USAF Badges purge

[canard68]

I bet some MOD bod is copying and pasting from this already. The Purge Pt 2 is coming - General Discussion - Baseops Forums (http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/23314-the-purge-pt-2-is-coming/)

[Ken Scott]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x807/7b3eb080_0474_4f1f_84e3_f7a1091a841a_cfed6d7066efd5dfdcedde6 ada0dd1ef7f6aef50.jpeg

I can’t think of any official RAF badges that are sexist/ racist/ whatever (although there might be some rather dodgy student course ones), but this sort of aircraft artwork would probably be viewed unfavorably today. Is it still on the aircraft in a museum somewhere?

[ORAC]

I see somebody looked ahead and made sure their badge was both safe - and protected. To quote one of the responses on that forum:

The 28th BS, at least, had their patch approved by treaty with the Mohawk tribe/nation and it was updated in the late-90s IIRC. It also takes the tribe's approval to change it from what I understand.

[Herod]

I should think most museums have a few, most of them done in good spirit, and with affection (if they are of ladies). The B17 at Duxford still has AFAIK, "Sally B" on one side, and "Memphis Belle" on the other. The Victor at Cosford has "Maid Marion". That's just two off the top of my head. We just have to hope this isn't coming over the pond.

[Less Hair]

Does Disney still do patches? They seem to be so much more classy and smart than most of these self designed "morale" velcros.

[alfred_the_great]

And why not?

[Non Linear Gear]

The odd Museums do still have copied GW1 artwork on Jaguars and other Granby Jets. Victors as well. Last nose art seen on a flying RAF Aircraft was XX725 (Ex Granby Jag). Door is not with Jet now.

[wub]

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1502x902/jag_72ac25a2838a325929c3522840774ee8d428f693.jpg
East Fortune

[TBM-Legend]

I bet some MOD bod is copying and pasting from this already. The Purge Pt 2 is coming - General Discussion - Baseops Forums (http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/23314-the-purge-pt-2-is-coming/)


​​​​​​https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-19/army-bans-troops-from-wearing-skulls-death-symbols/9673242

[ExAscoteer2]

We just have to hope this isn't coming over the pond.

Why?

There is no place for such sexist drivel in the 21st C. Especially given that we have had female aircrew for some 30 years!

[NutLoose]

Buster gonad was melted down after being polished and displayed in the museum in London.

[finestkind]

Why?

There is no place for such sexist drivel in the 21st C. Especially given that we have had female aircrew for some 30 years!

Agree, but trying to cover history is ??????. What next. We do not report beheading's, people being burnt alive because there is no place for that type of behaviour in the 21st C even though it is happening? Aircraft art today should be reflective of what society finds acceptable (which I find amusing given societies sensibilities of the 1940’s where I think most of this art came from) with the possible exception of war time operations. If someone is going to fly their metal steed into action with the possibility of not returning than perhaps they have the right to be a bit racy. Otherwise we end up with the importance of wearing clean underwear so we are not embarrassed if we have an accident that has ripped a body limb off.

[ExAscoteer2]

. If someone is going to fly their metal steed into action with the possibility of not returning than perhaps they have the right to be a bit racy. Otherwise we end up with the importance of wearing clean underwear so we are not embarrassed if we have an accident that has ripped a body limb off.

What UTTER drivel. You think it is acceptable to objectify women? I would suggest that says all I need to know about you.

[finestkind]

What UTTER drivel. You think it is acceptable to objectify women? I would suggest that says all I need to know about you.
What utter drivel of drivel that is utter of ahh, stdby I’ll get the Monty crowd to help with the script.

Couple of points my hurt friend. 1) I expressed my opinion. I did not attack you, which your thinly veiled post appears to do to me. By all means disagree with me. 2) Your target fixation is not commendable. There is a lot of aircraft art that has nothing to do with the opposite sex (lot’s comes to mind of “itler” receiving numerous bomb’s, rocket’s, boot’s etc to the rear end) but still can be considered racy. Or are you for banning all aircraft art forms?

objectify

express (something abstract) in a concrete form.

