Roderick Lees
Biography and Works
Entering the Air Force as an Arcraft Maintenance Officer, Rod was provided opportunites to develop first-hand understanding of the full spectrum of Air Force weapons and operations while living and working in various capacities worldwide.
His SR-71A painting, "Poking the Northern Bear at 85,000 Feet", garnered a first-place in ASAA's Science and Technology category during the 2022 ASAA gathering at Savanna, GA.
Rod has five accessions in the USAF Art Program, and several of his paintings were developed and used as covers for the AIR MOBILITY FORUM magazine while on staff at Headquarters Air Mobility Command. He accepts commissions and readily considers opportunities to expand his artistic skills. Rod’s works include a 4 x 8 foot E-3B painting at Tinker AFB, one of the B-17 “Memphis Belle” hanging in the halls of the Pentagon, a painting memorializing the crew of a B-52 "Raidr 21" lost in 20008, and other works in private ownership. Rod is currently pursuing professional art development with ASAA.
Gallery
“Poking the Northern Bear at 85,000 Feet”
First place, ASAA 2022 Savanna Conference
Science and Technology Division
Artist Rod Lees
Heading northeast over “The Wash” in Norfolk, UK on an early morning sortie in late 1984, Detachment 4’s SR-71 provided NATO and US Command authorities vial information on the Soviet North Fleet and other operations during the height of the Cold War. Cruising out to an assigned track over the Baltic Sea the SR-71 was able to capture data far inland from an international-neutral off-shore position. The Launch and departure of the “Sled” was never a secret; due to its rocket-like signature, no chicken or human could remain asleep in East Anglia for these missions.
