I tried a search on this, but nothing came up cuz the search engine kept pooping out on me, so apologies if this is a repeat, but I’d like to see what others have to share on this topic. I know there are a lot of books on this topic as well.
As most of us know, nose art was a big thing on WWII airplanes, and ever since.
Here are my answers to the questions below.
B-24s (and respective variants) by far!
B-24: “The Dragon and His Tail” <—was this actually a WWII example or post WWII?
‘The Dragon’ was from WWII, the ship flew with the 64th Bomb Sqn, 43rd BG.
As to faves, it’s really impossible to pick one. I’m a total cheesecake nut and I love most every piece of nose art I’ve seen, although I can say that I hate stuff that’s badly done…
If I HAD to pick though, I’d go with ‘Cocktail Hour’, a B-24 from the same unit as ‘The Dragon’.
As to types of aircraft, the B-24 is pretty hard to beat for canvas size and carried alotta quality artwork in it’s day, although there were alotta B-29’s with some real good work as well. Hell, they all had good art on 'em…
Someday I plan on building a website dedicated to nothing but nose art.
Great topic! I think that’s one of the driving factors as to why I love to build US WW2 aircraft. You just don’t find stuff like that on any other nation’s plane. Only in the USA, right? Oh well.
But some of my favorite works of art were those found on B-29s during both WW2 and Korea. Also, many P-61 squadrons were just downright works of art! I think that’s why I’ve got eight Black Widows on my shelves. Each one is more ornate than the next. They were sure bold and creative back then weren’t they?
People are bold and creative today as well; lookit all the special schemes you find on almost any aircraft type you can imagine these days. (Tiger Meet schemes, unit anniversary schemes etc…)
Only, it seems that the roles have changed. Back in the day we Americans were the bold and brassy lot, especially when it came to puttin’ scantily or non-clad gals on our airplanes. Other nationalities did it too, but not to the same extent. These days it’s the rest of the world that goes nuts, only it’s usually just with bright colors and snarling fearsome-lookin’ creatures! A tiger ripping it’s way out of an F-104 ain’t quite the same as a classy chassis, but I’ll take it. [:p]
So again I’d say that we’re still bold and creative, but it’s the powers that be which have restricted the creativity, unfortunately. [:(!] If you do see a special scheme on a USAF jet it’s usually gone in a few days or weeks. [V]
great topic, i agree with you quagmyre, the 24 really had some nice art. some p-61’s did also. but for a favorite i would have to say “eating kittie”. there is a story behind it also.
I agree that the B-24s had the most elaborate nose art but for my favorite as in Q1 it’s the B-17 and Q2 A Bit O’ Lace. This is my first bomber and it kinda stuck with me.
Mrs. Jones adorned the “nose” of a UH-1C Gunship of the 121st AHC in Vietnam, flown by Capt.White. He repainted it from a photograph of his late Father’s B-24, so he too, could carry her into Battle!
I am a pin-up fan myself and love the artwork of Alberto Vargas, Gil Elvgren and George Petty.
I have always liked the P-61 Black Widow “Lady in the Dark” as it had great artwork too.
MY B29 didnt have a sexy girl on it.It was a skunk with a cloths pin on its nose with the letters "UNINVITED underneath I believe the skunk was the Disney Petunia one Wish someone out there could make me some decals for my three b29s 1/48 1/72 and 1/144
The more cartoony nose art is also classic. My B-29 has Thumper on the side of it and for my B-17 I went with Chowhound (Pluto).
I believe the Germans had a good ammount of nose art too when it came to this genre. I think I remember seeing Mickey Mouse (beloved by all Germans at the time) on a number of Nazi planes. So does that mean they’ve got David Hasselhoff on the sides of their fighters today? [:D]
I would have to agree w/ Blackwolf, Cheese Cake, Cheese Cake, and more Cheese Cake[:)][:)][:p].
Its just something to see cheese cake on the side of an a/c. It does not really matter what type of aircraft it is either. BUT I am also for the names that these pilots give their ships as well.
For totally obnoxious how about TAR HEEL HAL P-47D and Big ****** Bird
THe B-26 Big Hairy Bird was out there too
The 80th FG in India The Twin Tailled Dragons P-38’s
The Desert Snake Stuka’s
How about just baout any CAG aircraft from the 50’s and 60’s these planes had outlandish colors They were great. JOHN
Too PC. No doubt. Friend of mine formerly in Army MI informed me that Hummers are no longer referred to as Hummers. My fiance had no idea why. So I explained. Ironic that in an effort to become more PC for the sake of censorship or protection (whatever), they actually end up doing the opposite. It’s the military acknowledging the “alternative” connotations of the name Hummer in sanctioning the use of the name Hummer, not otherwise. Just let the Beavis and Buttheads laugh and snicker and let the rest of the world grow up. My [soapbox] & [2c].
Although it still cracks me up that the Brits call erasers rubbers. Of course, anyone with the name Randy will be severely laughed at over there. I gotta grow up.[:p]