"good poetry objectifies feeling"

One of the meanings of objectify. Point being who determines what good poetry is? Same as I don’t know art but I know what I like. There is art that I find distasteful.

Last point. In case you missed it, I agreed with you. My point (oops another point) was that there is a lot of aircraft art that is part of history and that is racy. Trying to apply the social standards of today to yesterday is ludicrous. This brings up the discussion point of what is history? Ten, twenty, or thirty years ago?

[ExAscoteer2]

So that's alright then is it? Because it was done in the past we should not criticise?

How you can compare nose art of bombs or whatever to the naked female form is beyond me.

As for 'hurt'? No, just sick and tired of idiots like you and your ilk with your overt sexism.

[V-Jet]

As for 'hurt'? No, just sick and tired of idiots like you and your ilk with your overt sexism.

Perhaps if we hit the Chinese with some really hard sexism they might disband their cyber units, withdraw from the SCS, HKG, Antarctica, Western Pacific and stop trying to destroy Taiwan?

[NutLoose]

Why?

There is no place for such sexist drivel in the 21st C. Especially given that we have had female aircrew for some 30 years!

I would ask is it sexist as you infer and if so why? Yes there are female nose art, but then again there is also male, Mel drew, fighting Sam, saddam, Buster Gonad with his enormously large testicals certainly isn’t a female. There might not be as much but to infer it is sexist would infer there was none. We have had females flying military aircraft over 70 years incidentally.

[ExAscoteer2]

NutLoose - because the majority of the GW1 'Nose Art' is either semi-naked females, or references to (as YOU well know). Trying to say it is the equivalent of 'Buster Gonads' is patently a false argument.

Oh and no we haven't had females flying in the RAF for 70 years BTW. ATA does not count.

[NutLoose]

It means slapping nose art on the side of an aircraft isn’t sexist as there are a lot of male nose art as well.

[ExAscoteer2]

Bollocks is there and you know it.

[finestkind]

"So that's alright then is it? Because it was done in the past we should not criticise?"

"Trying to apply the social standards of today to yesterday is ludicrous." You don't understand this point? By all means apply today's standards to today's art.

"How you can compare nose art of bombs or whatever to the naked female form is beyond me." I'll take a stab here. Because the nose art on whatever is often, not always, a female. And I have yet to see a "naked female form" displayed. They may have minuscule clothing but I have, you may have, not seen a totally naked female body as aircraft art.

As for 'hurt'? No, just sick and tired of idiots like you and your ilk with your overt sexism.

My dear chap, disagree with me by all means but do please display some modern societal standards and modicum of manners by addressing the opinion and not abusing the individual.

[ExAscoteer2]

My dear chap, disagree with me by all means but do please display some modern societal standards and modicum of manners by addressing the opinion and not abusing the individual.

You have never seen an overtly female nose art or scantily dressed female nose art? Oh DO **** off you HYPOCRITE!

Oh and I am not your 'Dear Chap', kindly do not refer to me as such.

REPEATEDLY I have seen naked, or near naked renditions of females, as so called 'nose art'.

Guess what, 'CHAP', as a female RAF pilot I bloody resent that ****e.

[BEagle]

To be honest, most of the so-called 'nose art' on RAF aircraft during Gulf War One hardly merited the term 'art'. Irrespective of the subject material, in general the drawings were pretty crude in nature.

The few USAF aircraft I saw with 'nose art' were of a much higher quality.

[ExAscoteer2]

It doesn't excuse the ****e.

[finestkind]

You have never seen an overtly female nose art or scantily dressed female nose art? Oh DO **** off you HYPOCRITE!

Do you actually read the post and take the time to decipher it before before you volatile temper takes over." And I have yet to see a "naked female form" displayed. They may have minuscule clothing but I have, you may have, not seen a totally naked female body as aircraft art." I don't see where it states I have not seen female nose art. I do state I have not seen female NAKED as in no clothes what so ever with all shown. If you think a bum or bit of fleshy pec is naked that's you ignorant right.

Oh and I am not your 'Dear Chap', kindly do not refer to me as such. Guess what you strive for equality? You call me an idiot and a hypocrite my dear chapette but obviously get your nose really out with chap, really.

