[aaatripp]

To Renee' (qltngal) and rborst,

A big THANK YOU! for your comments on this thread which apparently now have provided the info. to prove that one of the artists painting nose art for the 353FS in the ETO of WWII was: crew chief, Sgt. ALFRED BORST!!

I've been searching for several years now to identify this person. For the 356FS, it's been easy as the work of Will Louie has been well documented.
Several members of the 355FS gave me a couple of likely names but I could never find any evidence of the painter of the nose art for the 353rd....until now!

If you check out the nose art of the following 353FS a/c you'll note the block-style lettering, use of a border on all letters, distinctive "M", and shape of the curve on certain letters that seem conclusive:

1. Jeanne Mio/Ready Eddy - Edy Hunt
2. Margie Maru (early edition) - Jack Bradley
3. Arson's Reward - Wallace "Bud" Emmer
4. Bonnie B (early two) - Don M. Beerbower
5. Julienne Hi! - John Montijo
6. Rigor Mortis - Ed Regis
7. Beantown Banshee - Felix M. Rogers

Many of you will recall that Glen Eagleston's FT-L "Feeble Eagle" had that dramatic painting of the attacking eagle and Bruce Carr's FT-I "Angel's Playmate" also had more elaborate painting than those listed above.

If anyone has addtl. info. about the 353FS nose art or other painters please reply via this forum. Many thanks!
Regards,
Tripp