Coming to us today from Canada is this colorful backpiece featuring the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk fighter from World War II. This tattoo was submitted to us by Kevin Slemko who got the tattoo in honor of his grandfather commemorating the days they spent flying radio control planes together during the summer months. Thankfully Kevin’s grandfather is still with us, so he’s able to see the colorful tribute as well.
The P-40 was used by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) a bit during WWII, though their use was limited. In 1942 during the Battle of Midway, the Imperial Japanese Navy sent a diversionary force to attack the Aleutian Islands. The RCAF sent No. 111 Squadron, flying the Kittyhawk I, to a forward base on Adak Island, Alaska. During the drawn-out campaign, 12 Canadian Kittyhawks operated on a rotational basis from a new, more advanced base on Amchitka, 75 miles (121 km) southeast of Kiska. Two RCAF fighter squadrons, No. 111 and No. 14, took “turn-about” at the base.
This tattoo was created by Chris Iwaniuk of Showdown Tattoos & Skateboards in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Unfortunately Chris and the studio lack a website… but if anyone comes across one, please let us know so we can post it here!
Please click on the image above or the link below for two larger images.
Click the above image for the full-size photo.
Join the Tattoos In Flight Army! - If you have or find any aviation-themed tattoos on the web, send the photo to us along with the name of the artist, studio, location, and a website! Send them along to tattoosinflight@gmail.com, or use the “submit” tool at the right.
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Tattoo Artist Says:
Just found your site today and you have some fantastic tattoos. I’ll be back often looking for inspiration.
Posted on April 13th, 2009 at 5:38 pm