Creating Moonbeam Dream

Back in June of 2024, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum took their supporters by surprise when they unveiled that their P-61 Black Widow was now sporting a fresh coat of black paint. For many, this was a huge moment in a decade’s long restoration where much of the recent work had been inside the aircraft and out of view. With the aircraft now freshly painted it was only missing one thing, it’s identity.

About a month after photographing the newly painted aircraft I was invited back down to the museum to see what the museum was working on now. The p-61 sat carefully tucked between the museum’s other aircraft, but now with renowned artist and pinstriper “Hot Rod” Jen Thomas carefully painting the aircraft’s nose art. Now, after 79 years, the aircraft finally had it’s own identity, “Moonbeam Dream.”

I had the privilege of photographing the painting process and unveiling as well as the chance to sit down with museum president, Russ Strine, as I covered yet another step forward in the restoration for Vintage Aviation News.