Panel Five - World War II

The Battle of Midway is arguably the turning point for the naval contest in the Pacific Theater. This is the first panel that honors an individual branch of the military, the United States Navy. When asked about World War II, most people think about Pearl Harbor, or D-day, or other European battles. The artists wanted to honor a campaign that was not as popular but very significant. 

This is another interactive panel. If the viewer places their left fist next to the fist of the pilot, they can feel as though they are inside the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk above the water and looking down. Shae and Robert put forth a lot of time and effort to correctly angle the cockpit toward the viewer for that effect. However, a lot of instruments are below the sight line, so they aren’t shown. Artistically this was a very advanced panel, but the coloring was kept simple.

There is another aspect of war that’s not always referenced – humanness. Inside this cockpit we see a picture of a loved one. Yes, tape was invented by this time (masking tape – 1925, clear tape – 1930), and young men frequently taped pictures, letters, and other memorabilia in their cockpit for inspiration. 

Special Artist Credit

Shae sketched and painted the face of the photograph that’s taped to the interior of cockpit. Sean Gallagher gets credit for painting the naval battle scene. He freehanded and knocked out that entire scene in 45 minutes.

Insider Information

Robert and Adam Paton were discussing which WWII scene to feature in the mural, and they decided to paint the Battle of Midway. While they were researching this battle, they discovered that the movie, Midway (2019) was actually in theaters. They left Petersburg and impulsively traveled to Altoona to watch it in the theater. The synchronicity amazed them. What they wanted to accomplish was shown to them on the film. They took it as a sign they were supposed to feature that battle.

Relatable Fact

At the time of the unveiling of the mural, the Cloyd K. Davis American Legion Post 150 in Petersburg, PA served three WWII veterans – Edwin Longenecker (past Commander), Jake Ayers, and Lloyd Morningstar. Lloyd attended the unveiling on August 1, 2020 and revealed the WWII panel.