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usnatarchives · 4 hours
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Tailspin Tapestries: The Colorful Faces of WWII Aircraft 🃏
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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theworldatwar · 2 days
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German soldiers dressed in winter camouflage keep a look out from the cover of trees - Budapest, Hungary, Oct 1944
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sgtgrunt0331-3 · 2 days
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Marine Corps and Navy emblems adorn several panels at the Iwo Jima display in the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Each emblem represents a serviceman who lost their life during the battle.
March 26, 1945, marked the end of the 36-day long battle that resulted in over 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 killed in action.
The battle for Iwo Jima also saw 27 Medals of Honor awarded to Marine and Navy personnel for gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.
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Alberto Vargas - "Semper Fidelis" - March 1942 Esquire Magazine Varga Girl Gatefold Illustration – Gatefold # 16 of 63 – Verse by Phil Stack - American Pin-up Calendar Collection - The Navy's filled with heroes And the Army knows its beans And the Air Force is a rare force But I'll take the bronzed Marines. There's a swagger to their carriage And they're easy on the eye And my heart does dizzy tailspins When they're proudly marching by; And when they have smeared the Axis And the country is serene … Gee, I hope that I get landed By some Marvelous Marine!
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todaysdocument · 1 day
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Officers of 366th Infantry Regiment
Record Group 336: Records of the Office of the Chief of TransportationSeries: Photographic Albums of Prints of Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation
Original caption: "Captain O. T. Thornton, 0-331267, Washington, D.C., Battalion Adjutant of Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 366th Infantry (Shipment Unit 2240-C) on pier 4 preparing to embark on USS General William Mitchell. A graduate of Howard University 1935, Capt. Thornton went on active duty 3 March 1941. Official photograph U.S. Army Signal Corps, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, Newport News, Virginia."
This black and white photograph shows two African American army officers (two others are just visible behind them).  They are dressed in uniforms with helmets on and holding their equipment.  They both carry overcoats over their arms.  The man on the left wears sunglasses.
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dronescapesvideos · 2 days
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North American F-82Es Twin Mustang With External Tanks, 1948. ➤➤ LEARN MORE: https://youtu.be/8Qzp65KF7Fs
➤➤HD IMAGE: https://dronescapes.video/F82
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nueveg · 3 days
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Dancing is for people who are free.
— Jojo Rabbit (2019)
dir. Taika Waititi
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whencyclopedia · 2 days
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The Causes of WWII
The origins of the Second World War (1939-45) may be traced back to the harsh peace settlement of the First World War (1914-18) and the economic crisis of the 1930s, while more immediate causes were the aggressive invasions of their neighbours by Germany, Italy, and Japan. A weak and divided Europe, an isolationist USA, and an opportunistic USSR were all intent on peace, but the policy of appeasement only delivered what everyone most feared: another long and terrible world war.
Continue reading...
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thatsrightice · 5 hours
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so apparently they put a lot of thought into putting together the members of a bomber crew and actually had a couple quirks like:
personalities must match or compliment well, specifically seeking to avoid personality clashes
one member of the crew must have type-O blood, the universal blood donor
no more than two people from the same state on one crew
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adventurelandia · 27 days
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"Don't be a Job Hopper" 1940s Disney WWII propaganda poster
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catsofyore · 1 month
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“Miss Iris Davis… spends a great deal of time recovering cats with the aid of a "lassoo” from the debris of bombed house. So far she has rescued six hundred of these feline strays, 8 November 1940.“ Source.
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theworldatwar · 1 day
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US soldiers go house to house looking for pockets of resistance and German snipers - Niederbronn, France 1944
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i-am-aprl · 2 months
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'GERMANY'S LOST PLOT OVER GAZA
Why can't Germany or any country in the EU call out Israel's genocide in Gaza? Irish MEP Mick Wallace asks the question as he rips into the bloc with this thumping speech at the European Parliament.
After rattling off the grim Palestinian death toll, he wonders how Berlin can stay silent, given its role in World War Two's holocaust and its little-known genocide in Africa. That saw over 75% of Namibia's Herero and Nama people killed, with their skulls shipped to Europe. Historians regard it as the first genocide of the 20th century.
Listen to Wallace's fiery soundbite. There were a few claps but mainly silence afterwards. Says it all.
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yesterdaysprint · 4 months
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Boston Globe, Massachusetts, May 21, 1940
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retropopcult · 2 years
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“Female railroad workers employed during wartime eat in the break room of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in Clinton, Iowa.” Photographed by Jack Delano in June 1943.
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