Aircraft Nose Art

Since World War I, nose art has adorned military aircraft around the world. Intended for friendly rather than enemy eyes, these images—with a wide range of artistic expression—are part of the personal and unit histories of pilots and aircrews. As civilian and military attitudes and rationales for war change from one conflict to the next, changes can also be seen in the iconography of nose art. This analysis from a cultural perspective compares nose art in the United States, Great Britain and France from World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Andretta Schellinger holds a Masters degree in diplomatic and military studies from Pacific University. She spent three years with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. She lives in The Dalles, Oregon.

Andretta Schellinger
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 196
Bibliographic Info: 69 photos (10 in color), notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016
pISBN: 978-0-7864-9771-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-1932-3
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents

Preface   1
Introduction   5
Part One. 1900–1913: The Beginning
1. Expression   11
2. Planes Emerge   22
Part Two. 1914–1919: The Great War
3. Roaring   29
4. Cavalry   46
Part Three. 1919–1939: Lull in Fighting or a Continuation?
5. The Roaring and the Depressed   57
6. Mickey and the Gang   69
Between pages 74 and 75 are 8 color plates containing 10 images
Part Four. 1940–1945: Same Adversaries, Same Place
7. Ration and Save   77
8. Cartoons   93
Part Five. 1945–1953: The Start of the Cold War
9. Rock a Billy   111
10. Transition   121
Part Six. 1965–1973: The Political War
11. Swinging   133
12. Skulls   150
The Future of Nose Art   160
Conclusion   163
Chapter Notes   167
Bibliography   171
Index   175