#Plane Art

[theglitterdome]

Jane Russell as plane art in WWII

#jane russell #20th century #hollywood #old hollywood #classic hollywood #nostalgia #wwii #plane art #40s #1940s #russells raiders

[usnatarchives]

Tailspin Tapestries: The Colorful Faces of WWII Aircraft 🃏

Nose art, the decorative painting or design on the fuselage of military aircraft, has a storied history that peaked during World War II. This vibrant, often cheeky artwork served as a morale booster for the crew, adding a personal touch to the grimness of war and providing a sentimental tie to the home they were fighting to protect. The practice traces its origins to Italian and German pilots in World War I, but it was during World War II that American airmen embraced this form of expression with unparalleled creativity.

World War II represented the golden age of nose art, with American crews stationed in Europe and the Pacific leading in creativity. Artworks ranged from ferocious animals and cartoon characters to pin-up girls and patriotic symbols, each with a unique name that reflected the aircraft's character, the crew's aspirations, or an inside joke among the squadron. Names like "Memphis Belle," "Enola Gay," and "Sack Time" became as legendary as the aircraft themselves, symbolizing the spirit of the crew and their mission.

Nose art was crucial to boosting morale among crew members, providing a sense of individuality and ownership over their aircraft in an otherwise regimented and dehumanizing environment. This artwork fostered an emotional attachment to their planes, with each piece a vivid manifestation of the crew's bond. It represented a piece of home and personality in foreign skies, a reminder of what they fought for and the camaraderie that sustained them.

The subject matter of nose art varied widely, reflecting diverse personalities within the crews. Cartoons and comic characters like Donald Duck and Bugs Bunny were favorites for their humor and relatability. Artwork also featured fierce sharks, tigers, and eagles, symbolizing the aircraft and crew's power and aggression.

Many nose art pieces were painted by the crew members themselves, though some squads had designated artists. Individuals like Don Allen, who painted nearly 100 pieces of nose art, were celebrated for their contributions. Using whatever materials were at hand, these artists created masterpieces under challenging conditions, showcasing remarkable ingenuity and talent.

The practice of nose art declined after World War II, largely due to stricter military regulations and the evolving nature of warfare. However, its legacy endures, captivating historians, veterans, and enthusiasts. World War II nose art remains a powerful reminder of the human element amidst war's machinery, a colorful testament to the resilience, creativity, and spirit of those who served.

The National Archives holds a treasure trove of photographs featuring this iconic nose art, often discovered in ordinary crew photos where the art itself isn't the primary focus of the image. This creates a fascinating treasure hunt for enthusiasts and researchers alike, offering glimpses into the past where this artwork accompanies stories of bravery, camaraderie, and the personal touches that made these aircraft more than just machines of war.

More resources on the National Archives website and Catalog:

https://nara.getarchive.net/topics/nose+art https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/photos

#Nose Art #WWII #Military #Bomber #Airplanes #History #National Archives #Plane Art

[boeing-787]

i finally finished the Airbus A350 painting before the end of 2023!

2nd version is without the colour editing etc.

here's to another year of plane art 🎉

#Airbus A350 #Airbus #aviation #plane art #i need a new art tag #plane beef

[celestite-caroline]

oughh random gusty doodle because I realized I changed how his alt mode looks

#art #transformers #artwork #fanart #illustration #oc #original character #my art #maccadam #transformers oc #transformers g1 #transformers seekers #transformers starscream #transformers skywarp #transformers thundercracker #fancharacter #doodle #sketch #plane art

[polar-equinoxx]

sparkling✨

#this took three hundred years (three hours) #the perspective killed me off istg #but yes. the slice plen #ms tg #ms art #tom iceman kazansky #top gun #top gun 1986 #top gun fanart #f 14 tomcat #plane art

[aviatrix-ash]

Been wanting to jump on the airplane furry/animal art trend with the lil plane I’m (slowly) restoring. They’re a lil Preceptor N-3 Ultra Pup, or the miniature ultralight Piper Cub from Wish with a little 1960s VW bug engine under the hood. I plan on painting a sorta retro PSA inspired Ace Pride livery on it. :3

This little friend loves nose spinner boops and AvGas treats. Just beware of the propeller when giving pets, their propeller spins when they’re happy, they would be very sad if their prop accidentally nipped a friendly hand ;o;

#planeposting #airplanes #aviation #aeromorph #plane furry #plane animal #plane art #aviation art #general aviation #my doodles

[nocternalrandomness]

Flying Lady and Her P-40 by Anthony VanArsdale

#Flying Lady #P-40 #Warhawk #Aviation art #plane art #artwok #aviator #pilot

[aviafoil]

A plane that is somehow ticklish

#anthro plane #plane art #tickle blog

[zipperpillar]

Made an au where all my characters r just airplanes, here’s my character Marlow, as an Airbus a380 :P

#my artwork #my ocs #digital art #neon colors #airplane #airplane art #planes #airbus #a380 #plane art

[ragrfisk]

Plane art! 2.5 hour flight 😅

#artists on tumblr #illustration #art #digital art #dwarf #dwarves #procreate #original character #hot dwarves #plane art #daddy dwarf #dwarfposting #dwarf posting #dwarves who fuck #speed paint #speedpaint #old dwarf #grumpy old man #digital painting #portrait #oc character #oc art #there will be dwarves #the dwarves #dnd dwarf #warcraft dwarves #character concept #character illustration #character art #character design

[samyurice]

Plane doodles

Mitsubishi F-2 | F/A-18F Super Hornet

#aviation #mitsubishi #mitsubishi f-2 #f-2 #f/a 18 hornet #jasdf #japanese air self-defense force #us navy #f/a 18 super hornet #aircraft #plane art #doodle #aviation art #doodle art

[little-aeronaut]

itsa plane :)

#art #digital art #my art #illustration #digital illustration #digital painting #ocs #plane #plane art #biplane #biplane art #cloudysky #ocean #aesthetic #vintage #aeuronaut

[dandelionkoli]

Some comms i did before for twitter

#aircraft #aircraftart #plane #plane art #furry

[scrapheapchallenge]

WIP stages and final of a christmas gift (for someone who doesn't use social media) - this Fokker F27 in 1980s Oman Aviation livery is one of their favourite planes (and my favourite plane) we have very fond memories of these aircraft from when I was growing up, and honestly this is probably what instilled my love of planes and flying as a kid, and inspired me to learn how to fly as well. I've wanted to do a portrait of one for ages, and so glad to have finally got it done! Digital painting, made in procreate.

#plane art #aviation art #fokker #f27

[teethw0lf]

Y’all want my weird surrealist art after I posted some stupid fucking shitty jojo fanart?

#plane art #airplane #digital painting #how do… #guys how do I tag this #this has nothing to do with anything id normally put here #help #digital art #wolf #I- #hyperventilating

[nocternalrandomness]

”Sweet Peg” by Dan Witkoff

#Aviation art #Cessna #O-2A #Skymaster #Forward Air Control #FAC Aircraft #PSYOPS aircraft #Vietnam #Observation aircraft #USAF #Plane art