[ QUOTE ] Loudpedal, that's******in. Don't get too excited on the Brazen Bombshell. The girl is a vintage pin up. I just outlined her and did the rest on the computer. The only thing I airbrush anymore is solid colors. The last time I tried and started thinking, "damn, this would be sooo much easier in photoshop" and I never looked back. Here's one from the Pileup. I'm not sure who's car it is. Django that is one of the "Cheaters" Cars and the artist is Jerome (Cheater Carls Brother(?)) and he paints nose art on historic aircraft, cars and jackets!!! Absolutely one of the "BEST" in the World for the pin-up art!!! He was at the "World of Wheels" car show in Milwaukee and stole the show as people would watch him paint the pin-ups by the artists displays! And Django as far as getting a ride in a P51 Mustang..., let me check with my friends and see if you can go up in one of their P51's! (I've been blessed with more ride time in a P51 than some of the pilots in WWII!)
Thirty-two, the book I have is called, "Vintage Aircraft Nose Art Ready for Duty" by Gary M. Valant. It's just a book full of pictures. I'm glad you liked this post guys and thanks for sharing. I can't belive some of the names these guys came up with for their planes and the artwork is tremendous. All I know about the artwork on the Hit Parade Jr. is that it was painted by an english girl at the base. My grandfather never talked about the war to my dad or his sisters and only really started telling stories when I was a teenager. He died a few years ago while I was in college, but when he was in the hospital wearing an oxygen mask, he thought he was back in the ball turrett again. He was talking about planes off the wings and stuff like that. I watched "Mephis Belle" a few years ago and could not believe that was what my grandpa was doing when he was 18 years old. I just feel lucky to have these pictures of both him, the plane and his crew. I wish I knew the name of the plane he was on that was shot down, as the hit parade jr. made it back from europe. Like I said, if you have any interest in a particular plane or just want an idea of some nose art, let me know. This book has over 1000 pictures of nose art from WWII and Korea.
Sweet, I knew I had seen the car before but couldn't place it. You have buddy's with P-51s? You WILL be my friend for LIFE!! haha
I traded "Boo Koo" hours of labor for ride time...! At a fuel consumption rate the can easily reach 80 Gallons an hour..., I certainly got the best of the deal! I've riden in two of the P51's located in WI and one down in Florida! Florida P51 will cost you $1,500 an hour! Got some Stick time in T6's, T28's, Russian L29 Fighter Jet, 31 Waco, Pitts S-2B as well as other "High Altitude Hot Rods"! PM me and I'll get you the details! Mark
Wayfarer. I sent you an email with info on your Garandfathers base, I can connect you a few related websites dedicated to the 385th Heavy Bombardment Group. The base is still in use as a private airport.
I got your email. I've checked out the sites before. I've been looking for information and pictures for awhile, but finally dug some out of my grandparents' old house. The serial number of the plane was: 42-38031 and it was part of the 385th, other than that, I don't know much more about the plane. It's interesting about the flight crews and ground crews not communicating. Some of the pictures I have are of another plane's crew, the "Ohio Air Force".
Wayfarer, Check out this site, there is a link to a new book on the 385th http://members.lycos.co.uk/guyries "The Ohio Air Force was from the 549 Squadron, "Hit Parade Jr" was in the 548. The best book to ID all these B-17's is B-17 Nose Art Name Directory by Wallace R. Forman.
I'm actually wondering if the Ohio Air Force was the plane he was shot down on. The pictures are from the week before it was shot down over france and the Hit Parade pictures are from later. Hmm, I've found just about everything I can online about the planes, I'll check out that site. If you find anything, let me know. I've found the serial number of both planes, but no mention of crew names. Sorry guys, now back to the nose art. That is, unless you'd like to see some crew pictures.
This is a photo from then Roswell Army Air Field- it became Walker Airforce base. My grandfather had a civilian security job there during the war and later my dad served there working on B-52's. I doubt if Warner Brothers sued the government over this art. Dan
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