Airplanes and Painted Ladies Galore

One thing that was remarkable to me about the Palm Springs Air Museum--besides the generous pours of wine and the friendly and knowledgeable guides--were the beautifully preserved planes, most in working condition and almost all with a certain feminine decoration.

Painting beautiful women and colorful cartoons on the drab painted aircraft brought smiles, beauty, humor, hope, and life back into the lives of the men at war. It wasn't done to make war pretty or palatable; rather, it gave the bomber crews pride and a unity amongst them. This nose art, with "pin-up" women and names from standard to scintillating, is beautiful and a kind of psychological protection against the stresses of war and the probability of death.

Below you'll find some of these lovely ladies, as well as other markings on the vintage war planes I found mesmerizing and artistic in their own right.