USO Canteen FReeper Style....Nose Art and Pin Ups go to War....May 8,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

The practice of personalizing military aircraft with custom artwork began a few years before WWI, and continues to this day. The peak of this practice occurred during WWII, when hundreds of thousands of aircraft were adorned with such artwork, generally painted near the nose of the aircraft... hence the term, "Nose Art."

Often, flight and ground crews wore a smaller version of the artwork painted on the backs of their jackets. Of course, the quality of the artwork varied, from crude to excellent, depending on the skill of the artist.

The sultry, wonderful world of Nose Art is as varied as the individuals who dressed up and decorated the aircraft and the feelings of the men who flew them into combat. Though this variety is staggering, common themes run through them all from World War II to the end of the Korean War when the genre all but left the scene.

Humor, pathos, slogans, girls, cartoons, nicknames, hometowns, girls, patriotism, dishing it to the enemy, warriors, girls, youthful bravado, girls...these transcended nationality as both Allies and Axis pilots went to war in their individually marked chariots. Men at war separated from home, family, loved ones and a familiar way of life sought ways to personalize and escape the very harsh business surrounding them. For the most part they thought about women, represented on the sides of aircraft in the most tender of ways to the most degrading. These men spent many hours longing for the tenderness a woman could bring to their lives...and for the sexual pleasure they could provide. Whether top level commanders ordered it off the aircraft or not, the men let their feelings flow onto their machines.

As their aircraft reflected, fighter pilots of both wars were busy strafing, bombing, hunting for aerial kills and protecting friendly aircraft, airfields, supply lines and troops. But the ground crews were just as busy trying to make sure the aircraft they had generously loaned to the pilot was on the line each day and ready to bring him home. There is never enough credit to be given to these men who worked ten hours for every hour the pilot flew.

The fame and glory attached to the pilot over shadowed his faithful ground ponders, but this usually did not prevent the enlisted men and officers from becoming devoted friends. Each needed the other to make the mission successful, and a pilot's crew would experience as much pride for a victory, knowing they were behind the guns as well. As a result, nose art was often the choice of the ground crew rather than the pilot. Some units made room for both by having the pilot's art on the left side and the ground crew's on the right.

Unique among fighters, the P-38 Lightning had three noses to adorn, allowing a separate canvas for the pilot, crew chief, armorer and radio man.

Pin Ups.......

The Professor is trying to give you a more scientific explanation of how this kind of cheesecake affected the average American soldier.

World War II pinups appeared in many forms, from fighter and bomber nose art and bomber jacket art to calendars, postcards, matchbooks, and playing cards. The term pinup was coined during World War II, when soldiers would "pin up" these idealized pictures on their barracks and foxhole walls, and sailors did the same to lockers and bulkheads. There were photos of Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth and Lana Turner, and hundreds of other calendar girls and Hollywood starlets whose only claim to fleeting fame was their image seared into a GI's brain from a ragged page of YANK or Esquire magazine.

"Servicemen soon began to create their own pinup art, decorating the noses of their planes and their bomber jackets with more primitive paintings of shapely babes."

Betty Grable as she appeared in a map-reading manual. This image was used to get pilots used to reading map grids.

An early centerfold featuring Dorothy Lamour, "... the No. 1 pinup girl of the U.S. Army."

Nose art was a popular morale builder, it ranged from tame cartoon characters to some really "RACEY" women.

It must be remembered that these men were young, at war, and homesick at times. The names of mothers, girlfriends and colorful limericks were often the inspiration for this unique art form. These pictures and captions are published here for historical value, exactly as they appeared on the planes.

[4TheFlag]

I feel bad about that as I wanted to help 4TheFlag out this July (Sorry, 4 I would if I could), but the FAA wants one fully recovered from back surgery LOL.

Shoot, don't feel bad Greg, I completely understand (after 2 back surgeries of my own) and appreciated your offer immensely.

You just get better, K? J

[Snow Bunny]

LOL.....Beef cake....hhahahaha...Love it.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Watts, great to see you. Big smile

Snow Bunny

[Bahbah]

Gee, Tonk.This one is truly a keeper. Milles mercies.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Tom, great to see you. Thanks for posting this. What a neat thing, I would sure go if I lived closer. I am going to send your post to some friends I have back in Illinois.Thanks sooo much.

[Pippin]

Hey! Flagman! Howya doin', Hon?

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Howie, yes nose art is back and I am so glad. The troops are doing a lot of it now in Afganistan on planes and bombs. It is wonderful.

I sure do agree with you about the draft dodger that was in OUR White House. Thanks so much.

[4TheFlag]

What's up with this? You letting Beamer go out and lead protests and beg for doggy treats?

ROTFLMAO! That would be our Beamer, LOL, the Big Mooch!!!

[Snow Bunny]

That is fantastic. Flying Tigers in WW11.Flying Tigers are so cool.
Good to see you!!! Thanks for sharing about that.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Clara, you are so cute....

" over 21 to be here today"

LOL.....

Great to see you.

[Snow Bunny]

Thanks for the link Lodwick. This is such fun and the art work is fabulous.

[Snow Bunny]

Canteen Chippendales

ROTFL

Some of them I think must live in our Canteen kitchen.Those thongs must be size XXXXXXXX....hahahahahaa

[Pippin]

Hi, Snow! I have more gifs to post now thanks to MistyCA.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi IG, it is a fun day at the ole Canteen.I am so glad you are here.

[4TheFlag]

Hey there CS, doing a LOT better now thank you kindly. Just trying to stay warm, snow tonite, and the wind is HOWLING...

Hope you are well Lady! GOOD to see ya...BTW, looking FINE as usual:)

[Pippin]

Hi! I'm back!

[Snow Bunny]

Clara, how adorable I think it is so cute and the hat I like it !!!!

Misty is so good with these things.

You can use then in private email too. Just add one on as an attachment and then it shows up in the bottom of the email. Just store the one you want for your email in your documents.

[Jen]

Flying Tigers in WW11.Flying Tigers are so cool.

My very first unit I was assigned to when I joined the Air Force was the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing at England AFB, La., the "Flying Tigers" that flew the A-7D and later the A-10.

[4TheFlag]

Welcome Home Flag Man.

Thanks SB, It was SOOO funny seeing you still on this morning, LOL!!!

Hope you got some peaceful sleep:)

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Lee, great to see you. I am glad it is getting better and I agree with you too, I sure will keep praying.

Have a wonderful day my friend.