WW2 nose art *caution for younger viewers*

[Chevy454]

Ok, here's some scans of some original b&w photos from my grandfather's scrapbook...these are gonna be from the Pacific/Asian theatre...

[Chevy454]

"After Hours" , B-24

[Chevy454]

"It Ain't So Funny" , B-24

Lots of detail on this one...back when folks didn't worry about licensing lawsuits!

[Chevy454]

"Cocktail Hour" , B-24

Lots of detail here, and what looks like possibly the NY skyline behind the pretty lady as well?

[Chevy454]

"The Dragon And His Tail", B-24

"Ta ta" warning! But love how it stretches down the fuselage towards the tail...

[SS427]

This was one of the most prolific nose arts to come out of WWII. Coincidently, also on a B-24.
Rick

[Chevy454]

"Hip Parade" , B-24

Simple, yet classy...

[Chevy454]

"Million $ Baby" , B-24

[Chevy454]

"Rum And Coke" , B-24

Another "ta ta" warning on this one, kids...

[Chevy454]

"Say Uncle" , B-24

Things were a lot less "politically correct" back then...but this is one of my favorites...

[Chevy454]

"Shady's Lady" , P-38

I *believe* this is gonna be on a P-38, but correct me if I'm wrong...either way, Shady was doing all right for himself!

[Chevy454]

"Windy City Kitty" B-24

This photo is about gone, but it's cool nonetheless...looks like a mountain range behind the young lass? I see lots of tarps over the large expanses of glass on these planes...bet it got stupid hot cramped up there for 12-16 hours on end...

[PeteLeathersac]

Very cool...quite the amount of past missions for that first plane! .

I've read a bit on 'nose art' before and although very risqu'e especially for the times, considering the lads were putting their lives on the line...literally, the word from the upper command was just let it happen. .

After the war when the planes were sent to the breakers yards, a very few far-sighted individuals saved some of the nose sections w/ the artwork intact...there's a few chunks on display around the world and I know a few Canadian ones were saved and sent back here from England. .

Keep 'em coming Rob...great stuff! .

To those brave souls who flew these great machines and offered their lives for the freedom we all enjoy todayhttp://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif!!! .

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif
~ Pete

[SS427]

[ QUOTE ]
"Shady's Lady" , I *believe* this is gonna be on a P-38

[/ QUOTE ]

That is in fact a P-38.

[Chevy454]

Here's a B-25 doin' work...looks like it's from the 500th bomber squadron, the "Rough Riders"...

[Chevy454]

"Frank Buck" , B-17

Another "ta ta" warning, as we've got some "indiginous personel" as the military called them...I only heard my grandfather call them "fuzzy wuzzies". As I said before, not a bit politically correct!

[SS427]

National Geographic at it's finest! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif Check out the guy in the middle of the picture "hanging the beads". http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Rick

[Chevy454]

Here's my grandfather, in the nose of B-25...you can see parts of a falcon's head, denoting that the plane is from the 498th bs...

[SS427]

"Poontang"

another of those words made famous in the 70's but Ted Nugent.

[Belair62]

Whats really sad is today some cry baby sonofabitch would grab an attorney and there would be no artwork because it would be "offensive to _______" .You can fill in the blanks

[Chevy454]

"Last Horizon" , B-24

Here is a piss poor scan of what looks like an intricate portrait of the San Francisco bay and the Golden Gate bridge...this was a negative, and this is about all I could do with...the "Last Horizon" moniker was probably all too true for a lot of soldiers, though...

[TimG]

Nose art cowls were cut and hung from the air museum in Harlingen, TX for years. When the museum moved to Midland, TX I don't know if the nose art went along. They had dozens of original cowls hanging on the walls of the original museum. Anyone been to Midland to see if they're there?
Thanks for posting, I love it.

[Verne_Frantz]

Rob,
The "Last Horizon" obviously referred to their statement to the enemy, who would not see another horizon after their arrival. Those crews were full of bravado and committment. In my book, they were ALL heros, living or dead, including your grandfather. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif We here, and many around the world, are free today because of them. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif
God Bless them all.

Verne

[Judgeinator]

http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m200/DaJudgeinator/UncleDon.jpg
This is my Great Uncle Donald (the one on the extreme left) He served with the 155th Photo Recon. This photo was taken about December 1944

[Eddie M.]

