Grissom B-17 Restoration update Sept 2010 part 2

[TimAPNY]

an exciting project for sure! I may need to get myself another B-17 shirt.

Love it!

Tim

[mustangdriver]

I know I am attached to the project, but I really like the shirt design.

[John Kerr]

Ref: 6th post. Here are a few photos of the various nose markings she has carried
while on display at Grissom. I think I have them in order. These were posted a
few years ago but some of you may not have saw. All photos take by me. Enjoy.
John

[mustangdriver]

Great pictures John. Do you mind if we use them? Very cool!! A little story about "Flak Magnet". That was painted on the co pilot's side of "Miss Liberty Belle" after the plane was hit by a flak burst injuring the co-pilot. The Squadron C.O. made him take it off after a few missions because he felt it would hurt the group morale.

[John Kerr]

Sure you can use. Send me PM if you want a few more photos of the complete
aircraft during same time period. All scanned from slides. BTW Dates on photos
posted are: 1. 20 Jul 76 2. 14 Apr 79 3. & 4. Aug 1987 5. Oct 93, and 6
Jul 03

[Django]

The #4 from '87 looks the most like the log book sketch of all the past markings. Neat.

[mustangdriver]

Thank you very much., P.M. sent. I love the old pics! Interesting top turret

[Fouga23]

Why not use the 100% authentic nose-art? Will people go blind from looking at it? The nude one has been on in the past. i hate this PC history changing things.
Just a small point of criticism I love django's artwork!

[Django]

Thanks Fouga! She's fully functional underneath that swimsuit. You know, just in case... I submitted the sketches in the nude too.

There is at least some historical precedent. Many of the planes coming back were censored in 1945 too. Meanwhile in Spain or Italy, you see ads in newspapers with bare boobies selling yogurt.

[mustangdriver]

Well, we want to be able to sell the shirts to the mass public for fundraising. We all think this will be easier if the girl has a bathing suit on. Down the road there is talk of repainting the nose art to be nude, but that is after the aircraft is restored. There is also something else to consider. The CO made the co-pilot take the 'Flak Magnet" name off of the side of the aircraft due to group morale. There is a chance that the same type of CO may have also made the girl cover up.
There are no known photos of the nose art on the plane, just a sketch of what they planned to put on the plane. So we don't know 100% for sure if she was nude. To be honest if it means putting a roof over her head, at the cost of painting a bathing suit on it, I am OK with that. Now if this aircraft was the real MLB, then that would be a different story.
I too wish that we didn't have to worry about PC items, however I can also understand someone not wanting to let their child wear a T-shirt with a naked girl on it to school.

[Django]

All valid points.

There was nudity allowed in the 305th however, although in the photos I have come across at least, far more often they ARE clothed.

[Holedigger]

Great discussion, and being the way things are today, suit on does make it easier to market! Great job Django! I know what it is to chase blurry pics or fuzzy sketches, guess at the colors and try to come up with something believable!

[pontiac58]

The wife says, she looks the best in the blue thing, me im not that picky.

Add me to the list for a t-shirt. I dont post here often but i read the board just about everyday. Just let me know when and where.
thanks

jim

[Fouga23]

Chris, indeed some very valid points! Looking forward to seeing this one under cover and restored

[Jesse C.]

I am still trying to find that issue of Air Classics that covers the repaint of the nose art back in the mid 80's. Yeah, they also point out the really bad turrets in the article.

There is also a pic of the Artist, who is female, dressed up in a skimpy outfit to get into the spirit of painting the art work. I hope you guys are NOT going to do that!