This painting by John Keith Butterfield captures the essence of the iconic P-47D-25 Thunderbolt fighter bomber aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. The artwork depicts a realistic and detailed representation of the aircraft, paying homage to its service and significance during the war. The painting is medium-sized, measuring 11 inches in height and 14 inches in width, and is handmade with acrylic paint.
The piece is signed by the artist, John K. Butterfield, and comes matted and ready for framing. Its contemporary, folk art style is perfect for aviation enthusiasts and collectors of Americana. The painting is an original production from 2017 and does not come with a certificate of authenticity. This is a must-have item for anyone who appreciates military history and the iconic aircraft of World War II.
John Keith Butterfield (1930-2023) John was born on August 6, 1930, in Momence, Illinois. The son of C. Elvin Butterfield and Clara (Wyatt) Butterfield, John was a graduate of Momence High School and the University of Illinois. He married Martha A. Butterfield in 1956 in Champaign, Illinois. John was a veteran of service with the United States Air Force, where he served as a sergeant in the Alaskan Air Command during the Korean War. He worked for the Pope Brace Company in Kankakee until becoming a contract negotiator for the US Army at Joliet Arsenal. His work there took him to the Rock Island Arsenal and later to the Pentagon. He retired from the Office of the Secretary of Defense in 1991 and returned to the Kankakee area, where he was a photographer, writer, and cartoonist for the Bourbonnais Herald, Country Market newspaper until he relocated to Las Vegas in 2015. John was an artist, whose paintings, drawings, cartoons, and hand-made greeting cards are treasured by many. He was also an avid photographer and model builder. Some of his detailed airplane models, created from scratch with found materials, are displayed at the Lyons Air Museum in Orange County, California.
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter, and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bomber in the ground-attack role. Its primary armament was eight .50-caliber machine guns, and it could carry 5-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500 lb (1,100 kg). When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to 8 tons, making it one of the heaviest fighters of the war. The Thunderbolt was effective as a short- to medium-range escort fighter in high-altitude air-to-air combat and ground attack in both the European and Pacific theaters. The P-47 was designed around the powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radial engine, which also powered two U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps fighters, the Grumman F6F Hellcat and the Vought F4U Corsair. An advanced turbosupercharger system ensured the aircraft's eventual dominance at high altitudes, while also influencing its size and design. The P-47 was one of the main United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighters of World War II. It also served with other Allied air forces, including those of France, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union. Mexican and Brazilian squadrons fighting alongside the USAAF also flew the P-47. The armored cockpit was relatively roomy and comfortable and the bubble canopy introduced on the P-47D offered good visibility. Nicknamed the "Jug" owing to its appearance if stood on its nose, the P-47 was noted for its firepower and its ability to resist battle damage and remain airworthy. A present-day U.S. ground-attack aircraft, the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, takes its name from the P-47.
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