Thanks for sharin those pics...... pretty neat

[x Baldwin Motion]

[ QUOTE ]
"Frank Buck" , B-17

Another "ta ta" warning, as we've got some "indiginous personel" as the military called them...I only heard my grandfather call them "fuzzy wuzzies". As I said before, not a bit politically correct!

[/ QUOTE ]

YEAH, THATS IT.... FUZZY WUZZY WAS A WOMAN? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif

[southernfriedcj]

Great pics! Here's to your grandfather and all those who served. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[PeteLeathersac]

Since both my Gramps were in WW1 and my Father too young for WW2, I always wanted to learn more about WW2. . So with this and an interest in aircraft since a young age, I kind've adopted an RCAF WW2 Canadian Bomber Command Squadron a few years ago to help myself and my boys learn more about WW2 also Canadian and World Air power of the time. .
I've read books and lots of stuff online too, met pilots also other Vets and the results (besides turning into a bit of a Warbird nut) has been not only a much better understanding of the war itself but mostly a greater appreciation of those who served!!!. .
I keep a picture beside my desk at work of these guys and when it seems like I'm into a tough day, reading a bit of this stuff makes anything quickly seem a simple thing...try it! .

Here's to Squadron 427! .
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete

Not just the 427 Squadron number was fitting...their nickname was 'Lion' and the Aicraft Code was what else...ZL! .

Their motto was "Ferte Manus Certas" ("Strike with a sure hand") and they gave all they had for what we all take so for granted today. .

Search out some of this stuff yourself and shake a WW2 Vet's hand and thank him before it's too late! .

Check these links below and don't skip the Juno beach one...just another day for the boys of RCAF Squadron 427-ZL! .

: http://www.rcaf.com/6group/427.html

http://www.rcaf.com/squadrons/400series/427squadron.php

http://www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-air-bom-ess-e.htm

[SS427]

Your story reminded me of one that happened to me 18 years ago regarding my father and brother. Both retired Air Force airframe/avionics crewchiefs.

My mom and dad were traveling in Texas just a year before his death and he became very ill. He was rushed to Lackland AFB for surgery at Wilford Hall Medical Center. My brother, sister and I immediately flew down to be with them. While waiting for everything we walked to a nearby park where there were likely a dozen airplanes on static display. Unbelieveably, my dad's C-119 was one of the airplanes on display. He had no idea it was there.

Fast forward 3 years later and after he had passed away, I flew to Arizona to visit my brother and his wife. During my stay I asked that he take me to some local air museums. One of them was the Pima Air Museum in Tuscon. While walking around the outdoor static displays my brother takes off running towards an F-105 Thunderchief and suddenly drops to his knees in front of the airplane. His wife and I just looked at each other in confusion. Upon catching up to him and finding him in tears we asked what was going on. He pointed to the tail of the airplane. It was HIS plane that he had not seen since his tour in Korat, Thailand during the Viet Nam war in the early seventies. This was the airplane he was in charge of during his tour. From what I recall, he picked this aircraft because of the tail number. See the attached photo.

Just an interested set of events with both father and brother.
Rick

[PeteLeathersac]

Crazy stuff Rick...thanks for sharing your story too! .
Without sounding too goofy, there certainly seems to be more to it all than we may understand?! .

Here's a few more links to RCAF 427-ZL Squadron stuff...starting with the pic I keep beside my desk at work. .

http://www.rcaf.com/6group/427crewpics/pages/427unknown.html


This one has RCAF markings...the 427-ZL Squadron is about 3/4 of the way down. .

http://www.rafweb.org/SqnMark408-429.htm


This one's of a 427-ZL Crash site...just one of lots of stuff online.

http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/awaybj778.htm


A heartfelt salute to all those we owe so much! .
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif
~ Pete

[Jim_Becker68]

That B-25 of your grandfather is I think a model B-25H. They had the bombadier compartment blanked out and had 8-50 cals mounted in the nose. Plus 2-50 cals on pods on each side of the aircraft. These saw extensive service in the Pacific against Japaneese convoys. According to what I read, the forward fire power could nearly cut a Japaneese transport in half. Then after turning the vessel into swiss cheese.....you drop a few 500lb bombs to finish the job..... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Chevy454]

[ QUOTE ]
Plus 2-50 cals on pods on each side of the aircraft.

