Seen At Oshkosh: A Nose For Art

John Morris

Berlin Express

This B-25H 43-4432 is the EAA’s very own, and is being restored to flying condition here at Oshkosh. The aircraft was built in December 1943, and flew late in life with the EAA as “City of Burlington.” During a maintenance flight in the 1980’s it suffered a main gear failure on landing, was grounded and subsequently restored for static  display.  Now the skies beckon again as “Berlin Express.”

Paper Doll

The B-25J now flying as "Paper Doll" was delivered on June 15, 1945, and is now  owned by Fagen Fighters WWII Museum. At one time it was the last operating B-25 fire bomber.

Yellow Rose

“Yellow Rose” is a restored 1943 B-25J Mitchell operated by the Central Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force.

RUSSIAN To Get Ya

The B-25J 44-30456 now flying as "Russian to Get Ya" was delivered on January 17, 1945. In 2002 the aircraft was purchased by Lewis Air Legends in Encinal, Texas, and restored to airworthy condition.

Minnie Mouse

“Minnie Mouse” preens herself for Mickey on the nose of this 1942 Howard 250, a business aircraft created by Dee Howard from an ex-military Lockheed Ventura patrol and bomber aircraft.

Mickey Mouse

While Minne primps, Mickey tells the world and the intended Japanese target “We’ve got their number, but we can’t read it.” The Howard was called the 250 to denote its cruising speed. 

Panchito

There are more than one hundred surviving North American B-25 Mitchells scattered over the world, mainly in the U.S., of which about 45 are still airworthy. The present-day “Panchito,” a 1945 B-25J, is one of them, and is operated by the Delaware Aviation Museum in Georgetown, Delaware.

Wildcard Wildcat

This Grumman Wildcat FM-2P Wildcat, was built in 1945. It is one of six warbirds brought to Oshkosh by the Texas Flying Legends Museum.

Playmate

Vultee BT-13A Valiant “Playmate” is an immaculate example of the  American World War II-era basic trainer aircraft built by Vultee Aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps, and later U.S. Army Air Forces. It flew here from Indianapolis.

Balls Out

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt “Balls Out” was first delivered in 1949, and subsequently served in the Venezuelan Air Force, ending its military service as a gate guardian in Caracas, Venezuela. It was eventually restored to flying condition by Pacific Fighters in Idaho Falls, Idaho. It’s now operated by Flying Legends in San Antonio, Texas.

Combat crews often personalized their aircraft during World War II with nose art that featured their loved ones, their aggressive intentions, or their dreams and aspirations. Some good examples can be seen here at Oshkosh.

All Photos by Maureen Spuhler

John Morris

John has led Aviation Week's ShowNews, the best-read daily news magazine of aerospace trade shows, for nearly two decades. His background in business journalism before joining Aviation Week includes stints at Reuters, the American Banker daily banking newspaper and as business news editor at the Milwaukee Journal and the Cincinnati Enquirer.

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