Posted on 05/15/2016 5:11:34 PM PDT by Kaslin
Air Force fighters and bombers are soaring into the wild blue yonder with new paint jobs, quietly reviving an old tradition.
The decorative painting and designs on the noses and wings of Air Force planes may not be as racy as they were during World War II, but they are just as meaningful, the Air Force Times reports.
“This is a tradition across the Air Force," Col. Jeff Smith, commander of the 173rd Fighter Wing in Klamath Falls, Ore., told the newspaper. “This truly is a source of morale and pride, especially for the dedicated crew chief to know that they have a little mark of themselves on the airplane.”
It took 31 days to transform one of the unit’s dull gray F-15 Eagles into a colorful work of art, commemorating the Oregon Air National Guard’s 75th Anniversary, the Air Force Times reported.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Interesting. Like the contrast in these two film excerpts from the early 30s
America:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJOjTNuuEVw
Germany
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec0clERjQ5A
My Dad’s PBY was dubbed “The Black Pussy”, and I have the picture to prove it! If I only knew how to post it...
Should make a request to president Trump that among his first Executive orders he declare Nose Art to return to Traditional WW II standards!!! Trump would declare it an homage to the Greatest Generation from the Make America Great Again Crew Chief!!!
Wow. That psycho clown thing...it answers so many questions.
...Trump would declare it an homage to the Greatest Generation from the Make America Great Again Crew Chief....
Sadly, most of the values of the Greatest Generation have been kicked to the curb in the last 8 years.
Sadly, most of the values of the Greatest Generation have been kicked to the curb in the last 8 years.
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Isn’t that exactly why millions upon millions are supporting Trump? We see the possibility of getting our country back again with Trump! All the others are Globalists. Trump is a Nationalist. America FIRST!
Was your dad, mayhaps, part of the Black Cat Squadron.?
I saw Miss behavin’ in a large color photo on a B-17 with an olive drab finish. She was rendered in an original neo-Vargas like style complete with G-string and nylons. Hubba hubba was all I could say. Her name was spelled out as “Miss Bea Haven’’. Another name you can add to your list is “Sack Time’’.
If its a long enough airstream might I offer the suggestion of “The dragon and his tail.” B-24 in the south pacific.5th air force.
was your Dad in the black cat squadron? The catalinas were painted all black and were used for night attacks on shipping with torpedos and whatever else they could throw at ‘em.
That is quite interesting. Thanks for the update.
Very nice
I love that one!
Wasn’t there some tactical reason in the 1980s they started to make aircraft more “dull”? To make them less visible?
Regardless, I love the colorful artwork like this, and i wonder if the pride it creates is not more valuable.
I was told that nose art got more violent, vulgar, and sexual as the war went on because of the increasingly fatalistic worldview of the crews.
They knew they were gonna die, so what’s the point of restraint?
That makes sense to me...
Unknown. Very few records of his Pacific theater time. I know that he did search and rescue. He was based out of Peleliu for awhile. Yes, the PBY was painted all flat black. As was common with most veterans of that time, he rarely spoke of his experiences. Wish I knew more.... a lot more.
I had the fortune back in ‘85’ to work with a couple of ex WWII artists at a sign shop. Quite colorful characters. One drank a beer every day with his lunch. Helped smooth out his brush hand.
Did you follow the link? It has the history for the Black Cats and a number of stories about their exploits. Perhaps your dad’s squadron is identified.
Great stuff. I’ll see if I can read the plane’s tail
numbers in the photo.
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