LeftMilt Caniff's comic strips were more popularwith servicemen than almost any other, andhis creations appeared on aircraft throughoutWorld War II. One of his most popular isreflected in Dragon Lady, though a bit moreclothed than usual, when she flew with the704th Squadron, 446th Bomb Group out ofBungay, England. Albert R. Krassman

Based with the 446th Bomb Group at Bungay,England, White Lit'nin was a 705th SquadronB-24H that ended its days in a salvage dumpafter a belly landing in March 1945. Albert R.Krassman

53

Of all the 490th--Bomb Group's B-17s, CarolinaMoon flew more missions than any other Fort, atotal of 78. In addition to the mission symbols,the names "Adeline" and "Suzy" appear overthe bombardier andnavigator windows. It wasnot unusual for crew members to put thenames of their favorites over their crewstations. Arnold N. Delmonico

54

RightNose art on late-model B-24s, such as this446th Bomb Group Lib, could be paintedsmack dab in front. What it meant was anotherquestion. Albert R. Krassman

55

56

During my militarycareer I found thatdrawing cartoons was a great

way to get out of some duty.

-David R. Hettema, nose

artist, 91st Bomb Group

Cartoon characters of the era were extremelypopular as nose art subjects, particularly WaltDisney and Warner Brothers creations. BugsBunny was one of the more copied of Warner'sstable. His wise-guy attitude and famous MelBlanc voice suited GIs just fine. This 490thBomb Group B-17G has captured Bugs to nearperfection. Arnold N. Delmonico .

57

i

Naughty Nan was another 446th Bomb GroupLiberator, a B-24H with the 705th Squadron.She made it through quite her share of combat,as the bomb symbols attest, but was written offafter a local hop and a forced landing at Bun-gay when the right landing gear leg wouldn'tcome down. Albert R. Krassman

58

RightThough there may be several meanings to thenose art on this 705th Squadron, 446th BombGroup Liberator, it clearly gives an indicationthat many crews felt they were really bigchildren in a very dangerous place. Note thesmall flying helmet on top of the kid. Albert R.Krassman

59

Dinky Duck was a popular comic character inthe 1940s, as this tribute on a 706th Squadron,446th Bomb Group B-24 shows. Albert R.Krassman

60

It's hard to tell if Peg 0' San Antone was a realperson remembered by someone in the 706thSquadron, 446th Bomb Group, but there's nodoubt she represented a great deal to many atBungay, England. Albert R. Krassman

RightThar She Blows II sits on the dump at Saipan,abandoned after a significant combat record inthe Seventh Air Force's 30th Bomb Group.There was a III to carryon the tradition andsurvive to return stateside. Paul Thomas/BobRickard

61

62

Another 446th Bomb Group Liberator, BlackM. Albert R. Krassman

LeftPopular songs were strong subjects for noseart, but this one song seemed to dominate mostof the others with at least twenty-sevenexamples in the Eighth Air Force alone. Therewere five examples of Shoo Shoo Baby in the446th Bomb Group at Bungay, England, thisone with the very popular Alberto VargasEsquire gatefold. Albert R. Krassman

63

64

Kentucky Belle flew initially with the 4901hBomb Group before being transferred to the446th Group at Bungay. The mission tally onthe side includes 80 bombing missions, threetrucks for carrying fuel to France, and a singlesupply drop. Albert R. Krassman

LeftThe right side of the same airplane, KentuckyBelle, was quite a stunning example of nose artin the Vargas style. as crewman AlbertKrassman's smile attests. Albert R. Krassman

This B-24H was one of the original Liberatorswith the 704th Squadron when the 446thBomb Group went into action over Europe. Inaddition to the 49 mission symbols there is aswastika for claimed destruction of a Germanaircraft. Unfortunately she was so badly shotup by flak in October 1944 she had to beabandoned in France after a forced landing.Albert R. Krassman

