Nose Art Photos...Curious about their history

Discussion about wrecks and losses as well as historic sites in the Pacific.

Moderator: Moderator

Post Reply
Chrisg1978
Private
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:45 pm

Nose Art Photos...Curious about their history

Post by Chrisg1978 »

My Grandfather was Joseph Grohman. He was an Aviation Photographer stationed in the Pacific (PNG mostly) during the war. He left his family with over 100+ photo most of which are of bombers and P38's.

I recall him telling me that he was a good friend of the nose art painter and I have dozens of pictures of actual nose art. I actually have a couple photos where the painting is not finished yet and the painter is standing on his ladder working away....

If anyone has any history on some of these planes that would be very interesting.

American Beauty(Bomber)
Patched UP Piece(Bomber)
Hard To Get(Bomber)
The Flying Stud(Bomber)
Geraldine(Bomber)
Frisky(Bomber)(Lt. Young and FRANCES visible by pilot window)
Bourbon Box Car(Bomber, still silver without cammo paint)
Pleasure Bent
Sky Witch
The Powers Girl(Sweet Sue painted above the lower window below nose turret)
The Wango Wango Bird(Bomber)
Sky Vagabond(Bomber)
Queen Mae(Bomber)
Jini(Bomber)
Miss Jolly Roger(Bomber)
Mexican Spitfire(Bomber)
The Wolf Pack(Bomber)
Cookie(lots of bomb runs painted on her, seen action by the time photo was taken)
Maid In The USA(Bomber)
Star Duster(Multiple Bomb runs painted on her by time photo was taken)
Target For Tonight(Multiple runs on her by time photo was taken)
Saint Louis Blues(Painted and signed by "Merkling)
Road to Tokyo(Bomber)
Ho Hum(Bomber)
Two Bob Tillie(Bomber)


Hope someone knows something about these birds that they can share with my family.

Thank you,

Chris

Susan E. Wolfe
Private
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:13 pm
Location: Texas U.S.A.

Names of Planes

Post by Susan E. Wolfe »

I do know that ONE OF THE MAIN PLANES MY DAD WAS THE PILOT OF WAS TWO BOB TILLIE> THE ONLY KNOWN PICUTRE OF THE NOSE ART IS HELD BY JASON AND BONNIE DILWORTH OF THE JOLLY ROGERS ASSOCIATION. Bonnie helped me decipher some of the codes of my Dad's flights (Bomber Pilot of B-24 in SWPA) and that was one of the planes he flew!!! Sincerely Susan EWING Wolfe, if you have a complete picture of it, send it to me at ranchlady@hughes.net. I think Bonnie sent me a picture of it over the net, years ago, however I would have to dig through my files. Hope this helps. My father was Captain, retired as a Major, had over 200 flying hours in SWPA, from Iron Range to New Guinea and other stations everywhere in between above and below. He passed away at a very young age of 53. I am still trying to find pieces of his life myself!!!! His daughter!
I would like to post an article and pictures that my father Major John Donald Ewing DECEASED was involved in, the rescue of 15 Americans in a wreck off the Islands of Torres Strait. We have not been able to identify the plane, men.

W.J.Swain
Sergeant
Posts: 19
Joined: Fri Dec 20, 2002 12:24 am

Post by W.J.Swain »

If your "Hard To Get" is an A-20 with a Pin up girl on a fence, that's Ed Shook's Mount. 8th Sqdn, 3rd Attack Group, Grim Reapers..
A&P Mechanic/ QA Inspector for 26 Years. Researching and building a Database on the Grim Reapers.

Huntr
Private
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 21, 2006 9:13 am

Re: Nose Art Photos...Curious about their history

Post by Huntr »

Chrisg1978 wrote:My Grandfather was Joseph Grohman. He was an Aviation Photographer stationed in the Pacific (PNG mostly) during the war. He left his family with over 100+ photo most of which are of bombers and P38's.

I recall him telling me that he was a good friend of the nose art painter and I have dozens of pictures of actual nose art. I actually have a couple photos where the painting is not finished yet and the painter is standing on his ladder working away....

If anyone has any history on some of these planes that would be very interesting.

...
Frisky(Bomber)(Lt. Young and FRANCES visible by pilot window)
...

Hope someone knows something about these birds that they can share with my family.

Thank you,

Chris
If your FRISKY art is a horse, my wife's grandfather was a copliot on it.

Chrisg1978
Private
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:45 pm

Re: Nose Art Photos...Curious about their history

Post by Chrisg1978 »

folks if any of you who posted want these pictures in an electronic format please email me at c_grohman@hotmail.com

To answer your questions:

two bob tillies nose art photo istwo bob tillie's nose art is right in front of me. she is a well endowed naked blonde.

Frisky's nose art is a horse. I can make out Lt. Young and 'Frances' just under the pilot's window. The photo must have been take well into the plane's service as I am counting over 35 bomb markings on the side and 6 hearts. I'be interested in knowing what the hearts mean.

Steve Birdsall
2nd Lieutenant
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:31 am

Re: Nose Art Photos...Curious about their history

Post by Steve Birdsall »

From your list and your comments it sounds like your grandfather's "good friend" was Al G. Merkling of the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron.

Image

Jrbear
Private
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:40 pm

Re: Nose Art Photos...Curious about their history

Post by Jrbear »

Hi, I know it's an aging post, but was wondering if someone still had a photo of the "Target For Tonight (Multiple runs on her by time photo was taken) " listed here. I've seen a few different versions so it might not be the one I was looking for. Thanks for your help.

RSwank
Captain
Posts: 92
Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:42 pm

Re: Nose Art Photos...Curious about their history

Post by RSwank »

There seems to be 4 versions of Target for Tonight (or Tonite) here, the first two are 5th AF planes. You have probably seen them, but perhaps some have not.

http://www.b24bestweb.com/Pics-T-TAR-TD.htm

Post Reply