Painting the Memphis Belle Nose Art

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Restoration Specialists Chad Vanhook and Casey Simmons talk about their experience in painting the nose art on the historic B-17F Memphis Belle.
This aircraft is on display in the museum's WWII Gallery.
This video is in public domain and produced by the NMUSAF Public Affairs Div.-Ken LaRock

[@crystalheart9]

I've always wanted to see someone paint nose art on a plane. I enjoyed the video.

[@the10thleper]

Nice work. The original artist sure was a talented person. Look at the detail he painted out on some dusty airfield with limited paint brushes? Kodos to that person.

[@Thatgamerguy1314]

I’m honored to have visited this airplane while staying in Ohio, beautiful work! 🤩

[@paulbfields8284]

Having just recently walked through the USS Cod in Cleveland and then watching the restoration work performed on her I can really appreciate what you’ve accomplished here on such an important war bird. You did yourselves proud and if I do say myself.. you nailed it!

[@franksadlowski8136]

Great Job Guy's...something to be very proud of...that original crew is looking down from Heaven with smiles for a job well done...be proud always...

[@jonahtillman9499]

if someone ever tells me, "oh no one has ever worked harder then that person," ill respond with "pound sand," then proceed to show them this video. absolutely gorgeous and a real celebration to the sheer determination that soldier did, and still do have. RIP: to everyone who has died in the name of protecting others, even when they didn't know if their effort would help, or even make a difference.

[@johndavid5618]

Brilliant.Inspiring and honer. 💪💪💪🙏🇺🇲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@thatbme8736]

Amazing work preserving the work done many years ago. Would be so interesting to see the detail put into the original application in a different environment all together. I'm seeing now what it would have taken to preserve that history. Thank you for showing the respect for detail. In fact I never knew she was holding a phone and I'm over 50 years old.

[@traveller4790]

These guys did a fantastic job in recreating the iconic nose art of this aircraft! I'm just disappointed that there wasn't any way to avoid sand blasting off the original and maybe touching it up instead, but I'm no expert and these guys are. But it still looks fantastic!

[@welshpete12]

I think it was to far gone , which is a great pity !

[@scottyb68]

I wish they would fly her a few times a year. Anniversary of 25th mission, 4th of July and Memorial Day perhaps.

[@aerojune]

She looks so beautiful ........ they really make her complete

[@MRREE-zw6xc]

What a nerve racking honor it must be to do the nose art of Memphis Belle!

[@toddmartin6572]

I was just there to see the belle.. a work of art and passion to all the display and the restoration crew. Love you all..

[@timorvet1]

I to am in awe of the amazing work these two artists of their trade have recreated that was born back in those early days of the 8th Air force bombing campaign, and to the crew who no doubt patted that glorious nose-art after every mission, a heartfelt thanks.......

[@christurbo951]

That is incredible work! You guys rock!!! I need to get over and see the belle in person.

[@charlesplott7511]

Ken Larock shares his many and varied talents recording these amazing videos that document the amazing journey the Memphis Belle has taken in her return to service. His work will be seen, remembered and reflected upon for decades, if not for centuries, Lord willing, and the creek don't rise!

[@USAFmuseum]

Thanks so much Charles!!! It has been a true honor to be here and document the talents of the restoration crew and research staff. I especially enjoy the story of those who helped provide our freedom in WWII.

[@Theodorej1960]

Great job!!!! Good to see the hard work and attention to detail that all of this entailed. Even better, it was a labor of love and respect for the men who flew this heroic aircraft. So happy it was so carefully preserved.

[@jordansamson6071]

I have a serious dream of one day retiring and seeing what I can do about volunteering with the restoration group, these people do great work.

[@USAFmuseum]

www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Volunteer.aspx

[@Bryan-cs9to]

Great work gentlemen

[@glendor2]

Ken, You are doing a wonderful job with this! I wish we would have had more time this weekend to talk! I never did get Rob's print to him! I will bring it down or send it when things settle down.

[@mikecalhoun8497]

Wonder if anyone knows who painted the "Belle"s" original art work. I'll bet that they didn't put half of the time in painting it as these guys did because it was unknown if they would every see the Belle again, after all it was during the war. As to the two guys that did repaint it, a great job and thank you for taking all the time, effort, and love into the restoration of the Belle to get it perfect again.

[@maxlever9196]

Sgt.Tony Starcer.

[@gordonenquist36]

Another thing to consider is the limited time and materials available to the artist who painted "Memphis Belle" during wartime. The "One Shot" sign writers enamel paint that these two artists are using did not exist during WW2. I suggest the original was painted with colors that could be 'found'. A limited color palette to say the least so custom mixing had to happen. Check out other nose art photos from WW2. Not only were pin-ups portrayed, sometimes just names or cartoons, etc. It would be interesting to know more about the guys behind the paintbrushes during WW2.

[@justaname1862]

@@maxlever9196 Cpl Tony Starcer only touched it up...he didnt originally paint it...it was originally done in the US but...i dont think anyone knows who it was.

[@moparedtn]

Fantastic job, gentlemen!

[@alanjones1681]

what a superb aircraft and team

[@charlesg1150]

Great work to say the least, the pride is there and everlasting. So many future generations will feel it too. Now where can I get a cap like that with the mighty eighth logo?

[@nmccw3245]

Amazing work. Thank you!

[@maxlever9196]

Chad and Casey, great work on the Belle's nose art. I have seen a bunch of modern recreations of WW2 nose art done with modern methods, airbrushes(!?!?), and by and large they look very bad.

[@EDKguy]

"... You don't want to mess up, on the plane" Yeah that's the general idea. Great job!

