Tribute to Georges Guynemer

[TerryJones]

"He was neither seen nor heard as he fell, his body and his machine were never found. Where has he gone? By what wings did he manage to glide into immortality? Nobody knows: nothing is known. He ascended and never came back, that is all. Perhaps our descendents will say: He flew so high that he could not come down again." L'Illustration, 6 October 1917.

The legendary Georges Guynemer was France's most beloved ace.

Despite his frail physical appearance he took part in more than 600 aerial combats and was shot down seven times and survived. He provoked an overwhelming admiration in all who fought alongside or against him. An excellent marksman and highly skilled pilot, he was hailed as the French Ace of Aces. Guynemer won the hearts of France, receiving letters from women proposing marriage, requests from school children for his autograph and was followed through the streets

In eight months in 1917, the fragile youth shot down 28 planes, including a quadruple victory on 25 May, for a total of 53 victories. In June, after some 20 minutes in inconclusive combat with an Albatros DV, Guynemer noticed that his adversary’s gun had jammed. He waved farewell and broke off the fight, leaving his opponent six-victory German ace Ernst Udet, so stunned and disturbed that he had to take an extended leave. Militarily speaking, Guynemer’s gesture proved costly. Udet later shot down 52 more Allied aircraft, became Germany’s second-highest-scoring ace, and survived the war.

Guynemer expected to die in the service of France. When Guynemer’s father warned in the summer of 1917 that there were limits to human powers, he replied, "Yes, limits that it is necessary to exceed. So long as one has not given everything, one has given nothing.' In early September a tired and depressed Guynemer, visiting his wounded squadron mate Heurtaux in the hospital, predicted that he would be the next to die. Two days later,on 11 September, Guynemer disappeared over Poelcapelle, he should not have been flying, but he refused to stop.French schoolchildren were told that he had flown so high that he could not descend. On 19 October the National Assembly and Senate enshrined "Capt. Guynemer, symbol of the aspirations and enthusiasm of the army of the nation," in the Pantheon, "whose cupola alone has sufficient span to shelter such wings."

The painting depicts Georges Guynemer in the Spad XIII in whch he was last seen. It is the first painting in a planned series of work under the heading of "Aces And Angels".

Oli on Canvas 24"x 18"

Cheers,

Terry

[JohnT]

lovely painting and I hope you post the others as they are finished

On the Ernst Udet incident I did know that it had a profound effect on Udet. It must have shaped his views on the relationship that exists between adversery airmen. Highly speculative I know but Udet later met and seemed to have an affection for a young Eric "Winkle" Brown who a little later found himself being removed from Germany on the morning of the outbreak of WW2 rather than being interned as one might expect. It has been speculated that someone "high up" pulled strings. Udet perhaps? Maybe Georges Guynemers gesture had even further reaching consequences?

[TerryJones]

Thanks John,

I hadn't heard of that story before involving Eric Brown. It wouldn't surprise me if it was true. Udet has always struck me as being one of the good guys, not very assertive and a little gullible perhaps but a decent chap and undoubtedly one of the best pilots of all time. He is definitely one of the Ace's I am thinking of painting.

Cheers,

Terry

Edited December 3, 2011 by TerryJones

[upnorth]

Terry, this one is a stunning as the others. You do very inspirational work.

I really love the lighting in this one, it really brings the warmth of the dawn light across and evokes a moment of tranquilty that was no doubt a scarce commodity in the midst of war.

I really wish I had the room to set up a corner of my flat for painting, I'd love to get back into it. I'll have to be happy with my sketchbook for now.

[woody37]

A great painting and a great piece of history Terry, brilliant

[TerryJones]

Terry, this one is a stunning as the others. You do very inspirational work.

I really love the lighting in this one, it really brings the warmth of the dawn light across and evokes a moment of tranquilty that was no doubt a scarce commodity in the midst of war.

I really wish I had the room to set up a corner of my flat for painting, I'd love to get back into it. I'll have to be happy with my sketchbook for now.

Thanks mate. It's a shame you don't have room to do some painting. Can you post some of your sketches?

Cheers,

Terry

[TerryJones]

A great painting and a great piece of history Terry, brilliant

Thanks Woody, I really appreciate you taking the time to have a look and leave your comments.

Cheers,

Terry

[upnorth]

Terry, I've posted a couple of my sketches that I felt were fit for showing. here's the links:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=56309

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=68356

Edited December 17, 2011 by upnorth

[TerryJones]

Terry, I've posted a couple of my sketches that I felt were fit for showing. here's the links:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=56309

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=68356

My compliments on a very neat pair of sketches. I like how you have done them from life, not easy when it comes to drawing aircraft. The angle of the Zlin is particularly good and would make for a fine painting. Shame you don't have room at the moment to do any painting but I think your sketch work makes for some very nice art work in its own right anyway. I look forward to seeing more.

