North American P-51B Mustang

Whether the P-51 deserves its considerable fame is a debate for the ages, but it's hard to deny that it's probably the most famous aircraft of the Second World War.  In an unusual choice for him, Koike has left the background of this painting without any significant detail; just a suggestion of a sea, perhaps, below as this P-51B, "Bald Eagle," the plane flown by Robert Eckfeldt of the 63rd FS, flies into the low sunlight of the morning (or is it evening?).  But it's that lack of sharp detail in the background that rather shows off the Mustang's classic lines all the better in this beautiful work.