65

Donald Duck went to war on all fronts, on alltypes of machines, from jeeps to bombers, asthis 446th Bomb Group B-24 clearly shows.The addition of armor plate for the copilot hascovered some of Donald's shoulder and head.Albert R. Krassman

66

RightWistful Vista was a faithful reproduction of anEsquire magazine painting transferred to a733rd Squadron, 446th Bomb Group Liberator.Albert R. Krassman

68

Opposite pageAnother 446th Bomb Group B-24, OldFaithful, represents American hitting powerand patriotism, among the common themes fornose art. Albert R. Krassman

LeftSugar Baby of the 446th Bomb Groupwarms up on her 704th Squadron hardstand atBungay, England, in early 1945. Albert R.Krassman

BelowSatan's Little Sister rides into combat on theside of this 446th Bomb Group, 706thSquadron Liberator. Albert R. Krassman

69

A 4th Photo Recon & Mapping SquadronLiberator on the ramp at Sydney, Australia hasa play on words for condolences when thingswere tough. The stripped down bombers couldmake excellent speed at high altitude, thehigher the better to avoid interception. PeteMalone via Larry Hickey

Ry? I got a lot of beer.-Al G. Merkling, nose artist,

20th Combat Mapping

Squadron

70

Ole Patches, an F-7 photo-recon version of theB-24, flew with the 4th Photo Recon & MappingSquadron, Fifth Air Force, out of Hollandia,New Guinea, in April 1945. The very valuable,but long, mapping and recce missions flownby F-7s took them alone deep into enemyterritory, and many were never heard fromagain. Pete Malone via Larry Hickey

Next pagePorn Porn Express, a B-24M ofthe 531stSquadron, 380th Bomb Group, 5th Air Force,sit.s on Okinawa in August 1945. John R.Trease via Larry Hickey

71

This C-47 in England was well namedaccording to many crews who had to keepsupply lines running, drop paratroops, or towgliders. Fatigue exhibits some signs of wear,with chipping paint and panels off formaintenance. Robert Astrella

I started [Taurus the Bull]

three times; then it would

take off and never return.

-Philip S. Brinkman, nose

artist, 486th Bomb Group

74

RightWhen the 313th Bomb Wing settled intooperations off Tinian, the local Seabees turnedup with some very talented artists whopainted at least sixteen pieces of nose art onwing Superforts, each representing a differentSeabee unit and insignia. National Archivesvia Stan Piet

Previous pagesWhen the B-29 Superfortress began flying verylong range missions to Japan proper, crewswere stretched to their limits, suffering fromexhaustion. The nose art on MoonshineRaiders gives a good representation of howthey felt when they got back. Wallace via ErnieMcDowell/Larry Hickey

Some Gooney Birds, though less in the newsthan their gun- and bomb-laden brothers, hadelaborate nose art, like that of Texas Hellcatwith the 433rd Troop Carrier Group. All fourof the Fifth Air Force's C-47 troop carriergroups were placed under the 54th Wing. FredC. Baker via Larry Hickey

LeftNumerous captured German aircraft werepainted in bright, American hot-rod fashion,including this Fw 190 at the 386th BombGroup's base at St. Trond, Belgium, spring1945. When the bright-red Focke-Wulf wasairborne in the local area there was no doubtabout it being a friendly aircraft. Richard H.Denison

77

78

LeftStud Duck flew with the Twelfth Air Forcein a variety of resupply and troop-carriermissions. Donald Duck went to war in allforms and missions, here clearly as a manabout town. James Stitt

The 313th Bomb Wing at North Field, Tinian,was fortunate enough to have the talentedservices of a Marine named Scott who paintednumerous B-29s, including Dina Might of the504th Group. R. W. Teed via Fred Johnsen

79

I did a rat in a Zoot Suitfor Claiborne "Zoot"Kinnard, but I don't think

we used it because it wasn't

appropriate to Colonel

Kinnard's command position.