I have endeavored to keep the discussion on opinions and not personal attacks. Your outrage would be far better presented as a logical argument. You do yourself a serious disservice which does not reflect well on my sisters in uniform.

[Senior Pilot]

ExAscoteer2 given some time to relax and come back when ready to refrain from personal attacks.

[kghjfg]

I think anyone who says “female pilots in the ATA don’t count as real RAF pilots” isn’t actually the female RAF pilot they claim to be.

An RAF pilot would have more class than to look down their nose at wartime ATA pilots

[West Coast]

I’d get a chuckle if a female aircraft commander had a scantily clad beefcake painted on the side of her aircraft. Seems like equality to me.

[Jack D]

You have never seen an overtly female nose art or scantily dressed female nose art? Oh DO **** off you HYPOCRITE!

Oh and I am not your 'Dear Chap', kindly do not refer to me as such.

REPEATEDLY I have seen naked, or near naked renditions of females, as so called 'nose art'.

Guess what, 'CHAP', as a female RAF pilot I bloody resent that ****e.

Scantily clad women as nose art are interesting
I like it , you don’t ! Get over it . Btw you seem to have an anger management issue ? I trust you don’t fly anything too complicated .

[Big Pistons Forever]

The era of unearned white male privilege is over. Part of that means that symbols that overtly disrespects a segment of the serving uniformed members are no longer acceptable.

A lawful order has been given signed by the most senior members of the USAF.

Don’t like it ? Moan and drip on social media, fine it is your right under the first amendment, but if you are serving then support the chain of command or resign, simples....

[blind pew]

A wonderful day to suggest that hypothesis when the commander in chief appears to be attempting to overthrow democracy and is banned from social media.

[Training Risky]

So that's alright then is it? Because it was done in the past we should not criticise?

How you can compare nose art of bombs or whatever to the naked female form is beyond me.

As for 'hurt'? No, just sick and tired of idiots like you and your ilk with your overt sexism.
Calm down love, you are embarrassing yourself!

[Training Risky]

I think anyone who says “female pilots in the ATA don’t count as real RAF pilots” isn’t actually the female RAF pilot they claim to be.

An RAF pilot would have more class than to look down their nose at wartime ATA pilots
Agreed. I think that poster needs to take a long look in the mirror.

[Training Risky]

The era of unearned white male privilege is over. Part of that means that symbols that overtly disrespects a segment of the serving uniformed members are no longer acceptable.

A lawful order has been given signed by the most senior members of the USAF.

Don’t like it ? Moan and drip on social media, fine it is your right under the first amendment, but if you are serving then support the chain of command or resign, simples....
Or just ignore it if you are in the USAF and wait for senior desk-polishing staff to leave the base before wearing a banned patch. Normal people are sick of this pandering cultural vandalism.

[toratoratora]

Buster gonad was melted down after being polished and displayed in the museum in London.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1504/ef99c064_5748_4a16_884f_463c345dfd8d_5a2be1d7d16f1a2cc1b3d5b 6e5e78a994f480fc4.jpeg

[AnglianAV8R]

A wonderful day to suggest that hypothesis when the commander in chief appears to be attempting to overthrow democracy and is banned from social media.

Let's see what happens on 20th January.

[Treble one]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x807/7b3eb080_0474_4f1f_84e3_f7a1091a841a_cfed6d7066efd5dfdcedde6 ada0dd1ef7f6aef50.jpeg

I can’t think of any official RAF badges that are sexist/ racist/ whatever (although there might be some rather dodgy student course ones), but this sort of aircraft artwork would probably be viewed unfavorably today. Is it still on the aircraft in a museum somewhere?

There is a TIALD pod at Duxford with one of these ladies on. Its much smaller of course.

[thunderbird7]

Anyone know what happened to Corky, who painted some of those? PM me.

[ORAC]

The original letter refers not to aircraft insignia but badges, patches, mottoes, nicknames, coins and other forms of unit recognition (stickers?)

Some of the more crude nicknames, and name patches, have been mentioned on other threads - most which stick with people for their entire career, if not life. Not sure how to manage changing those.

