thunderbird’s 70th mission to Wiesbaden, Germany on August 15th, 1944. Specifically, Keith Ferris’s piece showcases the B-17 Thunderbird flown from Molesworth during World War II (WW2). The Air & Space Smithsonian commissioned this painting in 1975 – looking to highlight the B-17’s aerial bombardment. While no specific mission, craft, or battle was to be depicted, Ferris worked with aviation historian Jeff Ethell to create a historically-accurate scene of the exact events of that day. According to Keith himself, “that just wasn’t my way of doing things. I like to paint a specific moment in time.”
Cowboys and Indians by Jeff Ethell - This is the Story behind the B-17 Mural "Fortresses Under Fire" at the Smithsonian Institute National Air & Space Museum in Washington DC. After Keith was awarded the contract to paint a B-17 on the 75' by 25' wall at the soon to built and opened Air & Space Museum he reached out to his friend and aviation research professional Jeff Ethell to find the best mission that met all the requirements, a well known B-17, clear skies, contrails and enemy aircraft. The aircraft chosen was Thunder Bird, her 72nd mission, the date was Aug. 15, 1944, the time was 11:59, the target heavily defended ball bearing factories of Wiesbaden and this is the story.
Click here to read the story Cowboys & Indians
Not exactly sure how we ended up with Adolf Galland, the most famous German fighter pilot and ACE of World War II, signed copy of Cowboys and Indians by Jeff Ethell, but here it is.
