Victory Girls Have Brush With Paint

To a pilot any airplane is a picture to behold. But for some, just the airplane isn't enough. Almost since the dawn of aviation pilots have been adorning their craft with drawings and paintings. This is known as “nose art.” Some is meant to inspire, give comfort to the owner, celebrate a victory or loved one or strike fear in the minds of the enemy.

Victory Girls, Terri Polley and Jerri Bergen, based at Cable airport recreate classic nose art and design custom paintings in the classic styles and as well as more modern designs. At the March PVPA meeting the pair, identical twins, Terri, don't cut your hair or we'll all be lost, presented a history of nose art from WWI to the present. They showed classic examples of airmen's good luck charms. Lady Luck shows up in several versions.

Nose art, they said, would identify crews or the mission of the airplane. One bomber converted to transport supplies, mostly food, was named “Chow Hound,” while another airplane used for photo reconnaissance was named “Over Exposed.” This was just another excuse for a scantly clad lovely to grace a fighting machine. Sharks teeth, most famously painted on the noses of the Flying Tigers P-40s can be traced back to the First World War and the marking endures today.

If you are looking to grace your airplane with nose art, be it a pin-up, cartoon, monster or a lucky charm, the Victory Girls can be found at Cable airport, or visit their website.