During my service in the Air Force (1987-1991), stationed at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, I was asked to paint nose art on several B-52H bombers. I wasn't the only one - my friend SrA David Annis and several others pitched in. Sadly, few photos exist of my work, and when bombers are sent to other bases, the artwork is removed (at least that's what I was told). Thus started an era of modern nose art - ever since the late 1980s, most military aircraft receive artwork. Stealth aircraft apparently get artwork inside landing gear or bomb bay doors.
Nose Art
This was the 5th Bomb Wing commander's aircraft, 60-062, Iron Bird II. In exchange for doing the work, the commander took me up in a T-38. Crew Chief for this aircraft was TSgt William Hewitt.
This is Sod Buster, 61-023. Crew Chief at the time was SSgt Pamela K. Trimble. This was the first aricraft at Minot AFB to receive nose art, and I was instructed not to use bright colors like yellow and white, as the bombers sported low-visibility paint jobs. Naturally, over time, I ignored this rule and no one said a word.
This is Yankee Rose II, 60-031. Crew Chief at the time was SSgt Perry W. Wade.
Other aircraft I painted for which there are no photos include:
Updraft, 60-004 (Crew Chief TSgt Richard F. Paradis)
About Average, 60-061 (Crew Chief Sgt Marion C. Fallin)
Souris River Nymph, 61-024 (Crew Chief SSgt Donna K. Penaso)
Dragonslayer, 61-003 (Crew Chief SSgt Melvin J. McDaniels)
Dak Rat
