FReeper Canteen ~ Military Nose Cone Art ~ February 28 2005

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Nose Cone Art

Nose Cone Art has gone through many changes over the years. The subject of the artwork range from scenes of "Home Sweet Home" to cartoon favorites to fantasy pictures to every man's favorite...beautiful women.

Home Sweet Home

Thousands of aircrews throughout history have declared their roots through their art. From the Memphis Belle of WWII to Pittsburgh's Finest of the Gulf War, it all comes as much from the heart as it does from the Aircraft Commander's or Wing's hometown.

Cartoon Faves

The Duck goes to war.... Painted on the side of a restored, flying P-51D, this nose art captures an era when Walt Disney freely offered his studio's talents to design unit patches and symbols for Americans going to war. Beyond the Vargas pin-ups, Walt Disney's art did more to define the motif of nose art than any other single source.

Fantasy

Much of today's nose art is based not on pin-ups but on science fiction and fantasy art. This tradition continues and grows as a new generation of artists paint based on their own influences. After all, it has been a long time since Esquire featured a pin-up as a centerfold.

This C-130 is a classic example of the new genre. While popular in the field, there are countless nose art aficionados who prefer the old, somewhat less politically correct look.

Babes

The B-17G Shoo Shoo Baby flew 24 combat missions in WW II with the 91st Bomb Group, known as "The Ragged Irregulars". The plane was based at Bassingbourn, England.

Its first mission was the bombing of Frankfurt, Germany, on March 24, 1944. The plane ended its combat career after taking battle damage during a mission to Posen, Poland, on May 29, 1944. Today, the plane is at Wright-Patterson AFB in the US Air Force Museum.

Yankee Lady is another restored example of a B-17G. Frequently seen at airshows around the country, it is one of the finest examples of a Flying Fortress still capable of taking to the air. If you've never heard the power of four Pratt & Whitney engines at full tilt, you're missing a real piece of history.

During World War II, pin-ups emerged from the fine airbrushed art of Alberto Vargas, whose images were the most sought-after section of the popular magazine, Esquire. With thousands of airplanes droning off to war, noseart emerged as the aviator's unique calling card.

Although the Army Air Force attempted to ban and censor noseart on several occasions, ultimately, the art would remain. Its value in terms of morale was unquestioned.

In the end, it emerged as a defining element of the era, gracing everything from the noses of airplanes, to leather jackets, to the walls of barracks huts and O-Clubs across Europe and the Pacific.

The finest pin-ups were torn from the pages of Esquire Magazine. Each artwork was published with a poem by Phil Stack. These poems were designed to rhyme and present without much subtlety, again using the double-entendre to effect.

One went simply,

"I'm learning some commando tricks. / For keeping fit, they're dandy, / And when you men come home again, / They're apt to come in handy!"

Honorable Mention

As Desert Shield wound down and the coalition forces in Southwest Asia prepared for the assault against Saddam's entrenched ground forces in Kuwait, thoughts of home and the holidays again entered the mind of aircrew members across the region.

This airplane was painted with a fitting holiday theme, Santa being pulled in his sleigh by his magical flying camels, err... wasn't that supposed to be reindeer?

Considered by many to be the finest technical example of nose art from the Gulf War, this beautifully rendered pig carries the motto, "Ol Lightnen" and the plane's tail number 0005. Painted on the side of a KC-135 refueller out of Riyahd, it is one of the classics of the era.

So what about you? Show us your favorite Nose Cone Art
~ as long as it's family friendly.
If it's a little too racy, just post a link for interested parties.

Click the picture to visit the website that was the source of this
information ~ there's lot's more there to see and read!

SandRat's links to great Nose Cone Art:

13th Bomb Squadron Nose Art
http://www.13thbombsquadron.org/
Gallery of classic bomber noseart.

Aviation Art by Robert Karr
http://fly.to/KarrArt
Nose art for viewing and for purchasing.

368th Fighter Group Tribute
http://www.368thfightergroup.com/

Bomber Girl
http://www.bombergirl.com/
Aviation nose art and pin-up art.

Aviation Pioneer
http://www.weisskopf.de/
Worlds First Motorized Flight.

Collectors Press Inc.
http://www.collectorspress.com/
Publisher of nose art and pin up books.

Don Henderson's - Bikes, Trains, Planes and Dames
http://members.bellatlantic.net/~machenry/
Nose art and pin-up art.

Jackit Art
http://members.nbci.com/varga46/
Hand painted jackets and patches.

Luc's Photo Hanger
http://www.bayarea.net/~hanger/
Established to promote a portion of W.W.II aviation history in the form of aircraft nose art.

Paradon Collectibles Group
http://www.eparadon.com
Home of really cool warbird nose art wall clocks.

Pictures of Nose Art on Some Bombers from Tinian
http://www.cris.com/~ronniem/WWII/noseart.htm

Rosemary Dery - Hand Painted Leather
http://www.rosemarydery.com
Hand painted leather and WWII squadron patches -- specializing in military aviation nose art.

Thunderbolt Galleries
http://www.thunderboltgallery.com/index.htm
Source for reproduction aviation art including nose art panels, war ads, leather jackets and airbrushed aircraft nose art.

