VINTAGE AIRCRAFT Nose Art – Hard’ to Get

Vintage Aircraft Nose Art is an unprecedented collection of unique American art that graced military aircraft in World War II and the Korean War. This art reflected the personalities of the air and ground crews and gave each aircraft the identity and attitude it carried into battle.

Applied by volunteer artists with a wide range of skill levels, the art typically featured alluring women whose, charms belied the deadly cargo the crew hoped to deliver to its targets. The sheet metal canvases bore images such as pin-up beauties, popular cartoon characters, and storks delivering bundles of munitions.

The names given to the nose art – and thus, the aircraft – were clever plays on words such as Mission Belle, Salvo Sadie, and Miss Bee Haven.

The playful artwork and creative names captured in this book’s rich collection of photos show that the crews retained their sense of humour despite their hazardous wartime duties.