-Arthur De Costa,

nose artist, 355th

Fighter Group

80

Once B-29s were operationally establishedoverseas, some of the finest nose art of the warbegan to appear on them. The Superfortress'nose was an ideal canvas and talented artistsmade maximum use of it, evident from NightProwler. Wallace via Ernie McDowell/LarryHickey

RightBugger, a fanciful bombing dragon, goes off towar with the 331st Bomb Group, one of thelast bomb groups to enter the war, flying itsfirst combat mission on 9 July 1945 fromNorthwest Field, Guam. Wallace via ErnieMcDowelllLarry Hickey

81

82

The Twentieth Air Force insignia was paintedon severa1500th Bomb Group B-29s, at IsleyField, Saipan. 73rd Bomb Wing Assn. viaDavid W. Menard

LeftThe man most responsible for combat use ofthe B-29 was Maj. Gen. Curtis E. LeMay: histactics put fear into the enemy-and into theSuperfort crews-by sending the B-29s in lowover the heart of Japan at night to ensuremaximum fire~bomb effectiveness. Here,LeMay stands in front of a 6th Bomb GroupB-29 on Guam on 14 April 1945. The unit'sinsignia was a rendition of pirate Jean Lafitte,which carried on a tradition from the group'sdays in the Panama Canal Zone during the1920s and 1930s. No other artwork wasallowed on the aircraft other than a red name,usually on a white streamer. NASM

RightHolley-Hawk flew with the 58th Bomb Wingout of North Field, Tinian, in 1945 with aninsignia "sponsored" by the 112th Seabees.R. W. Teed via Fred Johnsen

83

Tail Wind flew with the 73rd Bomb Wingout ofIsley Field, Saipan. The wing wascommanded by Brig. Gen. Emmett "Rosie"O'Donnell, one of the architects ofSuperfortress attack against Japan. Whenthe war ended the B-29s had laid waste to 175square miles of urban area in sixty-nine cities,leaving over nine million homeless, mostlydue to the horrendous fire bombing raidscarried out at low level. 73rd Bomb WingAssn. via David W. Menard

LeftA Seabee puts the finishing touches on 504thBomb Group B-29 Indian Maid, one of themany 313th Wing bombers on Tinian thatreceived the wonderful artistic talents of theSeabees, who adopted many of the aircraft.National Archives via Stan Piet

85

The 497th Bomb Group's John G. Albrightpainted numerous pieces of nose art on theunit's bombers, including Peace on Earth, seenparked in its revetment on Isley Field, Saipan.She was forced to ditch on 4 March 1945 onthe way home from Tokyo. Though Lt.Norman Westervelt did a great job of setting

her down, he was washed off the wing as hescrambled out and was never found. Anotherof the crew was also lost. The other nine menwere rescued by a Dumbo OA-10A Catalina,the most loved airplane in the Pacific. 73rdBomb Wing Assn. via David W. Menard

I made friends with thenatives, and that's how Igot some of my colors.

-Rusty Restuccia, nose

artist, 494th Bomb Group

Another 6th Bomb Group Superfort, ErniePyle's Milkwagon, with Jean Lafitte on thenose. via Frank F. Smith

This 314th Bomb Wing flagship carried theinsignia of each of its units with a runningtaUey of missions flown and aircraft claimed

86

destroyed during their stay at Northwest Field,Guam, in 1945. Paul Grieber via Stan Piet

87

The 73rd Bomb Wing's Mrs. Tittymouse atIsley Field, 1945. 73rd Bomb Wing Assn. viaDavid W. Menard

88

RightThe Baroness was attached to the 73rd BombWing on Saipan in 1945. 73rd Bomb WingAssn. via David W. Menard

89

LeftLt. Francis Horne was given credit for 5.5 killswhile flying Snoot's Sniper with the 352ndFighter Group out of Bodney, England. TheMustang was supposed to have been named"Snoot's Snipper"in recognition of crew chiefArt "Snoots" Snyder's ability as a barber. Hepainted the airplane as close to a barber poleas he could manage with red, white, and bluestripes on the trim tabs and around as manyplaces as he could. The airplane became aflying advertisement for the "Snydertreatment." Robert Astrella

