First Over The Front is a painting by Randy Green which was uploaded on November 15th, 2012.
First Over The Front
As heavy clouds part, Lt. William G. Schauffler (Pilot), and Captain Thomas J. Griffin (Observer) side-slip their SPAD XI to avoid intense... more
by Randy Green
Title
First Over The Front
Artist
Randy Green
Medium
Painting - Oils On Portrait Canvas
Description
As heavy clouds part, Lt. William G. Schauffler (Pilot), and Captain Thomas J. Griffin (Observer) side-slip their SPAD XI to avoid intense ground-fire coming from the town below. Schauffler and Griffin have the "unofficial" honor on this day of being the first American officers to cross over German lines on the Western Front. What had begun as a routine camera test-flight near Toul, France, took a deadly turn when they encountered low clouds and fog near the front-line trenches. With their navigation hampered by an old French road map, their Stars-and-Stripes adorned aircraft drifted over No-Man's Land and into the German reserve-line airspace. Lost and totally unaware of the changed situation on the ground, Schauffler buzzed an unknown town in an effort to identify themselves to the troops firing at them below (they mistakenly thought they were French). Suddenly, with a shout of "Those are German uniforms, get the hell out of here!", Captain Griffin alerted Schauffler to enemy troops with machine guns mounted on a church roof. Their aircraft was raked with accurate fire but they managed to escape back to friendly lines. Later, they would count over one hundred and seventy bullet holes in the fabric wings, cockpit, and fuselage flags. Miraculously, neither was harmed, but since the flight into enemy territory wasn't authorized, they weren't given any credit for their ordeal.
Four days later, Major Ralph Royce, Commander of the First Aero Squadron, would be hailed by the press as the first "official" American officer to sally across the German lines. Major Royce's First Aero Squadron flag (which adorned his aircraft) is currently on display at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio.
Uploaded
November 15th, 2012
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Comments (14)
Aimelle ML
Exquisite art! love the tones, Point of view, and, in fact, everything about this piece, Randy!
Sharyn Winters
Such a wonderful depiction of these aircraft. My dad taught men who were going to war, during the II World War, how to fly, in these. Love it , love the colors, and the action, good job.