Velasco Enterprises Fighting Colors Collection
http://www.fightingcolors.com/
WWII Nose art panels for sale.
and
http://www.mutoworld.com/Nose-Art.htm
and
http://381st.org/noseart.html
and
http://www.36rcm.com/aircraft/noseart/noseart.htm
and
http://www.npswapa.org/gallery/album35
AND
http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/Park/Cultural/PlansPin.htm
and
http://www.lancastermuseum.ca/noseart.html
and
http://5thbomberbarons.com/html/noseart.html
and
http://www.7thbg.org/NoseArt.htm

The nose cone art....lol Miss Behavin

101 posted on 02/27/2005 8:58:23 PM PST by AZamericonnie

And then there's this shot of you....

102 posted on 02/27/2005 8:58:33 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

To: Brad's Gramma

Hey, lady! How be ye? I never get to stay up late. I'm counting on major snow and no school tomorrow. LOL!!

103 posted on 02/27/2005 8:58:43 PM PST by GummyIII ("God made the Idiot for practice, then He made the School Board." ~Mark Twain)

Welcome to the Canteen, westmex, and thanks for sharing.

Thanks, westmex, for your service to America.

104 posted on 02/27/2005 9:00:32 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~Support Our Troops! ~ www.proudpatriots.org ~ Operation Easter/Passover~in progress)

LOL
Awright..
Where'd you get dat picture of me?
Really..
That was already on someone's aircraft long ago...
Right?
Ms.B

105 posted on 02/27/2005 9:00:39 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN (If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it. Marcus Aurelius)

To: StarCMC; MS.BEHAVIN

Woo-Hoo, Ms. B!!!

Does Mike know about this part of your life??

Okay, I'm going off to the corner, now.....

106 posted on 02/27/2005 9:00:40 PM PST by HiJinx (www .ProudPatriots.org ~ Operation Easter/Passover ~ February 15 - March 4, 2005)

107 posted on 02/27/2005 9:01:29 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

WHAT a neat thread, Star!

Bravo!!!!!!

108 posted on 02/27/2005 9:02:21 PM PST by Brad’s Gramma (aitch tee tee pea colon 2 slashes dubya dubya dubya dot proud patriots dot org)

109 posted on 02/27/2005 9:02:46 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

Hell...
I didn't even know about it!
LOL
Ms.B

110 posted on 02/27/2005 9:03:41 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN (If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it. Marcus Aurelius)

Snow........is it really falling and sticking at your house? You could have a jammie day? When do you teachers find out these kinds of things? Our weather guys have a 50/50 chance of getting it right.

111 posted on 02/27/2005 9:04:08 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~Support Our Troops! ~ www.proudpatriots.org ~ Operation Easter/Passover~in progress)

Yeah - some guy from the UK! What were you doin' over there?? You got a reputation far and wide I guess! LOL!! Seems our allies appreciate fine beauty, too! ;o)

112 posted on 02/27/2005 9:04:21 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

To: Brad's Gramma

113 posted on 02/27/2005 9:05:43 PM PST by StarCMC (It's God's job to forgive Bin Laden; it's our job to arrange the meeting.)

Makes sense for WWII, etc, but how about now, when we have women pilots in theater, or is it too PC?

114 posted on 02/27/2005 9:06:15 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~Support Our Troops! ~ www.proudpatriots.org ~ Operation Easter/Passover~in progress)

To: Kathy in Alaska

Oh, I have to start teaching at 7:30 a.m. I get up at 5:30 a.m. If I'm lucky, they will have announced the school situation by 6:15. My system is notorious for waiting 'til the last minute to make up it's mind.

115 posted on 02/27/2005 9:09:06 PM PST by GummyIII ("God made the Idiot for practice, then He made the School Board." ~Mark Twain)

To: Kathy in Alaska; StarCMC; HiJinx; All

My kind of nose art:

116 posted on 02/27/2005 9:09:54 PM PST by GummyIII ("God made the Idiot for practice, then He made the School Board." ~Mark Twain)

Blimey!
I'll never tell!
I did date a guy from the British Royal Airforce once, long ago...
I must have made an impression on the bloke!
Ms.B

117 posted on 02/27/2005 9:10:09 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN (If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it. Marcus Aurelius)

To: Kathy in Alaska

I'm trying to remember the last thread we had...nose art was officially banned for quite awhile, but Gulf War II has seen a resurgence.

Today's nose art tends to be patriotic in nature, or reflects the unit's insignia. I'm not sure I'd call it PC - although it probably is - but I don't think the human figure is appearing on too many aircraft these days.

118 posted on 02/27/2005 9:10:15 PM PST by HiJinx (www .ProudPatriots.org ~ Operation Easter/Passover ~ February 15 - March 4, 2005)

and friends made.

As far as I know they are all dead now and I'm probably not far from it...LOL

Off to bed for now

.....Westy....

119 posted on 02/27/2005 9:11:43 PM PST by westmex (Ruby Ridge, Waco, Redford....Our protective Gov at work)

120 posted on 02/27/2005 9:13:46 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~Support Our Troops! ~ www.proudpatriots.org ~ Operation Easter/Passover~in progress)

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