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WWII Nose Art

Posted By: F4UDash4

WWII Nose Art - 02/15/20 01:25 AM

I've been an avid reader of WWII history for roughly 47 of my 57 years. In middle school and high school I checked out every WWII related book, particularly WWII aviation. Same with our county library. As an adult I started buying WWII history books. So, I've seen a lot of WWII Nose art.

Then along comes Facebook.

There's a WWII Nose Art facebook group that I am a member of and there is one thing I have learned: the WWII aviation books of my youth were heavily censored. Of course I had seen a lot of female forms in nose art, but not until the advent of the internet and particularly the aforementioned Facebook group did I realize the overwhelming number and variety of naked female forms that adorned American combat aircraft of WWII.

I can't even show you what I'm referring to, many would not pass the NSFW ban here. Some are borderline pornographic.

And I think P-38 pilots and B-29 crews were the worst! Something about being way out in the Pacific I guess?
Posted By: vonBaur

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/15/20 02:09 AM

Thanx, F4. I may have to check that out.

Strictly for research purposes, of course. rolleyes
Posted By: Pooch

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/15/20 02:31 AM

Many years ago...and I mean many, I met P-47 Thunderbolt ace, Robert Johnson. Late 1960's. Maybe early 70's. He was at an air show with the Thunderbolt Pilots Association. Great guy, with no ego or attitude at all, unlike some others that I've met. He took a picture out of his wallet that had never been shown in any book. He was standing in front of his Jug, nicknamed "Lucky." The picture painted on the nose of the airplane was of a big hand, giving the Germans the middle finger. To risque to publish in those days. You can see it on the internet, now. But I saw the original pulled right out of Bob Johnson's pocket.
He had been a hero of mine. I had read his book, "Thunderbolt," until it fell apart. Then bought another copy. Meeting him was quite a thrill for me. As was seeing that photo that so few others had seen. Now, of course, that picture is as tame as a drawing of Micky Mouse.
Posted By: Pooch

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/15/20 02:37 AM

And he seems to have been flippin' the bird, too!

Attached picture photo_r-johnson.jpg
Posted By: BD-123

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/15/20 10:21 AM

I've got nose art on my car...

Created by dogs on the back window.
Posted By: NoFlyBoy

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/15/20 06:45 PM

Hey those brave men and many of them were still boys when they joined the Army needed something to remind them of their gals back home and motivate them to finish the job and go home alive. The US entered the war in 1941 and for many, they left home after that to go to training in the different services and they didn't go home for 4 or more years. That's a long time.
Posted By: Sunchaser

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/15/20 08:05 PM

I often wonder what happened to those young men who flew the nose art.
Many ended tragically:

This one was lost in 1945.
[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

This horrific crash at Byoritsu oil refinery, Formosa, was photographed by a B-25 of the 5th Air Force’s 345th Bomb Group on 26 May 1945.
Just as it released its string of para-frags B-25 NO. 192 was hit by flak from a camouflaged battery and trails smoke and a gaping hole is visible on the pilot’s s side.

The aircraft visible is the North American B-25J-10-NC Mitchell (s/n 43-36192) “Jaunty Jo”.
Crew : 2/Lt Robert J. Knauf Pilot, 2/Lt Martin H. Mulner Jr. Co-Pilot, 1/Lt Lloyd E. Bodell Navigator, Cpl Harold O. Montville Eng/Gunner, Sgt Tennyson C. Harrell Radio/Gunner.
They were all killed in the crash.
Posted By: NoFlyBoy

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/16/20 03:14 AM

Sunchaser posting that tragic photo reminds me of these two:



and B-17 Miss Donna Mae II, 3rd one down from the top of this page:

https://www.argunners.com/horrific-images-captured-last-moments-usaaf-bombers-wwii/

First time I saw that photo I was like 10 years old.

Miss Donna Mae II is also mentioned here (13th down from the top):

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/25-images-of-bombers.html]

All those brave young men sacrificed themselves for Freedom and to stop the Nazis and the Imperial Japan from conquering the world.

I wonder if any of their family or friends that they left behind ever seen those photos to finally found out how their loved ones and friends died?
Posted By: Ajay

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/16/20 10:47 PM

The F-105 Pussy Galore is my favourite nose art story.
Posted By: F4UDash4

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/17/20 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by Ajay
The F-105 Pussy Galore is my favourite nose art story.




The pilot* of the original is a regular on the F-105 Facebook page and his son Mark has produced two excellent works available on Amazon Prime: "Thud Pilot" and "Hun Pilot".

*Vic Vizcarra actually never flew with the famous nose art, he was shot down in another aircraft and was busy evading for a time before he was finally rescued and made it back to base. By that time the "lady" had already been ordered removed.
Posted By: PanzerMeyer

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/17/20 12:19 PM

Some of my favorite nose art,

Attached picture 3868660_0.jpg
Attached picture nose-art-f12b88ca-b7a7-4fd9-a20e-f5f274860e0-resize-750.jpg
Posted By: oldgrognard

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/17/20 01:23 PM

I liked this one.

[Linked Image]
Posted By: F4UDash4

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/17/20 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
Some of my favorite nose art,





Honey Bunny is one of my favorites when flying the P-38 in IL-2.
Posted By: F4UDash4

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/17/20 01:57 PM

Originally Posted by oldgrognard
I liked this one.

[Linked Image]



F7F Tigercat?? Sweet!!
Posted By: vonBaur

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/18/20 12:17 AM

Originally Posted by F4UDash4
Originally Posted by oldgrognard
I liked this one.
[Linked Image]

F7F Tigercat?? Sweet!!

And here I was looking at the CAB and...senior wings (shirt, not hat)?
That you, OG?
Posted By: Nixer

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/18/20 12:34 AM

Can't believe he lent her his Thompson!

What would the little women say? winkngrin
Posted By: oldgrognard

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/18/20 12:43 AM

Yep, that’s me.
Posted By: vonBaur

Re: WWII Nose Art - 02/18/20 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by oldgrognard
Yep, that’s me.

To quote the entire cast of Hee-Haw
Sa-LUTE!
Posted By: wheelsup_cavu

Re: WWII Nose Art - 03/18/20 05:33 AM

Have seen the P-38 Honey Bunny in person a few times. The P-38 is owned by Allied Fighters which is based at Chino airport.

They also own the amazing P-47 Dottie Mae.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/82/25/c5/8225c59d5fd9bda2fac8d299feef3f20.jpg


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