Nose Art: Boeing B-52G Stratofortress "Surprise Attack"

Nose art, while almost ubiquitous during World War II and Korea, largely disappeared in the 1950s. During the Korean War, when many USAF units were based in Japan and crews lived with their families, wives got to see up close the often risque nose art their husbands painted on their aircraft--and were not pleased with what they saw. Coupled with the more regulation bound USAF of the 1950s, almost no B-36s or B-52s carried nose art, despite a larger "canvas" than the B-29 or B-17. Fighter units also rarely carried nose art or even a name, though they made up for it with very gaudy colors and flamboyant unit crests.

Vietnam saw a return of nose art (or, in the case of the F-105, "armpit art" as it was carried beneath the high wing), but while pilots and crews didn't have to worry about irate wives, they did have to worry about irate commanding officers, some of whom saw nose art as unprofessional and childish. Art flourished in some units (namely F-105 wings) and was banned in others. They also tended, in some cases, to be far more raunchy than even World War II or Korean nose art even dared--one popular one was to show a heavily pregnant Lucy Van Pelt from "Peanuts" screaming "Damn you, Charlie Brown!" or the notorious F-105 "Cherry Girl," which positioned a full-frontal nude girl strategically over the refueling port on the nose. The boom operators on KC-135s got a laugh over it, the pilots loved it, commanding officers were horrified and eventually ordered it removed. At one point, sharkmouths were banned by 7th Air Force in Saigon as being "too warlike"--despite, of course, the "non-warlike" aircraft carrying tons of bombs and missiles. When Vietnam ended and the USAF got back to peacetime, nose art once more disappeared.

The 1980s saw something of a resurgence--oddly enough, mostly among Strategic Air Command units. Part of the reason was the USAF's adoption of "Combat Warrior," which was meant to instill a sense of history among its pilots and airmen, requiring the study of the USAF/USAAF historical record. Another part was that the men who had flown in Vietnam and chafed under the official frowning upon of nose art were now the ones in charge. Some commanders, such as General Charles Donnelly in USAFE (no relation to the author) reportedly considered making names and/or nose art on USAFE aircraft a requirement.

In any case, out of a sense of history and because commanders were now favorable to the idea, nose art began to return, though the USAF was very careful to ensure any "painted ladies" to have nothing more risque than bikinis. There was some concern that female aircrew--which were becoming far more common in the 1980s than in years previously--would object to the nose art, but no such objections materialized. (Some joked that the ladies might just paint hunky guys on their aircraft!)

The nose art trend continued through Operation Desert Storm--though some of the ladies were censored or temporarily taped over to avoid offending Saudi religious officials--but then began to disappear again during the 1990s. In the politically correct 2000s, nose art has been hidden in wheel-well doors or, in the case of the A-10, behind the integral ladder door, and often as not, simply does not exist. However, some F-15E Strike Eagle units have begun painting nose art again, so reports of its demise is probably premature.

Surprisingly for a B-52, not much is known about "Surprise Attack," B-52G 58-0162--including whether or not 58-0162 even carried this nose art. At least one source claims that it was another B-52 that was named "Surprise Attack," and another claims that 58-0162 crashed in the 1980s. According to the Pima Air and Space Museum, where this nose art is located, 58-0162 was assigned to the 93rd Bomb Wing at Castle AFB, California when it carried this art; 58-0162 was retired to AMARC in 1991 and subsequently scrapped, but the nose art was saved.

Whatever B-52 this nose art belonged to, it was based on the famous "Surprise Attack" carried by a World War II B-24M assigned to the 308th BG at Kunming, China. The art is not quite to the same pinup quality as the B-24's, though it depicts the same scene: a blonde woman caught by surprise with only a towel to preserve her modesty--though this "painted lady" looks more disgusted than surprised. For the 1980s, when this "Surprise Attack" was painted, this would have been risque, and it's surprising (no pun intended) that it was allowed--historical inspiration or not.

Interestingly enough, both "Surprise Attack" pieces of nose art are preserved. The more famous B-24 version was saved after World War II and is now owned by the EAA. I saw it back in 2018: www.flickr.com/photos/31469080@N07/41548024314/in/photoli...

Taken on: June 15, 2024

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Camera: samsung SM-A136U, 27mm, ISO 1250 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	samsung SM-A136U
Focal Length:	27mm
ISO:	1250
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
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