Click on the image to enlarge

Noel Barnes is a full-time practicing artist living in South-West Australia. He specialises in ornithological and aviation paintings, in oil, acrylic and gouache. His childhood interest in aviation has matured into a passionate enthusiasm, captured in some expressive paintings.

This piece shows the Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII , ZX-M of No. 145 Squadron, piloted by Sqn/Ldr G.R.S. McKay over Italy, 1944.

No. 145 Squadron had fought in North Africa before moving on to Malta and Sicily following the Allied invasion of Italy. By 1944, the unit was based in Bellaria and mainly used in a ground attack role. Sqn/Ldr Kay flew two different Spitfires marked ZX-M, LV729 and (later) MT928.

Noel's website is available at www.noelbarnes.net.
[Noel Barnes, used by permission of the artist]

Labels: Aviation art