BelowRevetments of the 50mh Bomb Group atsundown, Isley Field, Saipan, 1945. 73rdBomb Wing Assn. via David W. Menard

91

Previous pagesMary Co-ED II flew with the 74th Squadron,434th Troop Carrier Group through some ofthe toughest campaigns in Europe, as hermission tally attests. The unit took part in theairborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, andGermany and flew into the middle of Bastogneto resupply American soldiers cut off by theGermans in the Battle of the Bulge. This wasmore than dangerous because the Gooney Birdwas simply a converted civil DC-3 airliner. Itdidn't even have self-sealing fuel tanks, whichresulted in many going down in flames underenemy fire at low level. Robert Astrella

94

This American Southwest-Indian motif waspopular in all theaters of war, as B-17FThunderbird, one of at least six in England,shows. Robert Astrella

My Darling Dorothy was one of the 7th PhotoGroup's Spitfire PRXIs at Mt. Farm, England.The deepened cowling housed an enlarged oiltank for long-distance flying, and additionalfuel tanks were installed in the wings andfuselage. As a result, this short-range defensive

fighter became a very long distance recceplatform, able to fly almost unmolested ataltitudes around 40,000 feet. Unfortunately itwas cold, cramped, and noisy for the pilotwedged into the tiny cockpit. Robert Astrella

95

20th Century Sweetheart, 83Alabama Exterminator II, 46All Bugs!, 16Atomic Blonde, 48Barbie, 8Barbie III, 38Billy's Filly, 15Black M, 63Blazin' Betty, 31Bridget, 9Bugger, 80California Cutie, 19Carolina Moon, 54Dina Might, 79Dinky Duck, 60Dirty Dora, 29Dot+Dash, 13Dragon Lady, 53Ernie Pyle's Milkwagon, 87Fatigue, 74GI Issue

Government Property, 50Goin'My Way, 57Holley-Hawk, 83Hookem Cow, 4Indian Maid, 85Irish, 22Kentucky Belle, 65Klondike Kodak, 14Lazy Lou, 49Linda, 30Little Sheny, 43Lonesome Polecat, Jr., 37Looky Looky, 46Love 'em All, 49Mary Co-ED II, 94Miss Fire, 24Miss Nashville, 37Moonshine Raiders, 74Mr. Ted III, 11Mrs. Tittymouse, 88My Assam Wagon, 50

96

Index

My Darling Dorothy, 95Naughty Nan, 58Near Miss, 34Night Prowler, 80Old Faithful, 69Old Schenley, 38Ole Patches, 70Peace on Earth, 87Peg 0' San Antone, 60Pom Pom Express, 70Punkie II, 7Queenie, 47Rat Poison Jr., 29Red-E Ruth, 21Rhett Butler, 34Rossi Geth II, 24Sandy's Refueling Boys, 50Satan's Little Sister, 69School Boy Rowe, 13Scorchy II, 45Shoo Shoo Baby, 63Short Snorter, 22Skirty Bert III, 26Smokepole, 19Snoot's Sniper, 91Special Delivery F.O.B., 42Stud Duck, 79Sugar Baby, 69Sunday Punch, 31Sure Go For No Dough, 41Tail Wind, 85Texas Hellcat, 77ThaI' She Blows II, 60The Baroness, 88The Big Drip, 58The Mudhen, 45Thunderbird,94Too Big, Too Heavy, 21, 22Tubarao, 4White Lit'nin', 53Wistful Vista, 66Zoomin' Zombie, 11

$14.95US9.99UK AVIATION

This is the finest collection ever ass.embled ofreal color photographs of genuine wartimenose art. World War II Nose Art in Colorpresents more than eighty rare color shots ofVarga girls, pin-ups, cartoons, and colorfulnicknames painted on the sleek sides of thegreat fighters and bombers of World War II.These are not "colorized" black-and-whites orphotos of restored warbirds today, but genuinecolor photos from the combat theaters.

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