A three-quarters head-on view of a P-26 parked with its pilot standing at the left wing tip and studying the dark skies to the north with its build up of massive cumulonimbus clouds. The pilot has his parachute slung over his shoulder as if ready to go, but the threatening skies give pause for thought. I was one of that generation of late thirties pilots who were encouraged to check out an airplane for a weekend cross-country. As a second lieutenant bachelor officer, like the others, I took full advantage of the opportunity, checking the weather forecasts for the quadrant of the compass that promised clear weather and then checking the little black book for a friend in that direction. Sometimes the forecasts went sour. This Selfridge pilot, alone on the field, is contemplating his chances. At this time, Selfridge had a paved ramp but no runways. The field seems empty but that is because the airplanes are in the hangars, and the doors are closed for the weekend. I flew the P-26 after World War II. I was Chief of the Military Aviation Mission to Guatemala at the time. The FAG....Fuerza Aerea de Guatemala had three operational P-26s. I was fortunate to have a chance to fly this fine little Boeing pursuit. One of the three, the last P-26, was donated to the USAF Museum. It was shipped addressed to the U.S. Air Museum. After being painted in the colors shown in my painting it was claimed by the Smithsonian, based on the wording of the address on the shipping crates. It was lost to the Museum and is on display in Washington. It is show in the colors of the 1st Pursuit Group.
