THE IRON COMPASS by Ross Buckland, Oil, 16 x 20

THE IRON COMPASS

Medium: Oil on Board
Size: 16 x 20
Price: $3,500.00 USD
Availability: Sold

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Gallery Info

NATIONAL COWBOY & WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM
1700 Northeast 63rd Street
OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA 73111
(405) 478-2250
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Artist Comments

 

Late summer 1942. Somewhere north, or maybe south of Oklahoma City, an Army Cadet receives ‘low level navigation’ instruction.
From the earliest days of aviation, in times of poor weather or when experiencing ‘temporary positional uncertainty’, the railroad could offer solutions.
They often lead to known landmarks or, at best grain elevators or water towers with a town’s name painted in large letters on the side. From there, one could follow the tracks home or set off in the right direction. Among aviators, the steel rails were commonly known as ‘the iron compass’
Depicted is a Fairchild PT-19 from Cimarron Field, just west of Oklahoma City. This aircraft has been restored and is in flying condition in its original colour scheme and markings in a private collection.
The locomotive is Santa Fe’s no.643, built in 1879 and retired in 1953. It is currently preserved and on display at Oklahoma Railway Museum.
This painting is to be submitted to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum for their “Small Works, Great Wonders” Art sale Nov 10, 2023 in Oklahoma City.

 

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