We once had an USAF exchange officer who tried to persuade us to introduce a unit coin (the ones you have to produce on demand or pay a forfeit such as buy a round) - which met with much ridicule and apathy....

[BSD]

Early 70’s I recall seeing a KC-135 tanker with the forward fuselage painted to look like a giant can of Coors.

Had never heard of Coors beforehand.

Now who could take offence at that?

Anyone got a picture?

[The...Bird]

Post removed.

[SpamCanDriver]

So that's alright then is it? Because it was done in the past we should not criticise?

How you can compare nose art of bombs or whatever to the naked female form is beyond me.

As for 'hurt'? No, just sick and tired of idiots like you and your ilk with your overt sexism.

Its the preservation of history, you might want to have a look around a classical portrait gallery one day

[Wensleydale]

Aircraft nose art censorship is not a new phenomenon. Back in April 1944, Lancaster R5868, PO-S "Sugar" of 467 Sqn RAAF was soon to become the first Lancaster to achieve 100 operational sorties, and anticipating lots of publicity should the aircraft reach the target, the Stn Cdr demanded that the crew change the nose art on their aircraft which was a (tasteful) nude holding a bomb. As the Stn Cdr said, "I do not wish to scare the Archbishop of Canterbury". The crew were understandably miffed, but orders are orders, and on Op 98, the aircraft was wheeled out with new nose art consisting of the bomb log and a quote from Goering "No Enemy Aircraft Shall Fly Over Reich Territory". Sugar made her 100th Op and went on to fly another 136 (the final number is still debated for accuracy) becoming the second most ops flown during the War for a Lancaster. She still wears the replacement nose art as an exhibit in the RAF Museum at Hendon. The photograph shows her penultimate nose art:
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1182x1818/image_04_12ad5967924f8dbac7042cfd5636cde83a0865b5.jpg

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1273x978/65236239_10219224017132221_6004246803862519808_o_1__65e0cbd8 79acd791fc1df539cc21dc155cabcb60.jpg

[SWBKCB]

I bet some MOD bod is copying and pasting from this already. The Purge Pt 2 is coming - General Discussion - Baseops Forums (http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/topic/23314-the-purge-pt-2-is-coming/)

Charlie Brown is a USAF General and Chief of Staff of the Air Force? That's brightened a dark day! :ok:

[PapaDolmio]

ISTR one of the southern US Air National Guard fighter units used CM as a tail code, which allegedly stood for C**nass Milita a while ago.

[SOX80]

The question with all this is who decides what is acceptable? I think there are many who could do with turning the gain up on their offensometers, there is some stuff that is worth challenging, I am not sure that this is it. I also bet most of the people who get up in arms about this have at some time watched much worse on the internet.

[Non Linear Gear]

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/927x617/canopener_5173998807d382723f41acbc3f95148626996805.jpg
The last racy nose art on a RAF Aircraft. The door is somewhere safe. The orginial artwork was Johnny Fartpants. Not prehaps as racy as this nose art, but Miks work had graced a lot of Sqn T shirts and murials around the world where Jags had been. It was great to see his work on a Jet.

[Flugplatz]

Can't believe some of the sanctimony about this, it is not as if the art is actually pornographic - plenty of celebrity 'models/influencers' not being at all shy about flaunting themselves and selling the body image. Wasn't there a female Apache pilot who bragged about killing more people than Harold Shipman? that to me is far more offensive and borderline insulting.

[ASRAAMTOO]

The temptation to post photos of the following WW2 Nose Art is ALMOST irresistible. I am however worried someone of the PC inclination will complain and I’ll get banned. You’ll just have to google them:

Forever Amber
Target for Tonight
Lady Luck
Flamin Mamie
Miss Yourlovin
Home Stretch
Surprise Attack
Sack Time
Mission Completed
Southern Comfort
Strawberry Bitch
and my personal favourite Sloppy But Safe.

[Senior Pilot]

The temptation to post photos of the following WW2 Nose Art is ALMOST irresistible. I am however worried someone of the PC inclination will complain and I’ll get banned. You’ll just have to google them:

Forever Amber
Target for Tonight
Lady Luck
Flamin Mamie
Miss Yourlovin
Home Stretch
Surprise Attack
Sack Time
Mission Completed
Southern Comfort
Strawberry Bitch
and my personal favourite Sloppy But Safe.