[@gunsaway1]

Shame she can't fly no more. Guys, your great work and talent is beyond description.

[@j.d.schultzsr.9215]

Shame you didn't show up every day since1946 when she was grounded to preserve, maintain and update her air worthiness with the thousands of components, hundreds of miles of wiring, replacement parts, ground maintenance, flying expertise and $3,000/hr fuel & oil.

[@sgriffith2941]

The soldier that painted the Memphis Belle name is Tony Starcer. Tony painted many B-17s nose art in the 91st BG as well. When Tony passed away he was still in possession of 26 A-2 leather flight jackets he had painted and kept when the owners did not return from a mission. He had hoped to reunite some of These with owners at a later date. However most probably were KIA .These were to be gifted to one of America's premier museums. As a side note. The Memphis Belle was removed from mud island in Memphis back in the late 1970s. it was restored and presented back to Mud island in Memphis years later. Tony Starcer again had painted the belles nose art as part of the restoration. Present at ceremony were many dignitaries including both Margaret Polk the original Memphis Belle who was the Pilot Captain Robert Morgan's wartime girlfriend and other members of the crew. They did not marry however. The Belle again was abandoned and fell into need of another restoration. The USAF took the aircraft from Memphis and again restored as you see now. I often wonder how much of Tony Starcers 2nd painted nose art was removed only to be repainted once more. Or if they even knew. Scarcer signed his work seems like they would have noticed this and investigated the matter These are events are as I recall them. I hope someone finds this useful.

[@schuur10]

One day every guy wants to have one in his mancave!

[@f1matt]

Amazing!

[@shooterman20kills]

I think Sgt.Tony Starcer would be proud.

[@JCOC1971]

I don't know why was erased the original WWII Memphis Belle nose art on this restoration.

[@darekprzyczyna2679]

I couldn't agree more. I wish they had left the original paintings, including eight swastikas under the row of bombs. Great fan of the Memphis Belle here, from Poznań, Poland.

[@peterruzak2694]

Who painted it originally the crew.

[@fredconnelly5846]

Memphis Belle she is queen of the Sky

[@maxlever9196]

Here is a link to the George Petty illustration sent to Robert Morgan, from which Tony Starcer painted the nose art on the Belle. First published in the April 1941 Esquire magazine with the caption, "I'm the one with the part in the back". Her hair is indeed parted up the back of her head. No ponytail. www.oread.ku.edu/Oread98/OreadMay8/page7/boys.html

[@pbrobotspbrobots1710]

great job, but didnt anyone take photos and a tenplate of the original before they stripped the plane of its original art.

[@USAFmuseum]

The original was removed in the 50's. We received the bird in 2005.

[@FiveCentsPlease]

+pbrobots pbrobots The plane sat outdoors from 1946 to the 1980s. It likely would have been given a fresh coat of paint a few times and stripped in between.

[@stevek8829]

The paint job doesn't include swastikas next to some of the bombs. Why? Pictures of the Belle taken soon after her last mission show eight of them. I believe they represent fighters shot down which makes the Belle an Ace in her own right. Why the missing ""notches?" It was my understanding that actually shooting down a fighter from a B-17 was exceptionally hard to do. If Belle shot down eight that's a big deal-at least to me.

[@timorvet1]

Bob Morgan would be pleased.......

[@welshpete12]

There's one thing to see a photograph of a plane . But to see the real thing, then you start to understand .......

[@clarkmckee4700]

Are the landing gear positioned up or down?

[@AquariumGravelEater]

Clark McKee up

[@justaname1862]

I dont think they know who originally painted the Belle?...it was "Touched Up" by cpl Tony Starcer in England but not originally painted by him...it was originally done in the US but by who??...at least thats my understanding from research.

[@dennismason3740]

Belle is on her cellphone, talking to Winston.

[@BCK2318]

8:46 how do I get one of these jackets? Lol

[@BilgePump]

Good question, i want one two.

[@bobkruty5702]

US Wings

[@bobkruty5702]

US Wings

[@michaelrepas2486]

I wish they would have left original art work

[@FlyingCrow]

It's funny. All of the time they took and they made a huge mistake in the nose art. The original extended the OD down into the gray where the shoe was. Probably to highlight the white shoe.

[@indridcold8433]

They are going to be really embarrassed when they find out one painted the nose art in blue and the other painted the nose art in red.

[@samucob123]

too bad the air force in the modern day has multiple restrictions on nose art.

[@ONEFUNFONE]

Why? Why? Why in the hell was the Belle stuck up on poles? So many people are pissed off about this, she should be on her feet so people can enjoy her!

[@joedesalvo3316]

Its to display her on a bombing run with its bay doors open... I was there yesterday... the display was amazing

[@charlesplott7511]

Visitors want to touch things. EVERY thing. These remarkable artifacts are displayed to tell a story, but they also require protection from the "love" that can do them harm.

[@anniecraig5867]

Completely disagree. Love it that the museum thought outside of the box on her display!

[@AquariumGravelEater]

Shows ball turret and bomb bay opened and so you can get a bottem view and also can you imaging all the idiots touching it

[@AquariumGravelEater]

Annie Craig its not a disgrace at all

[@mikaelpersson2273]

These people has really managed to destroy an american icon and a part of US WW2 history, by dismantel the plane completley apart and put it together again with new parts this is no longer the same old,original B-17,and by repainting the whole plane including a new painted nose art (i cant fuc"kin belive they actually erased the original nose art,and painted a new one) this plane are no longer the real Memphis Belle,she`s gone for ever,it makes me so sad and angry. These people should be put in prison becuse of what they have done,this is a criminal act !

[@Saxmanswife]

Amazing work!