Rudy Arnold (1902-1966) specialized in aviation photography. Arnold photographed many well-known airplanes and aviators, including Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh. He studied at the New York School of Photography, followed by jobs as a photographer at the New York Journal-American and the New York Graphic. He then started his own aviation photography business, photographing planes at many New York area airports. According to the National Air and Space Museum, where many of his photos are housed, his image of a downed airplane in upstate New York was the first photograph sent by wire to newspapers across the country.
Despite his specialization in aviation photography, none of Arnold’s Saturday Evening Post covers featured airplanes. All three were photographs of World War II soldiers preparing for battle.