Paint Locker Magic: A History of Naval Aviation Special Markings and Artwork by Jim Meehan

by Jim Meehan

Naval aviation special markings and nose art is a field that has been largely ignored, primarily due to the lack of coverage in mainstream aviation history publications. Research into archives, feedback from veterans, and personal photographs by the authors, Jim Meehan and William Tate, have documented thousands of previously unknown individual aircraft with these markings. Paint Locker A History of Naval Aviation Special Markings and Artwork covers markings on US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard aircraft over the 100 year history of US naval aviation. This fascinating and visually resplendent book includes illustrations of special markings and nose art on early canvas-covered airplanes through the World War 2 era when nose art flourished and on into the jet age, the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, and up to the present war on terror with aircraft marked to commemorate the 9-11 terrorist attacks. This coverage includes fighters and attack aircraft of the carrier navy and the patrol aircraft, transports blimps, research and test aircraft and helicopters. Markings include personal nose art and pinups, shark mouth and similar markings, cartoons depicting special missions, Christmas and similar markings and tributes.

Hardcover

First published April 11, 2014

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book suffers for its subject matter. As the author states, nose art was (and still is) very uncommon on naval aircraft. Thus, there isn't a lot of interesting content although the book seems pretty thorough. It was an "okay" read, hence my rating.