Nose Art

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B-29s flew their first bombing missions of the Korean War on June 28, 1950, just three days after the North Koreans crossed the 38th parallel and the day they captured Seoul. The 19th Bomb Group, operating from Kadena AB on Okinawa, sent four bombers to target a railway bridge and various other targets of opportunity, such as tanks, trucks, and supply columns along North Korean invasion routes.

The first four B-29s to strike in Korea were 42-65306 “The Outlaw”, 44-69682 “Atomic Tom”, 44-86370 “Lucky Dog”, and 44-87734 “Double Whammy”.

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P-47 "Dottie Mae" recovery and now. The Thunderbolt crashed on May 8, 1945 while performing an aerial demonstration to boost moral over a POW/concentration camp at Ebensee, Austria, which had been liberated by Allied forces only three days prior. Lt. Henry Mohr was flying "Dottie Mae" at the time, and while flying over Traunsee Lake he got too low and struck the water. It sat there until it was recovered in 2005.

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My absolute favorite bird. I don't know much about planes. That was my dad's department, he had a private pilot license years ago. He took me to a museum when I was a kid, I was bored out of my mind until I saw a B-17. I loved the presence of it. I still do. The "movie" Memphis Belle came to town a few years back. I saw it fly over the store I was managing at the time. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Then I went to go and see the the bird and walk through it. I tried to thank the three elderly vets that were there, but I couldn't I just cried and walked away. The things those young men experienced....Heartbreaking.
 
My absolute favorite bird. I don't know much about planes. That was my dad's department, he had a private pilot license years ago. He took me to a museum when I was a kid, I was bored out of my mind until I saw a B-17. I loved the presence of it. I still do. The "movie" Memphis Belle came to town a few years back. I saw it fly over the store I was managing at the time. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Then I went to go and see the the bird and walk through it. I tried to thank the three elderly vets that were there, but I couldn't I just cried and walked away. The things those young men experienced....Heartbreaking.
I had the blessing of getting a ride in Sentimental Journey back in 2020.

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The group in charge of the Memphis Belle were selling tickets to ride in the the bird as well, but it wasn't in the cards or the wallet. Maybe one day.
 
“TAIPO” was the nose art on Avro Lancaster R5702, VN-S, of No. 50 Squadron RAF. The aircraft was flown by Roy Calvert of Cambridge, New Zealand, who went on to earn three Distinguished Flying Crosses during the war. The name Taipo, a Māori word for “devil”—was fittingly illustrated with artwork depicting a curly-tailed devil chasing Hitler with a pitchfork.

On 9 November 1942, TAIPO was badly damaged in combat with an enemy fighter. Despite being wounded, Calvert managed to bring the crippled Lancaster back to RAF Bradwell Bay, where he executed a belly landing. One crew member was lost in the engagement. Remarkably, the aircraft was repaired and returned to service, only to be shot down over Denmark later in the war.

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From the Strategic Air Command group on Facebook:

A few months ago I was honored to have scanned 30+ B-52D, G and H slides from the early 1970s, most of them taken before Operation Linebacker II in December 1972. In addition to the noseart seen here, there were also full-aircraft photos as well. I’ll begin sharing those in the future!

- B-52G - 57-6509 - Queen Andrea Hart of Holiday in Dixie

- B-52G - 57-6514 - Cotton Boll Express II

- B-52G - 59-2570 - City of Bossier City: Home of Barksdale AFB

- B-52H - 61-0002 - Wilbur

- B-52G - 59-2592 - Pink Panther / Spokane, Washington

- B-52D - 55-677 - City of Fort Worth

- B-52H - 61-0040 - Spirit of Kittyhawk

- B-52G - 58-0235 - Spirit of Mt. Rushmore

- B-52G - 58-0198 - California Star

- B-52H - 61-0009 - Great Eagle of the North

I wonder how many of these are active, on display somewhere or have been destroyed?

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