According to what I read, the forward fire power could nearly cut a Japaneese transport in half.

[/ QUOTE ]
I can't remember off hand what caliber it was (75mm, 90mm, ?) but I remember by grandfather talking about the HUGE single gun they tried in the nose for a while...said when it fired that it had such a recoil that it would feel like it briefly stopped the plane in the air!

Simply old school trial and error stuff, but it's amazing the amount of technology that came about in those few years...just prior to the start of WW2, if I recall, the US military was only the 14th largest in the world!

[Jim_Becker68]

75mm cannon. Crews said that they felt like the plane went backwards when the cannon was fired.

Another weapon against the Japanese supply vessels.

[SS427]

Here is a picture of myself (at 15) and some friends after backpacking approximately 15 miles up a mountain to reach a WWII B-17 that crashed in heavy snow during a training exercise. Interesting items I found were an airmen's leather helmet, a boot and the radio. The airplane missed clearing this mountain by less then 100 feet and the remains scattered over 200 yards with the largest piece we found pictured behind us.
Rick

[SS427]

another shot

[SS427]

last one

[PeteLeathersac]

Cool pics and story Rick...where and when was the approx. crash date of this B-17? .
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
~ Pete

[SS427]

I don't recall exactly but I think it was somewhere around 1943. There is a plaque at the base of "Bomber Muntain" in the Big Horn Mountain Range in Wyoming. You would never know by the photos but the wreckage is located at I believe 13,000. I have other photos taken looking down on Lake Florence and based on those you can tell it is VERY high up.

I just found this link.
Bomber Mountain (http://www.ultimatewyoming.com/nuggets/bomber112205.html)
Rick

[KevinW]

The wreckage is still there. Here are some recent pics I found on the web. http://www.thebackpacker.com/pictures/album/jz65anbj,1.php

[L72COPO]

Just found this on the internet, sort of goes with this thread.
This looks like genuine film footage from the WW 2 era. Also gives new meaning to the "wingman" term.





http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4368250464023128830&pr=goog-sl

[DWCamaro69]

My Gramps. WWII fighter pilot. Flew P47's then P51's. Shot down over Germany in a P51-D. POW at Stalag Luft 1 for many months. Just lost him 2 years ago. My mentor, my hero.
http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL826/451234/14585261/219086999.jpg

[TimG]

Wow...hope you got to record his story some way. I search out WWII vets all the time to hear their stories.

[PeteLeathersac]

To your Gramps Dana... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/worship.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif .

We all live today because of what he and others fought so bravely for...sadly most of us have no idea nor ever will understand! .

~ Pete
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif

[DWCamaro69]

He wouldn't talk about it often, but when he did I listened! They could have made a movie about him. It would have been like a WWII "Top Gun" He was disciplined for buzzing towers, wrecking a P47 on the runway, touching wing tips with his buddy during exercises, etc. When they came to the POW camp to free the occupants they were told to stay there until transportation came, etc. He went into the German offices, found his file (which we still have, all in German handwriting but still neat) then "borrowed" a horse from a village and toured the area. An amazing man as I am sure many others were. Treated pretty poorly in that camp. Said his faith in God is all that got him through it. Sorry to rattle on. This thread just made me think about him and thought I would share a pic. God Bless all our armed forces and their families! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
http://pic17.picturetrail.com/VOL826/451234/14585261/219086999.jpg

[/ QUOTE ]

What a magnificent photo. He's sitting in a North American P-51D Mustang that has a British Spitfire rear-view mirror attached to the upper windscreen. The gunsight is covered in the photo, probably for reasons of secrecy. He was probably about 24 then? Think of it: being 24 years old flying escort at 30,000 feet over Germany in a P-51 watching for Germans coming up to attack the bombers---and you could be killed at any moment. In most squadrons anyone over 25 was considered an "old man." Incredible.

[DWCamaro69]

He was maybe 22 in the pic. Born Oct. 1922. Shot down Dec. 1944

[PeteLeathersac]

Here's a link to some Canadian WW2 Nose Art...don't miss the 427 Squadron!!! .

http://www.rcaf.com/6group/noseart.html


Lest we forget! .
~ Pete
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif