Period A-2 Art Work - Cast your eyes around these pictures and weep.

[SMF144]

Found this link on Hyperscale - I wasn't aware the USAAF documented art work on jackets.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18532986@N07/sets/72157626140462192/with/5475231051/

Stephen

 

[budrichard]

Great resource!-Dick

 

[Feraud]

A great group of photos.

 

[Vespizzare]

Does anyone know under what circumstances these pix came to be taken and the meanings of the notations at the borders?

 

[Deleted member 16736]

Swingin' On A Star is beautiful. It's inspiring me to buy a new A-2 and have it painted (I'm a swing dancer).

 

[Treetopflyer]

These pictures are phenomenal. Some of the artwork is very basic and some of it is very intricate. All of them are great. I wish the Navy would have done more of this during the war. I wish we were still able to do this today. If this were to show up in a squadron today, you would be in the CO’s office getting your butt chewed.

 

[SMF144]

At least you guys are allowed to do some form of nose art on the planes and wear leather jackets. I wish the RCAF would be allowed to do get back into the glory days of post war squadron colours.

Stephen

 

[Otter]

"Miss Gee Eyewanta (Go Home)"

There is a coincidence, I have a '70's Cooper A2 with a full reproduction of that jacket, got it from a relative of the bombardier on that plane. He used to wear it to reunions. Will try and figure out how to post some photos of it later. Funnily enough the jacket I have looks to have been censored, the young lady on the back was naked and her clothing was painted ontop of the first painting. It is flaking slightly now and you can seee the flesh tones coming through from the painting underneath. I wonder if the genuine one was the same.

Joel, loved that Swingin' On A Star, I have the book The Art of the Flight Jacket and that is one of the nicest I have seen.

 

[SMF144]

I love the play on words. The one that caught my attention was "Mister Completely". Missed Her Completely - Love it. Another one that comes to mind is Hoofhearted?

Stephen

 

[mdove]

Thanks to all the Heros who flew many missions in these planes. Without them....well things would be alot different today.

 

[HackerF15E]

Such a great tradition that's been lost.

Glad those photos were taken and preserved.

 

[feltfan]

Outstanding find! Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention.

 

[CeeDee]

Outstanding find! Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention.

+1 Very, very cool jackets. The art is amazing. It reminds me a little bit of Navy and Air Force tattoos from the 40s and 50s.

 

[Hopalong]

I bought a large poster that was being sold over 10 years ago showing these 401st BG A-2's and I bought it because I had an original "Hell's Henchmen" A-2 in my collection. Mine also had bombs on the front of the jacket and the woman on the back was painted on cloth and sewn on the jacket.
Mike

 

[Luke 42]

Awesome pictures!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/18532986@N07/5475227895/in/set-72157626140462192/lightbox/

By the way, for the non-german speaking, that means the "big butt/ass bird" ;-)

 

[Faster]

Such incredible work on those jackets. Amazing stuff! Thanks for the link.

 

[Otter]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/74324106@N04/?saved=1

Hope this link works, popped a couple of photos of my Miss Gee Iwanta (Go Home) replica.

Thanks Luke, my German consists of being able to order beer and little more! Big Ass Bird, love it, could only be a bomber pilot.

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

Has some pretty cool jackets on there, thanks for posting!!!

 

[mdove]

If any of you guys ever get to Dayton OH check out the Air Force museum. There is a real nice collection of authentic jackets complete with art, and lots of planes with nose art. Also have some Presidential planes. Check out their web site.

 

[SIGGY]

It's a shame none of these are in color, they would be that much more amazing to see !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Johnny