A sad reflection on today’s PC society, but I’d see no need for any moderation if the images pass the pub test.

To think this all dates back to the 30’s and 40’s: https://www.aircorpsart.com/blog/the-artist-who-influenced-wwii-military-aircraft-pinup-nose-art/

[megan]

Seems in todays PC society everyone has to be offended by something. The fair sex being objectified? I would have thought nose art was an expression of admiration for the opposite gender, and a longing to be back amongst their company, rather than posted to some out of the way place devoid of their presence while you engage in the bloody practice of warfare. Wonder what the PC crowd would think of the WASP pilots who used to take their boyfriends on rides in the B-17 and practice their amorous clinches on the bombardiers couch in flight. Misuse of government property? Wonder if the countryside was littered with used prophylactics?

[finestkind]

First four ladies going through RAAF pilots course (late 80's?) with the number on course of 40. Initial badge presented for the course, with ladies in agreement, was 10% flap for the course motto. Don't recall the badge picture but the CO knocked it back.

[RubiC Cube]

First four ladies going through RAAF pilots course (late 80's?) with the number on course of 40. Initial badge presented for the course, with ladies in agreement, was 10% flap for the course motto. Don't recall the badge picture but the CO knocked it back.
and Robin held her own on her 1st sqn and was sick and tired as being referred to as a female pilot

[mopardave]

So let me get this straight. It's not okay to have some racy (and I must say, pretty impressive) nose art but it IS okay to engage in war? Are some of you lot for real? In the interests of balance, get some scantily clad blokes on the side of aircraft.........if I'd had the body, I'd have offered to model for it! These days I don't but it might at least be cause for amusement. It works both ways, surely and I do accept, there are limits.

[Ewan Whosearmy]

It seems odd that people get perpetually wound up and 'offended' by pictures adorned to the sides of instruments of war. It's equally odd that someone who is paid to go to war and kill / be part of the kill chain, would have their gyros so easily toppled by such images.

I've only ever seen one bit of nose art that made me sit and up and think it was going too far, and that was an on F-105 in SEA. At the time, F-105 pilots were dropping like flies, so it occurred to me that perhaps this little morale booster was worth the offence that anyone might have taken.

Link below. Probably NSFW, and definitely not safe for one particular poster on this forum:

db4abde54d528de9a80e7b6b52eb64d5.jpg (1280×1280) (pinimg.com) (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/db/4a/bd/db4abde54d528de9a80e7b6b52eb64d5.jpg)

[andrasz]

"We train young men to drop fire on people, but their commanders won't allow them to write 'f#ck'* on their aeroplanes because it's obscene!"
Col. Walter E Kurtz

* In the finest spirit, I was not allowed to post the quote verbatim because it was blocked by the profanity filter

[mopardave]

It seems odd that people get perpetually wound up and 'offended' by pictures adorned to the sides of instruments of war. It's equally odd that someone who is paid to go to war and kill / be part of the kill chain, would have their gyros so easily toppled by such images.

I've only ever seen one bit of nose art that made me sit and up and think it was going too far, and that was an on F-105 in SEA. At the time, F-105 pilots were dropping like flies, so it occurred to me that perhaps this little morale booster was worth the offence that anyone might have taken.

Link below. Probably NSFW, and definitely not safe for one particular poster on this forum:

db4abde54d528de9a80e7b6b52eb64d5.jpg (1280×1280) (pinimg.com) (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/db/4a/bd/db4abde54d528de9a80e7b6b52eb64d5.jpg)
Ooooh..........light the blue touch paper and stand well back! There are some talented artists in the military!

[Party Animal]

The most distressing and disturbing nose art that I remember from GW1 was the Jag mate with ‘The Guardian Reader’ emblazoned on the nose!! Absolutely shocking!

[mopardave]

The most distressing and disturbing nose art that I remember from GW1 was the Jag mate with ‘The Guardian Reader’ emblazoned on the nose!! Absolutely shocking!
LIke I said, there are limits.......that really is offensive!

