Posted on 05/08/2002 3:01:00 AM PDT by Snow Bunny
I just grabbed the picture from a search result, didn't bother to check the site to see who it catered too.
That kind of equal rights works for me. Bring it on! It's for the female service members who lurk here, ya know. Woo Hoo!
My son sent me these pictures the other night and since I am HTML impaired I am glad you posted it..
Anyone remember these "Angels"?
Sassy
Nose art and kill markings portrayed on military aircraft are something that has been around since the first missions were flown during World War I. They serve as a way for the pilots and crews of each plane to express unit pride while building an almost superstitious rapport between man and machine.
Today, the tradition continues as the Marines of Marine Attack Squadron-311 painted bombs on the AV-8B Harriers that flew missions in Afghanistan while attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable).
According to Capt. Matt Parker, VMA-311 pilot who flew missions over Kandahar, the bombs were painted by the Marines working in airframes during the deployment to signify each mission a plane flew. The bombs were painted upon the plane's return to the ship. "Every time we dropped a bomb, they (the ground crew) painted a bomb, and when we hit our targets, they painted explosions," said Parker.
While operating off of the USS Peleliu, anchored in the North Arabian Sea, the pilots flew numerous missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Parker flew 13 missions and dropped two bombs, both were explosions. He said he was a little surprised to see painted bombs on the planes he flew. "They just showed up on the jets one day. But, everybody loved it so they continued to do it," Parker stated.
Out of the six planes that deployed with the 15th MEU (SOC), all have at least one painted bomb, but jet number 55 holds the record with six painted under the cockpit on the left side. Because the pilots weren't assigned to one specific jet, this signifies that jet 55 flew the most missions. "It's motivating," said Staff Sgt. Jason Vanderberg, a VMA-311 ordnance Marine who went on the deployment. "It's just like a tick-mark to show how many missions we (VMA-311) flew." In total there were roughley 26 bombs painted.
It wasn't planned to paint the bombs, said Lance Cpl. Joseph Connor, VMA-311 ordnance Marine, "everyone pretty much just knew it was going to happen." He added it was done during the Gulf War, Vietnam and will most likely be done in the future. But, more than just acting as a track record, the paintings symbolize unit camaraderie and a break from the monotony of the mission.
According to an article published on www.library.arizona.edu, nose art "serves as a ritual to guard against bad luck and to strike terror in the heart of the enemy." But, for the Marines of VMA-311 who deployed with the 15th MEU (SOC), the art serves a bigger purpose. It acts as the words written on the pages of a history book to tell the story of how they participated in the war against terror.
you've done it AGAIN! NICE pictures!
thought you might find this interesting: according to my dad, who was in B-17s, the usual cost of nose art in England before the invasion was ONE BOTTLE of US booze- while you could get gin, warm beer, etc in GB, US whisky was SCARCE at least at first. later he said Europe was SWIMMING in US whiskey!
GIs were/are INVENTIVE to say the least---- there were AT LEAST 8 stills operating in my dad's wing alone!
BTW, i've noted that pin-ups (and Victoria's Secret catalogues!)are MORE popular with most men than hustler! interesting, huh?
on a similar subject, i saw TWO USAAF WW2-style painted flight jackets worn by two USAF officers on the Metro the other day-my dad would be pleased!
for a FREE dixie,sw
Thanks to your dad for his service.
BTW Sam, why do there seem to be NO Veronica Lake's around NOW!
somehow the playmate-of-the-month (the pin-ups of my time in the army) just don't MEASURE UP to her! (pun intended!)
for dixie LIBERTY,sw
Of course, I could be wrong, but they just too happy about the fact that they're half naked and touching each other up. I'b be creeping out.
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