# Did other nations have bomber nose/bomb art?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-other-nations-have-bomber-nose-bomb-art/349029>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 19, 2006, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-other-nations-have-bomber-nose-bomb-art/349029 "2006-03-19T19:58:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-other-nations-have-bomber-nose-bomb-art/349029/21 "2006-03-20T20:20:37Z")

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I remember reading of British aircraft in Gulf War 1 often being festooned with characters from the raunchy comic book Viz, until word of it reached Whitehall, that is. Can’t very well have a picture of one of HM’s Tornados named “Two Fat Slags”, complete with cartoon, printed in the Sun, can we?

USAF began again allowing it officially around that time, IIRC, with the proviso that any decoration be something the crew wouldn’t mind showing their mothers.

Maybe the USN didn’t do it in WW2 because it was a vulgar AAF thing?

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-other-nations-have-bomber-nose-bomb-art/349029/22 "2006-03-20T21:52:35Z")

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\>semi-related hijack \> During my time in Army aviation I did not see any nose art. It would have to be in black paint on a very dark green background anyway as helicopters are supposed to blend in with the trees (I have seen examples during Vietnam however). During field problems, especially at NTC we were known to use chalk to put temporary markings on the aircraft. During one of the safety briefings at NTC they showed a picture of an OH-58 that had “EAT ME” written in chalk on the horizontal stabilizer so you could read it as they flew over you. This was written on a tail that was sticking out of a pile of crumpled wreckage. It was show as an example of what not to do.

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-other-nations-have-bomber-nose-bomb-art/349029/23 "2006-03-20T21:55:00Z")

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[QUOTE=Loach(I have seen examples during Vietnam however)[/QUOTE]

:smack: I have seen _pictures_ of examples. I was a little young to be in Viet Nam, born in '67.

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**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2006, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-other-nations-have-bomber-nose-bomb-art/349029/24 "2006-03-21T03:17:24Z")

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> [@RandomLetters](#):
>
> The Japanese also do nose art these days - I know I have seen pics of 3 F-4’s, with the anime characters Belldandy, Urd, and Skuld (from the series Ah! My Goddess) on the nose. Can’t find the pictures though.

Tell me if and when you do, though…that is _awesome._

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