[Less Hair]

Page 35
http://www.collectair.co.uk/pdf/interview-hr.pdf

[SATCOS WHIPPING BOY]

If you are offended by nose art then I'll let this simple piece speak on my behalf... :-)

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1843x703/kwicherbichen_01d975621049375fe2082c9fa9739816255b0b2d.jpg

[Herod]

Satco; nice one! Says it all.

[Tankertrashnav]

I'm not offended by nose art, naked ladies or otherwise, I just think it is generally pretty tacky and does nothing to enhance the looks of the aircraft. There is currently a discussion on the V Force page on Facebook about this subject, with particular reference to Victor tankers , and someone has shown the photo of a Victor K2 with shark's teeth on the nose. Personally I think it looked ghastly, and why anyone would want to thus adorn one of the most supremely beautiful RAF aircraft is beyond me. As a certain MRAF once said about the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery, "it is like a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much loved elegant friend".

[megan]

Had to look that up Satco, glad I did, found their FB page, made an old mans day.

mopardave, next the PC lot will be demanding all those risque paintings by the old masters hanging in the art displays be taken down.

[Radley]

Had to look that up Satco, glad I did, found their FB page, made an old mans day.

mopardave, next the PC lot will be demanding all those risque paintings by the old masters hanging in the art displays be taken down.
Oh for gods sake, don’t give them ideas.

[tigerfish]

I certainly don't have an issue with preventing nose art or comments that are unacceptable today. But I do feel uncomfortable with attempts to change History, - especially if that historical name or title was important at the time.

For example - Wing Commander Guy Gibson VC who led the dams raid had a labrador dog which had a name which rightly would be unacceptable today. The dog was run over and killed a couple of hours before Gibson and 617 Squadron took off on the raid. Gibson requested that the dog be buried at about midnight that night, -about the time that he expected to be carrying out the raid. The radio call sign for a successful strike was changed to the name of the dog.

The story was well aired and subsequently a stone was placed over the spot where the dog was buried giving the story and the included the Dogs name. In these recent "Enlightened" times the stone has been changed I believe, and also some references now have changed the name of the dog.

As I said I fully accept that some things today are unacceptable. But is it right to alter historical facts?

TF

[SATCOS WHIPPING BOY]

...airbrushing over history as if it never happened is just as bad as changing it. Just because something was acceptable before but is not now should not prevent it being discussed openly.
Guy Gibson's dog was called "Nigger" - FACT. Not acceptable in today's world but the fact is that was its name. Hanging kids for stealing a loaf of bread isn't acceptable today but it happened... do we airbrush that or any number of things so we get a sanitized and deceptive back story?
Nose art had its place, and still does. Just the content needs to reflect modern views.

[alfred_the_great]

If you think this "purge" is about nose art, I'm pretty sure you're wilfully missing the point.

[mopardave]

...airbrushing over history as if it never happened is just as bad as changing it. Just because something was acceptable before but is not now should not prevent it being discussed openly.
Guy Gibson's dog was called "Nigger" - FACT. Not acceptable in today's world but the fact is that was its name. Hanging kids for stealing a loaf of bread isn't acceptable today but it happened... do we airbrush that or any number of things so we get a sanitized and deceptive back story?
Nose art had its place, and still does. Just the content needs to reflect modern views.
Hammer, nail, head!

[tarantonight]

Hammer, nail, head!

Absolutely. Slavery and everything that went with it is quite clearly totally unacceptable today.

However, we must not erase history. What has happened, has happened and we cannot change it.

Look at the situation in Bristol currently, huge issues with Edward Colston who made his fortune partly from the Slave Trade. Wrong by today’s standards obviously, but at least 2 schools in the City are there because of him. Both very good schools. Sadly one has bottled it and will change its name, as has Colston’s Hall - a music venue of some note. Ludicrous.

His money also contributed to many other elements of the City still in being today.

Edward Coltston’s statue in Bristol was toppled recently whilst the Police stood by and watched (a whole different subject), but that doesn’t change history or make any difference in the long run.

