The project's purpose is to gather and record
information and photographs on named or embellished planes of
all types which served with the USAAF in all theatres of operation
and to detail the work done by those men (and women) who painted
nose art - including civilian personnel.
More than simply recording the basic information of aircraft serial numbers
and codes, details are gathered from veterans' recollections, diary notes,
official archive records, photographs, press releases, photo albums, scrap
books, news clippings and documents to build up as comprehensive a record
as possible of the history and fate of each aircraft, its mission list,
crews and casualties, ground crew, modifications, etc. Veterans who flew
or maintained the aircraft are sought and their information on missions,
modifications, battle damage, ultimate fate and any other stories about
their planes are gathered. Information relating to the naming of
the plane, its origin, when, where, why and by whom is also sought as is
any information on the men and women who painted the art works on the aircraft
and crew jackets. Over the past years correspondence has been maintained
with hundreds of veterans and their familes. If you have any information
or photographs relating to any named plane I would like to hear from you
and to be able to record and incorporate your material into the project's
files.
So far, the project has resulted in the publication of three
books based upon some of the material gathered.
The first, Plane Names & Fancy Noses - 91BG,
is a detailed study of 300+ named B17 Flying Fortresses which served with
91st Bomb Group (Heavy) flying from Bassingbourn in England.
The second, Tales to Noses over Berlin,
is devoted of the twenty daylight raids made by the 8th Air Force on Berlin
during 1944 and 1945, supplementing official US and German archives records
with the stories of some of the named planes associated which flew to or
were lost over that target.
The third title is a detailed
study of the named planes of the 100BG(H)
"Plane Names & Bloody Noses".
Also in planning/research
phase is a volume on the named planes of
94th Bomb Group (Heavy) and another on
the named planes of the 385th Bomb Group (Heavy) as well as a book devoted to the daylight missions
flown against the huge Leuna synthetic oil plant: Merseburg : Blood, Flak & Oil. .gif)
On-going research involves the gathering of information, photos and crew/mission/damage
data to provide individual airplane profiles
as well as information relating to artists or any person (military or civilian) responsible
for naming or painting aircraft. Information on the origin of specific nose
arts or themes is also being gathered.
A signed Limited Edition full colour print of the cover painting by Ray Bowden for
"Plane Names & Fancy Noses - 91BG" is also available for purchase.
