Review of
Planes, Names & Dames: Volume II,
1946-1960, by Larry Davis, ISBN 0897472918
Five out of five stars
Nose art appearing on American planes
One of the most
interesting and effective ways to maintain morale among the various air wings
is the art that appears on the noses of the planes. The most famous example of
this is the shark insignia painted on the planes of the famed “Flying Tigers”
of Claire Chennault. This book is a collection of pictures of some of the art
along with explanations from the period 1946-1960. In terms of combat
operations, it was during the Korean War.
Even though the
images are in black-and-white, the reader can clearly get a sense of the quality
of the art. The images are detailed and served to boost and maintain morale as
well as give the pilots, flight and ground crews a sense of shared identity. In
that respect, it was a success, there is a clear sense of pride in the men posing
next to the art.
Many of the
images were originally of nude women, yet at one base, the wife of the
commanding officer demanded that the “good parts” be painted over. She got her
way and that can be seen in some of the before-and-after pictures.
A blending of
art and combat readiness, this book is an interesting historical retrospective
of the air arms of the U. S. military.
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