Having watched Roots as a youngster 40 years or so ago - and read the book - the history is tragic, but it IS history. We cannot change it.

TN.

[NutLoose]

The most distressing and disturbing nose art that I remember from GW1 was the Jag mate with ‘The Guardian Reader’ emblazoned on the nose!! Absolutely shocking!

He did defend it by pointing out that he wasn’t, but it referred to a letter he had received signed a Guardian Reader I believe.

[NutLoose]

Absolutely. Slavery and everything that went with it is quite clearly totally unacceptable today.

However, we must not erase history. What has happened, has happened and we cannot change it.

Look at the situation in Bristol currently, huge issues with Edward Colston who made his fortune partly from the Slave Trade. Wrong by today’s standards obviously, but at least 2 schools in the City are there because of him. Both very good schools. Sadly one has bottled it and will change its name, as has Colston’s Hall - a music venue of some note. Ludicrous.

His money also contributed to many other elements of the City still in being today.

Edward Coltston’s statue in Bristol was toppled recently whilst the Police stood by and watched (a whole different subject), but that doesn’t change history or make any difference in the long run.

Having watched Roots as a youngster 40 years or so ago - and read the book - the history is tragic, but it IS history. We cannot change it.

TN.

Banksy came up with a brilliant suggestion on how to appease those wanting the Edward Colston statue reinstalled and those not. He suggested remounting it at an angle and surrounded by cast figures with ropes around it in the process of toppling it. So those that want it reinstalling get their wish and those that don’t get a statue celebrating its toppling, a plaque would describe what was going on and why.

I thought it was a brilliant idea, totally out of the box.

https://www.dezeen.com/2020/06/11/banksy-edward-colston-statue-slave-trader/

[racedo]

I’d get a chuckle if a female aircraft commander had a scantily clad beefcake painted on the side of her aircraft. Seems like equality to me.


Sounds like you volunteering for a modelling job :E

[racedo]

If you think this "purge" is about nose art, I'm pretty sure you're wilfully missing the point.

True

The thought police are out in force and they have big tech behind them. They have not YET decided that having a thought they disagree with is worthy of jail, but that will soon come.

[MAINJAFAD]

The most distressing and disturbing nose art that I remember from GW1 was the Jag mate with ‘The Guardian Reader’ emblazoned on the nose!! Absolutely shocking!

That Jet was flown by two pilot's during the war. One is a famous artist in his own right and is on this forum and the other (now deceased) while OC No 6 Squadron wrote a letter to my CO thank me for something I did to support a Squadron Anniversary that got me a Spec Rec on the following appraisal and a long overdue promotion.

[Lomon]

So that's alright then is it? Because it was done in the past we should not criticise?


It might not be all-right, but you cannot rewrite history to suit the change in attitudes of the times (eg the name of the mascot of 617Sqn) These things happened, they are history.

It isn't acceptable today to objectify women (or men) nor is it right to use racial stereotypes. But if we don't remember the lessons we have learned from the emancipation of those previously oppressed then what have we really learned?

Just because something was done in the past doesn't mean it shouldn't be remembered - how else do we learn from our mistakes?

[West Coast]

Sounds like you volunteering for a modelling job :E

One thing for sure, it would scare the hell out of the enemy not to mention the pilots and maintainers.

[Richard Dangle]

If you think this "purge" is about nose art, I'm pretty sure you're wilfully missing the point.

This. Although "wilfully" is only valid if some of the people posting here are aware (or want to be aware) of what is happening in the USA right now. I suspect "wilfully" is actually a back-handed compliment to some of the posters on this thread.

I strongly suspect the US military are taking a stance against things like the QAnon b/s and all the paraphernalia associated with it. Obviously they cannot be specific, nor would they want to be. The UK military has taken a similar stance over proscribed organisations and displays relating to them in the past, but in 2020 its getting harder to do this and the authorities have to be necessarily more nuanced.

I think all this nose art discussion is completely irrelevant to the original post, as is all the clatter about "changing history". This is about keeping a cult the FBI have branded domestic terrorism out of public service. If you want to know how deeply this has ingrained itself in US society a few minutes work on Google/WiKi should waken up the audience.