Marine Corps Veteran ● Pilot ● Aviation Artist
Introduction by Dana Lombardy
I first met Ron Darcey when we served together on the board of directors for a new concept of a historical conference called Celebrate History that took place in 1998 and 1999 in South San Francisco. These were amazing events with reenactors, military vehicles, exhibits, speakers on a variety of historical subjects, and special guests such as the World War 2 fighter aces shown seated in front of Ron (who is standing second from left). In the photo at right Marine ace pilot and Medal of Honor recipient James E. Swett signs an autograph for a young fan.
Our next work together was in 2018 for the centennial of America’s role in World War One. We created a 3D diorama of a dogfight using 1/144 scale WW1 Wings of Glory pre-assembled, pre-painted models produced by Ares Games. (See the series of photos below that start in Ron’s garage and finish with the assembly of the final display in the Veterans Gallery of the San Francisco War Memorial Building.)
Ron’s passion for aviation includes his incredible collection of model airplanes he assembled and painted (a small portion of them are shown in the display case next to Ron). Each model is a reproduction of an actual historical airplane that Ron researched and finished using his skill with an airbrush. As he explained to me, “I grew up in the 1940s under the flight patterns of Alameda Naval Air Station and Army Air Corps airfields [of the San Francisco Bay area]. I fell in love with airplanes and was determined to become a pilot one day.”
Ron’s enthusiasm for aeronautics was initially satisfied through his pencil sketches, a natural talent that his artist father encouraged.
After graduating from high school Ron joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was trained as a tactical air controller conducting operations in Korea, Hong Kong, Philippines and Taiwan. Tactical Air Control Leader, Ron is at the back of the jeep.
After discharge in 1962 he studied commercial art at the Oakland Institute of Commercial Art, where he developed his watercolor gouache technique, the medium Ron favors for painting aviation (Ron is shown below, seated at his drafting table working on a P-39 over New Guinea).
In 1968 Ron earned his pilot license in the Luscombe 8E Silvaire that he still owns and flies, formerly serving as a Coast Guard auxiliary pilot for 20 years (see photo below). That same year Ron began to seriously start his aviation painting career. Squadron patch and challenge coin designed by Ron.
I am helping Ron get more recognition for his artwork by asking my military history followers who enjoy collecting art to answer a survey about the periods of Ron’s aviation art and types of products you might purchase (postcards, calendars, fine art prints, etc.). Please go HERE to take the survey.
Ron still happily accepts commission work like the F4 Phantom he stands next to in this photo. Contact Ron at rdarcey@pacbell.net for quotes on commission works.
“Each painting I render incorporates my artistic abilities with my experience as a pilot. This is how I paint: from a pilot’s perspective in the cockpit.”
