Pride In Ownership

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. David J. Dollman
  • 911th Historian Office
PITTSBURGH IAP ARS --  Since the World War I era, nose art for aircraft has been used. The Memphis Belle, Flying Tigers and Enola Gay are just some of the more famous planes that may come to mind; each had its own unique nose art painting. During WWII, the crews of those planes could easily tell what plane it was by the nose art rather than the aircraft's tail number. 

Gary Valant, author of Vinatge Aircraft Nose Art , writes, "Few crew members would talk about 24763 or 34356, but many tales would be told about 'Sack Time' or 'The Dragon Lady.'" 

Even today when you ask Americans what plane dropped the first atomic bomb, they might say the Enola Gay rather than a B-29 Superfortress bomber. The nose art was often personal to the crew: for example, the Enola Gay was named after the pilot's mother. 

From WWII to Vietnam, Air Force warbirds were given nose art. Shortly after Vietnam, however, nose art had disappeared from the aircraft. The reasons for the absence of this art form are only speculation, from having restrictions during peacetime, to wanting to save money. By the early 1980s, nose art had once again gained popularity in the Air Force. In 1985, nose art began to be regulated: only tasteful art was allowed. During the Gulf War, sexually provocative art was removed before an aircraft was deployed to Saudi Arabia to avoid offending inhabitants of the area. 

In 1999, the 911th Airlift Wing became part of the reappearance of nose art. C-130 tail number 0413 received its first nose art, the Pirates emblem. Next, tail number 0412 received the POW art. The remaining birds received other art emblems, from the Steelers to American Pride. 

The military and civilian people who work on these giant birds take great pride in their plane just like the men of WWII did of their bombers or fighters. While the 758th Airlift Squadron was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, they flew several dignitaries including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. By the end of the mission, both were so impressed with the designs of the nose art that they had their picture taken by the emblem. 

During the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), the 911th AW lost its 1986 series C-130s and along with them went the nose art. When the 1978 series C-130 replacements came to Pittsburgh, the 911th Maintenance Group improved upon several of the old emblems and, along the way, created new ones. 

Ms. Donna Pitaro, a local artist, works not only on the C-130s here but also on the KC-135R Stratotankers at the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard base. When asked by the Tribune-Review about her nose art she stated, "It's such a rewarding job; I feel I'm doing a little part in being a proud American citizen." 

From the beginning, nose art has made an aircraft instantly recognizable. Whether it's a pilot's mother or a city's sports team, nose art is a visual representation of pride in ownership.