WW2 Aircraft Nose Art (Pre PC, when boys were men)

While researching the ‘river nose’ issue, I came across ‘nose art’. I had no idea what that was, but came across all manner of aircraft nose art. The art ran from WWII to Korea, Vietnam upto the Iraq conflicts. The art dynamics in recent conflicts have swung toward the non-sexual/suggestive form. I prefer the ‘girls’ of WWII. 

B-24 Liberator

 https://swittersb.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/alcan-higway-my-fathers-passed-ona-roadtrip-for-him/

http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/nose%20art/B%2024%20Liberator.htm

“History shows that the artwork spans almost a century, from World War I — to Operation Iraqi Freedom, but its most notable period was clearly in World War II and Korea. This was a time when the military commanders were more flexible in boosting the morale of the pilots and crew — and weren’t as concerned about ‘political correctness’ during the crew’s most dangerous and deadly war efforts.”

“To personalize their war chariots, these renegade pilots chose a variety of designs from pin-up girls, slogans, cartoons, and nicknames — to hometowns, humor, and more girls.”

 “The subject matter of the art–particularly the sexual portrayal of women–has been a challenge to nose artists. The unclothed female figure was popular with the crews, but inevitably went against commanders’ wishes. There are several obvious explanations for the sexual aspect of nose art. Combat troops are comprised of a select portion of the population–they are primarily young, unmarried males. For the first time in their lives they are separated from home and the constraints of civilian society. Additionally, under conditions of war, in which death and wounding are the prominent concerns, moral controls relax. The farther from home and command headquarters, the more daring was the art. That this art not only made its appearance, but was allowed during World War II, suggests that war alters attitudes. In World War II especially, society applied different rules to the combat troops they considered to be risking their lives for the country. Normal societal rules fell into place when an aircraft was brought home for a war bond promotion and nose art nudes were ordered clothed. Some crews, refusing to bow to public pressure, placed the stamp “Censored” across their art instead…”

http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/militarynoseart/overview3.htm

Water Boatmen Fly (those may not be rain drops)

I recall fishing a private, Central Oregon lake on a cool, sunny Fall day. Suddenly, with nary a cloud in the sky, large rain drops were intermittently splatting upon the lake’s surface….no clouds? drifting rain? wow. No, it was an event I had never witnessed before and was not the least bit ready for: a fall of Water Boatmen returning to the lake to lay eggs. One person on the lake, a big know it all, because he was prepared….had a water boatmen pattern and upon using it he was highly successful. Nothing I had really worked. I picked up one fish on a bead head diving Caddis. I have since then carried several versions of Water boatmen and on the sudden occassions when they start splatting, I am ready. This is akin to carrying Hex, Damsel and Dragon Adults and crawdad patterns. You never know. So, that said, tie up a half dozen simple patterns as you head out to the ponds, lakes, reservoirs, stillwaters this Fall. I read this takes place at ice off in the Spring but I have not witnessed it then.       http://www.onlineflytyer.com/article_waterboatman.asp  

 “The prime time to fish boatman imitations is in the late fall after the first frosts of the season. Capable of flight the mature boatman mate and disperse at this time crashing headlong into lakes all over the south central interior of the province. These cascading boatman give the illusion of rainfall. Upon slamming into the surface the water boatman spins wildly as though knocked senseless by the impact. Breaking through the surface film the boatman scoot down to the bottom depositing their eggs upon weeds and other subsurface debris. At certain times trout become fixated upon the surface-spinning boatman. Traditional boatman patterns cast at these selective fish prove fruitless. Anglers who have buoyant boatman patterns in their fly boxes can reap huge rewards at this time.”  

 http://www.flycraftangling.com/entomology_boa.html

 

‘Water boatmen are considered a delicacy to people in many parts of Mexico, where they are harvested and eaten in large numbers. They are also used and exported as pet food.’ (little known facts…just as well, I say)

Water Boatmen~FlyUSA

Casting the Fly (How to at Sexyloops for the beginner and more)

 

http://www.sexyloops.com/flycasting/contents.shtml

http://www.sexyloops.com/flycasting/tshootline.shtml

Many facets of fly casting. Great videos on how to double haul (with and without a rod), good text on how to impart placement of the line on the water. This is a great site for beginners and intermediates.