Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum - 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

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- - 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock. (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=9193)

Herb Kugel

22nd June 2007 23:39

'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

Bill Gunston in his book The History of Military Aviaton, London, 2000, makes the statment on page 92:

"Arrival of 'The Mighty Eighth' in England was a culture shock.
Among other things, most of the white starred bombers had a
name and possibly artwork painted on the nose."

Didn't the RAF give its bombers names and paint pictures on their noses?

I assume that Mr. Gunston is referring here strictly to matters of military aviation. If this is so, what else might be considered 'culture shock?'

Thank you.

Herb Kugel

shooshoobaby

23rd June 2007 03:12

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

I think he is referring to the Nude Women , language etc.
Don't recall seeing any on RAF A/C.
Mike

Herb Kugel

23rd June 2007 05:43

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

HI, thank you,
Come to think of itl, in looking at photos of RAF planes, I odn't remember the pictures.
H

Graham Boak

23rd June 2007 16:25

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

Generally speaking no, they didn't, before the arrival of the 8th. Examples do exist, names were not entirely unheard of, and cartoon artwork could be seen, but not pin-ups. Nose art on bombers became much more prevelant later.

shooshoobaby

24th June 2007 21:40

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

Yes I have seen nose Art on RAF Planes but nothing " Racey "
or " Bawdy " like AAF.
Just saw another episode of Foyle's War -
What a great Show !
Mike

nick de carteret

25th June 2007 12:10

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Boak (Post 45274)

but not pin-ups.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shooshoobaby

Yes I have seen nose Art on RAF Planes but nothing " Racey " or " Bawdy " like AAF.

Early 1942, a pin-up painted on an operational Wellington bomber around the time of the 1000 bomber raids. http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a2...609/013_13.jpg from a log book formerly in my collection.

Graham Boak

25th June 2007 14:15

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

There is also a photo of a pin-up - possibly cut directly from the original paper - on the nose of a Blenheim in France winter 1939/40. Clearly it would be untrue to say that such never existed! However, one swallow, or even a pair, does not make a summer.

JEP311

25th June 2007 17:19

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick de carteret (Post 45352)

That would make a interesting model of the Wellington.
Any other information on the plane ?
Thank you for your time.
Rick

drgondog

2nd July 2007 22:45

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

I believe the phrase "overpaid, over sexed and over here" summed up the Culture shock we imposed on Brits - not to mention being loud, cocky, generous and boistrous..

We have that effect on people.

Regards,

Bill

Pathfinder

3rd July 2007 12:16

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

I have seen some RAF aircraft with nose art, but as people mention, perhaps this came about after seeing the American's ships.

I'm sure I've seen a Lancaster with Mickey Mouse on the nose. I have also seen an Indian Spitfire during WW2 with some neat artwork.

Think the Americans were king of the aircraft art though. Maybe the modern airliners with some amazing schemes are direct influences of that?

Brian Bines

3rd July 2007 14:21

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

I recently saw some reprints of guidance booklets for U.S. servivemen coming to the UK in 1942 to help them deal with their culture shock on coming here, also similar ones for British servicemen on meeting the French following D-Day. Can't remember which shop might have been Waterstones,

Regards

Brian Bines

Franek Grabowski

3rd July 2007 14:59

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

Guys, you have not seen Russian aircraft from the period of the civil war. You do not know what the "nose" art is! ;)

indianer

3rd July 2007 15:48

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

Got a pic ? (or half-a-dozen ;)

Herb Kugel

11th July 2007 23:59

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

Thank you all. I am now going to try to find out what kind of stuff the Americans painted on their WWI planes.
H

fsbofk

12th July 2007 06:20

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

To find out what the Americans painted on their planes in WWI, check out the Aerodrome at http://www.theaerodrome.com/forum/forum_index.php?

Franek Grabowski

12th July 2007 16:49

Re: 'The Mighty Eighth' and Culture Shock.

One of the Squadrons painted their SPADs in 'Eastah Eggs' colours, but this was post war I think. Definetelly most colourful were Russian aircraft, then possibly Italian.

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