Nose art

The Nose art (literally “art on the nose planes”), Paintings of Wars on the military aircrafts appeared as of the First World War (one of most known is that of the Baron Rouge) but knew its apogee during the Second world war.

Many specimens being useful in the forces of the the United States of America raised paintings of wars (in English Nose art ). One finds them on B-17, B-24, B-25, B-29, P-51, but also on P-38. The name of Nose art comes owing to the fact that paintings were often painted on the English nose (: nose ) of the apparatus.

The reasons were very diverse. Many apparatuses had Pin-up painted on the Fuselage, generally just in lower part of the cockpit. These Pin-up was often copied from “Yank Magazine” or the calendars produced in great number of specimens and illustrated by artists like George Petty, Gil Elvgren or Alberto Vargas (three great names of the Pine-Ups of the years 1940 S). Example: Memphis Beautiful (B-17)

Sometimes, these reasons came from Cartoons or Cartoons. One finds thus many Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or Popeye. Other times still, it act simply of a name, the name of a wife or a boyfriend remained with the country, or of a simple emotional nickname generally chosen by the pilot and accepted by the members of the team. Example: Gay Enola (B-29)

One can as consider as the trophies of war (Japanese flags or cross or bombs) painted on the fuselages constitute paintings on the warriors or even have a relation with the Héraldique.

These paintings were obviously not encouraged by the État-Major but tolerated because they made it possible to maintain moral troops. Indeed, the crews spent many days without flying. To occupy itself, the men sought to find the best name or reason for their planes. These reasons either were painted by the team or by the artist semi-officially recognized by the military hierarchy because of its talent and which was thus found affected officially with the kitchens but which spent only little time to the pans. Lastly, the men could more easily identify a plane by its nickname than by its serial number and this emotional character made it possible to better spend the difficult moments (stress of the battle or died of a comrade).

Many sites are devoted to this subject but also a French cartoon: Pinup of Philippe Berthet and Yann.

One finds these paintings in the conflicts where this country will be implied which will follow: War of Vietnam and wars of the Gulf (war of Kuwait, war in Iraq) where one finds these paintings at the same time on the planes and helicopters.

The American pilots were not the only ones to paint their planes. Thus a certain number of apparatuses English, French but so German and Japanese knew personalizations. But it is in the American forces that one finds the most personalizations.

External bonds

  • Site (in English) dedicated to Nose art and the pine-ups of the Forties

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