EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — More than 30 pieces of nose art from World War II combat aircraft are making their first-ever trip outside their home museum, with the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh chosen as the first public display location for this rare collection.
The collection from the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) headquarters in Dallas, Texas, made its debut in time for Veterans Day after a month of preparation in the EAA museum’s Eagle Hangar, which honors the people and aircraft of World War II.
“Sack Time” nose art that is part of the Commemorative Air Force colelction currently on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum. (EAA photo/Brady Lane)
The artifacts have been designated by the National Trust for Historical Preservation as an official project of Save America’s Treasures, which seeks to preserve historic structures, art and published works throughout the nation. It will be on display at EAA throughout 2016.
The nose art titled “Mutz,” the nickname of the girlfriend of the airplane’s pilot, is taken from a World War II B-17 bomber. (EAA photo/Jason Toney).
“This collection is simply incredible; there’s no other way to put it,” said Bob Campbell, director of the EAA AirVenture Museum. “We’re honored to be the first museum chosen by the CAF to receive this priceless collection on loan. It tells a unique story of the common soldier and airman during World War II, how this artwork was created, what it meant to these young men mostly between 18 and 25 years old, and the individual tales of these aircraft that returned along with those that didn’t.”
“Night Mission” is one of the more than 30 pieces of WWII nose art from the Commemorative Air Force now on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh (EAA photo/Jason Toney).
The nose art was common on the bombers and fighter aircraft of the era, and displayed the creativity of crews at air bases around the world. As was the custom during World War II, some of the nose art depicts slogans or places, but many of them included drawings of young women in poses from chaste to extremely provocative. Some of the most risqué art has been moved to the Eagle Hangar’s “Top Secret” area, which also includes a surplus atomic bomb casing from the end of the war.
Each piece of artwork in the collection, which arrived in six semi-trailers in late September, includes an interpretive panel that describes the aircraft from which the artwork came, its history and any back-story details.
A sample of the Commemorative Air Force nose art exhibit on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh through 2016. (EAA photo/Jason Toney)
“It’s difficult to put into total context today what pressure and danger the Allied crews faced during the war, but this nose art was deemed by commanders as an important part of the morale for these units,” said Keegan Chetwynd, CAF museum curator. “When we began the plan for our new National Airbase in Dallas, we didn’t want these artifacts simply stored away in a warehouse, because it’s important that their stories be told. EAA and its museum was the first place that we believed would display this art with the respect and context that it truly deserves.”
EAA plans several events throughout the coming year that will feature the nose art collection and tell more of the background behind each piece.
Source: http://generalaviationnews.comPictures of the day: Rare nose art exhibit travels to EAA AirVenture museum