Publication Date: Unknown
Title: The Man Behind Torchy
Author: Bill Ward
This is an autobiographical article in which Bill Ward recounts some of his adventures in illustration, including his work on the Blackhawk comic books. He only spends a few paragraphs talking about his work on Blackhawk but they are amusing:
"I took naturally to Blackhawk. My training by Jack (Binder) in layout stood me in good stead. All of that practice in inking paid off. They especially liked my covers. I'm especially proud of Military No. 30, a shot of that silly Blackhawk plane coming at you, cannons firing, Blackhawk piloting, Chop-Chop waving his meat cleaver menacingly over his shoulder. (Ed. note: see Military Comics No. 29 for another example of a Bill Ward cover.)Despite Ward's (unfortunately common) ignorance of the true capabilities of the Skyrocket and the history of how it was chosen as the Blackhawks' mounts, I couldn't help smiling at this story. The article is illustrated with a photograph of the actual XF5F-1 in flight with a caption that says "Grumman 'Skyrocket' XF5F-1. An experimental aircraft with an astonishing resemblance to the Blackhawk plane."I drew that idiotic plane (from the early Military Comics) for years before it was changed to a jet. I used to wonder what nut designed the damn thing. Of course, it could never fly -- ridiculous to think so.
A few years ago I was leafing through a copy of a 1942 "Aerosphere" that I had acquired. Imagine my astonishment . . . there it was, an actual photograph of that same silly plane! Reading on I found it was an experimental model, the Grumman "Skyrocket," that the army had rejected. Can you blame them? . . . but it must have at least flown!"
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