Artwork On WWII Aircraft | Nose Art With Owen Hughes, The Author Of "Doc" On The B-29

WWII aircraft nose art. The inscription of art work on military planes dates to World War I when paintings were usually extravagant company or unit insignia. However, regulations were put in place after the war to stymie the practice. As the United States entered World War II, nose art regulations were relaxed, or in many cases totally ignored. WWII would become the golden age of aircraft artistry. The artwork was typically painted on the nose of the plane, and the term "nose art" was coined.
Owen Hughes was born in Freemont, Ohio, in 1919. After high school, he worked as a commercial sign painter and trained in hand lettering techniques. In anticipation of the draft, Owen joined the Army Air Force hoping to become a flyer. After arriving for training in aerial photography in Patterson Field, Ohio, he was deployed overseas to England. Owen was stationed at Burtonwood Airfield and later went to Paris, where he worked and lived in the airplanes beneath the Eiffel Tower. In his later years, he designed the nose art for Doc, one of only two B-29 bomber planes still flying today. Owen continues to attend air shows throughout the country.
First Encounter with Germans:
"I was all over England, in Pointon Park, which was a small village. And it was in the village park. That was our first encounter with the Germans.
We were in tents that the British had set up for us. And we heard some strange plane it sounded strange to us. We knew the American planes; just from the sound we could tell what was American. We heard this strange plane, and we all went out of our tents and looked up like this. And the plane dropped a flare. And left.
Well, [laughs] we got chewed out by the British. I forget what rank he was, but he chewed us out. “You blokes had perfect portraits taken by the Germans!” They flew over and took a photograph of us. There we are standing there looking at him. And we shouldn’t have done that! Well, we didn’t know.

[@Dronescapes]

Click the link to watch more aircraft, heroes, and their stories, and missions: www.youtube.com/@Dronescapes

[@lyfandeth]

So many people will say yeah, its just paint. But I think all that nose art and other work probably improved morale invaluably. Thank you both for documenting it.

[@timu438]

What a wonderful interview. It was great to listen to Mr. Hughes's stories, and to hear directly from one of those nose artists, whose work has always fascinated me. I am glad I caught it.

[@DSToNe19and83]

When I see a old fella with a jacket full of patches I get excited! 🍻

[@godfreycarmichael]

I love seeing interviews with the men from WW2. They have a lot of stories to tell. Great stuff. Thank you.

[@Xsiondu]

I thank you for all this aviation greatness.

[@paulbrennan3996]

What a fascinating man total respect painted so many B17S noses and probably other types of aircraft some would of come back and others would never of been seen again thank you 🙏 total respect these men are becoming less and less from World 🌎 war two could listen to the gentleman All day thank you 🙏🙌🤝

[@leojablonski2309]

Art is life presented

[@DSToNe19and83]

I enjoyed the interview, thank you! 🍻

[@inclusivemodeldesigns16]

Three of my favourites are DAUNTLESS DOTTY, LUCKY LEVEN, & COMMAND DECISION.

[@kristoffermangila]

Mine are THUNDER BIRD, WADDY'S WAGON, BOCKSCAR and of course, DOC.

[@macgyver5108]

36:34 HA!!!! That's flippin HILARIOUS! 🤣 MP thought he was making slick moves but _that_ little plan got spoiled!

[@richardgillogly4326]

Need to see some of his aircraft artwork

[@charlesferebee263]

OUTSTANDING 🇺🇸

[@OMFGROTFLOLx2]

The nose art on the thumbnail looks amazing

[@dukeflem]

Did you do the nose art on my uncle's B29 "The Goin Jessie"? I can send a picture if needed. It was beautiful Work

[@macgyver5108]

It would be interesting to see Mr. Hughes paintings or sketches that never made it onto Glacier Girl. Are they online anywhere? Same for some of his other photos like around the Eiffel Tower he said he has too. At 98 years young he's one funny guy!

[@thomasharris7891]

7/17/23 5:05 AM. When did the British decide to switch to the Mk II helmet? Did they experiment with it during WW I?

[@DSToNe19and83]

19:33 Yeah, painting and drinking only goes so far.. 🍻

[@wjewell63]

Cool.....👍😁

[@Iamxavierjohnson]

Completely different experience for African American pilots 💀

[@BlueBadSyk]

❤❤❤😅

[@johnvenski2319]

Long winded and repetitive and very little content on the actual subjects

[@Castragroup]

I wish they wouldnt put lewd pictures on the aircraft

[@macgyver5108]

It's only "lewd" to you. _Hundreds upon thousands_ of servicemen, who had to leave their girls at home, all not knowing if they're going to DIE their next flight out and you want to pout over moral boosting artwork?

[@DSToNe19and83]

⁠@@macgyver5108exactly, them young fellas were homesick with only one thing on their minds.. 🍻