Cheers,

Terry

[upnorth]

Thanks Terry.

I'll probably buy myself a bottle of ink and some nibs in the near future and try to get my legs back on that front while waiting for a place that will give me room for painting.

I'll post more sketches as I have time to do them and as I feel they are worth showing.

[TerryJones]

Thanks Terry.

I'll probably buy myself a bottle of ink and some nibs in the near future and try to get my legs back on that front while waiting for a place that will give me room for painting.

I'll post more sketches as I have time to do them and as I feel they are worth showing.

Sounds like a plan to me

[Texian]

I realize this is an old thread but, I think I have something to contribute to the discussion and when is it too late to remember people like Guynemer & Udet?!

In reference to the painting, it is very nicely done! My only 'complaint' is that it just doesn't look right w/out the legend "Vieux Charles" on the plane's side. In the artist's defense, images of that Spad XIII do not show any name on it either so he is accurate.

I can add to the comment relating to Brown & Udet. There's this;

In 1936, Brown's father, an ex-Royal Flying Corps pilot, had taken him to see the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Hermann Göring had recently announced the existence of the Luftwaffe, so Brown and his father met, and were invited to join social gatherings by members of the newly disclosed organisation. It was here that Brown first met Ernst Udet, a former World War I fighter ace.

Brown soon discovered in himself and Udet a shared love of flying and Udet offered to take Brown up with him. Brown eagerly accepted the German's offer and after his arrival at the appointed airfield at Halle, he was soon flying in a two-seat Bucker Jungmann, which Udet threw around much to Brown's delight. Udet told Brown he "must learn to fly" and that he "had the temperament of a fighter pilot". He also told Brown to learn German.

In 1937, Brown left the Royal High School and entered Edinburgh University, studying Modern Languages with an emphasis on German. While there he joined the university's Air Unit and received his first formal flying instruction. In February 1938 he returned to Germany, where, having been invited to attend the 1938 Automobile Exhibition by Udet, by then a Luftwaffe Major General, he saw the demonstration of the Focke-Wulf Fw 61 helicopter flown by Hanna Reitsch before a small crowd inside the Deutschlandhalle.

In the meantime, Brown had been selected to take part as an exchange student at the Schule Schloss Salem, located on the banks of Lake Constance, and it was while there in Germany that Brown was woken up with a loud knocking on his door one morning in September 1939. Upon opening the door he was met by a woman with the announcement that "our countries are at war". Soon after, Brown was arrested by the SS. Fortunately, after 3 days incarceration, they merely escorted Brown in his MG Magnette sports car to the Swiss border, saying they were allowing him to keep the car because they "had no spares for it".

That was borrowed from Wikipedia. I know. Wikipedia is hardly known for it's accuracy but, in this case it parallels very closely to what I heard Brown say in an interview done as part of a documentary on the man.

So, Guynemer's act of chivalry goes full circle. Yes it allowed Udet to shoot down all those planes and pilots & air crew. But then again it allowed for the good of establishing Brown into the pilot he became. On the flip side, Udet's life was no source of pronounced joy following the defeat of his nation in war and the disillusionment with it's resurgence that led to his tragic end. Maybe it were a kindness for Guynemer to have finished him when he had the chance.

No telling...

[planeart]

Hello there Terry!! It is an ecxellent painting my friend!! Congratulations!!!!

[TerryJones]

Thanks Texian and planeart much appreciate you taking a look

Terry

[sinnerboy]

Lovely painting.

In my mind it conveys a feeling of sadness and the loneliness of a warrior going off to meet his fate.

you have a fine talent that I wish also enjoyed.

[TerryJones]

Thanks mate I appreciate you saying that very much. in another life Guynemer would have pursued a much gentler vocation, killing was not in his nature but like many other young men he had no choice. The sadness always seem to be with him, quite a contrast to Richthofen.

Terry

[sinnerboy]

yes all war is sad, but I find the Great War the saddest of all and as you said many gentle young men fought and perished.

[keefr22]

Another fine painting Terry, very atmospheric...

Keith

[basket]

Beautiful.... love the idea and the final result.

Congrats .

 

[bobsyouruncle]

Lovely work. Lovely lighting, colours and very atmospheric. Excellent job and very interesting story.

Cheers Bob.

 

[Nils]

Such a beautiful painting ( and story) the days when the pilots were the knights of the sky and heroes and really a bunch of bravehearts. I doub’t the odds they fought would have tempted many young pilots of today...