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.

[Snow Bunny]

giggle....that was neat. I can't stay up that late often but sometimes it is just so nice and quiet and I can get alot done. hahaha

[ST.LOUIE1]

The 'invisible' suit....Louie wears nothin' at all. : )
Uh-oh.....bet you're gonna try to catch him...*invisible* - now. LOL Just kidding! : )

Sir Wolf,
My most humble apologies for my factual error yesterday regarding your 'lurker' suit.
Don't tease me now about your 'invisible' suit!
The mere thought of that along with all the beefcake that's been posted already
may be more than this gal's heart can bear.

LOL! Not to worry, Gal.....

....the Wolf has his 'lurker' suit on as we speak.

So.....stay calm. : )

See ya later. Lurk time is over. : )

[Jen]

Tonk, you always bring us gals the lovliest flowers. Thank you sweetie.

[Snow Bunny]

OH wow, that is so neat !!! How exciting AFVetGal. I love hearing about it.You have done so many things.

[Jen]

Good to see you Louie! That tie looks very good on you. hehehehe

[Snow Bunny]

Thaks again Louie for telling me about Domania. I really love it.

Good to see you.

[Snow Bunny]

I love seeing your hot air balloon abner.

FallGuy and I go every year to the big festival they have here in Las Vegas. And many mornings around 6:00 a.m. , there are a couple of them over our house. They are so cool.

Thanks Tonkin for posting about it.

[Pippin]

Thanks, I now have more of a variety of gifs.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi good to see you. Thank you soooo much. It is a fun day and I am so glad they are bringing back nose art again.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Greg, a BIG hug for you.

[Pippin]

Hey,Sam! Howdy! How do you make that little squigly mark in the url for my logo?

[Snow Bunny]

Hi ST, good to see you.

Back when I was living in Texas, I went to a place that had old aircraft. I forget were it was, but it was fantastic.They had B 17's there and I got to get inside of one.

It was not that easy. I had to stand almost under it, it felt like it anyway, and lift myself up into it. It was wild and I loved being able to be in a plane like that with so much history.

Thanks again for sharing about your Dad and the B 17's.

[4TheFlag]

Thanks, I now have more of a variety of gifs.

WOOO HOOO!!

Ever find that Cowgirl hat and boots, LOL;)

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Alamo-Girl, it is such a beautiful day today. The weather is so perfect. I have to enjoy these dfay before the 120 degrees come to town. hahahahaaa

[Pippin]

I'll have to ask Sassymom or Mclynnan for help on that!LOL.

[Snow Bunny]

HI Ppaul, thanks so much. Good to see you.

[HiJinx]

Pieces of history.

From U.S. Wings

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.

One of the most talented, then and now, is John F. Schumick (who began painting Nose Art back in 1942). Though modest about his talent, he is one of the masters of this unique art form that represents his generation. Now in his late eighties, Mr. Schumick no longer paints, having officially retired after painting his last jacket for US Wings in early 2001. A number of young people have taken up the art of creating Nose Art, but Mr. Schumick is one of the originals... and one of the best. The following are just a few examples...

Aircraft Art

Bomber Jacket Art

[Snow Bunny]

These are fantastic HJ. I alwasy thought it would be so cool to have a bombers jacket with a really neat logo on the back or art of some kind.

One that was all worn, those are the best kind.

Thanks so much. It is such fun to see all these different ones and the stories about them and or the artists.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Onedoug, so good to see you. Thanks so much my friend. It was fun seeing so many things for nose art and to know they are doing it again is fantastic.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Blackie, you are so cute...

" Pin ups forever"....heh heh