“Flagship Cincinnati Over Union Terminal in 1943”

By Michael Boss
Oil on Linen
20” X 30”

From the Collection of Martha Lunken, Cincinnati, Ohio

Douglas Aircraft Company’s DC-3 has to be one of the all time icons of airliner designs.

In 1934, American Airlines approached Douglas to manufacture a non-stop New York to Chicago airliner.  After some initial hesitation by Douglas, American was able to place a combined order for 20 DC-3s and DSTs, or Daylight Sleeper Transports.  The rest is history.

American Airlines named many of their planes Flagships for larger cities.  Flagship Cincinnati, numbered N17339, was built in 1937 and ended service in 1948.  Below is Cincinnati’s famous Union Terminal as the DC-3 wings its way to land at Lunken Airport.  The year is 1943.

I consider it an honor the painting is permanently in Cincinnati, owned by Martha Lunken, who has a DC-3 rating and continues to give check rides!