Early Allison engine P51 mustang in flight bearing Royal Air Force Roundels

Ink detailed watercolor on paper with applique aircraft mounted on cardboard.

Unsigned, mounting board stamped by publisher JUVENILE PRODUCTIONS LIMITED/LUDGATE HOUSE 110-111 FLEET STREET/LONDON E.C.4. stamp. Further marked with a WWII era MINISTRY OF INFORMATION/TECHNICAL CENSORSHIP stamp, and a date mark reading 8 OCT 1941.

15 x 10.5 in.

The date marking of this piece suggests its preparation coincided with the arrival of the first P-51A Mustangs in the United Kingdom in October 1941. These aircraft became operational in January, 1942, providing British pilots with their first experience flying one of the most important aircraft of World War II.

In 1940, the British Purchasing Commission under Sir Henry Self approached North American, hoping to secure further production of the Curtiss P-40. General Manager James "Dutch" Kindleberger instead suggested that North American Aviation could develop a superior aircraft in less time than it would take to tool up for the rival type. Already dissatisfied with the P-40's performance, and suitably impressed by North American's presentation, the Self approved a contract. In only 102 days, a prototype was completed, and in 149 days, it had proven itself faster and longer-legged than its Curtiss rival. So impressed were British pilots with its range and other qualities that, in 1942, they experimented with mounting the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine on the aircraft to improve its high-altitude performance. What resulted was one of the few combat aircraft capable of escorting British and American bombers on their long missions over occupied Europe.

The publisher signed on this piece, Juvenile Productions Limited, which was known for its boldly illustrated children's books. These included everything from early-childhood stories starring cherub-like Peter Panda to boys' adventure stories about heroic fictional aviators such as James Charles "Biggles" Bigglesworth. In 1941, the publishing house produced a series entitled "Air Power of the Empire" which presented basic information on and illustrations of the aircraft then in service with the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm, including Lend-Lease aircraft. On offer is an early illustration of one of the most consequential combat aircraft of WWII, produced before it became ubiquitous.

[Art, Folk Art, Military Art, Etching, Engraving, Lithographs, Prints, Ephemera]  [World War II, WWII,  FDR, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt,Dwight D. Eisenhower, Adolf Hitler, Allied, Axis, George S. Patton, Air Force]

Very Good. Item displays age toning, particularly along the edges and mounting flaking tape along the rear edges indicating it was once mounted. Item shows some flaking to the edges of the obverse side, and some scratches to the reverse.