pretty ladies banned from nose art
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pretty ladies banned from nose art
This just in (courtesy of newshounds at Solent News and Photo Agency). Apparently decision was taken some time back, but MOD confirm it is indeed to do with not offending equal opportunities sensibilities. No more ladies on the nose.
Thoughts, anyone? Dragging the RAF into the 21st Century, or stamping out a harmless and traditional morale booster?
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RAF chiefs have risked a bust-up with pilots by forcing them to break with years of tradition and black out pictures of glamorous pin-ups painted on their jets.
In the 1940s it was common to see the likes of Rita Hayworth and Jane Russell adorning Lancaster bombers and US Flying Fortresses as they set off to their German targets.
Countless more pictures of anonymous girls were splashed across aircraft, in poses almost as risque as their crews' missions were risky.
Sixty years on, British airmen fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan decided to bring the practice into the 21st century with pictures of models such as Lucy Pinder.
But their plans were shot down before they got off the ground by politically correct bosses worried about offending female crew members and Muslim locals.
Senior commanders got hot under the collar when they heard about the paintings, and immediately ordered that any drawings on Harrier jets be blacked-out to silhouettes only.
RAF Strike Command feared that having too much flesh on display ran the risk of putting off female recruits, who could view the images as sexist.
And in a country where many women wear full burkhas, there was also the worry that pictures offending local culture could spark a diplomatic incident.
Concerned that even the outlines were too provocative, they have now ordered that the images be removed completely.
Lucy, 23, is disappointed the troops weren't allowed to have their fun.
Last November she visited Afghanistan with friend and fellow page 3 model Michelle Marsh as part of a morale-boosting tour, and even signed one of the planes carrying her picture.
She was shocked to hear of the enforced cover-up, saying she thought the pictures were 'harmless fun'.
Lucy, of Winchester, Hants, said: "It's very flattering, and it's nice that they get to do something that takes their minds off things for a while.
"It's a shame they had to change them to silhouettes. Rules are rules, but I don't think it's offensive.
"It's just the way it goes these days. They're doing a very hard job out there and we should all appreciate it.
"It's a very serious situation out there and this was a bit of frivolity allowing the lads a bit of fun and light relief.
"Anything that can cheer them up for a bit must be nice." The Ministry of Defence today said the 'nose art' had now been removed.
RAF bosses defended the ban as entirely appropriate, saying in a statement: "The Royal Air Force values and recognises the contribution of service personnel regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or social background.
"To this end, the RAF promotes working in an environment that is free from harassment and where personnel are respected both for the contribution they can bring to the team and the value and potential they offer as individuals."
Thoughts, anyone? Dragging the RAF into the 21st Century, or stamping out a harmless and traditional morale booster?
_________________________________
RAF chiefs have risked a bust-up with pilots by forcing them to break with years of tradition and black out pictures of glamorous pin-ups painted on their jets.
In the 1940s it was common to see the likes of Rita Hayworth and Jane Russell adorning Lancaster bombers and US Flying Fortresses as they set off to their German targets.
Countless more pictures of anonymous girls were splashed across aircraft, in poses almost as risque as their crews' missions were risky.
Sixty years on, British airmen fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan decided to bring the practice into the 21st century with pictures of models such as Lucy Pinder.
But their plans were shot down before they got off the ground by politically correct bosses worried about offending female crew members and Muslim locals.
Senior commanders got hot under the collar when they heard about the paintings, and immediately ordered that any drawings on Harrier jets be blacked-out to silhouettes only.
RAF Strike Command feared that having too much flesh on display ran the risk of putting off female recruits, who could view the images as sexist.
And in a country where many women wear full burkhas, there was also the worry that pictures offending local culture could spark a diplomatic incident.
Concerned that even the outlines were too provocative, they have now ordered that the images be removed completely.
Lucy, 23, is disappointed the troops weren't allowed to have their fun.
Last November she visited Afghanistan with friend and fellow page 3 model Michelle Marsh as part of a morale-boosting tour, and even signed one of the planes carrying her picture.
She was shocked to hear of the enforced cover-up, saying she thought the pictures were 'harmless fun'.
Lucy, of Winchester, Hants, said: "It's very flattering, and it's nice that they get to do something that takes their minds off things for a while.
"It's a shame they had to change them to silhouettes. Rules are rules, but I don't think it's offensive.
"It's just the way it goes these days. They're doing a very hard job out there and we should all appreciate it.
"It's a very serious situation out there and this was a bit of frivolity allowing the lads a bit of fun and light relief.
"Anything that can cheer them up for a bit must be nice." The Ministry of Defence today said the 'nose art' had now been removed.
RAF bosses defended the ban as entirely appropriate, saying in a statement: "The Royal Air Force values and recognises the contribution of service personnel regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or social background.
"To this end, the RAF promotes working in an environment that is free from harassment and where personnel are respected both for the contribution they can bring to the team and the value and potential they offer as individuals."
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It must be true - it's in the Daily Mail with some shots of current and past nose art 
Last edited by airborne_artist; 5th Jun 2007 at 14:46.
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If so, surely there can be no objection to a suitably covered up (you can do a lot with 7 veils), hermaphrodite (you would want the 7 veils), ethnically non-specific, bisexual, otherwise-able nose art subject.
That could not offend anyone. Kudos to the 1st sqn artist to take that on!
That could not offend anyone. Kudos to the 1st sqn artist to take that on!
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Will the Army ban artillerymen from "decorating" shells? After all, you wouldn't want to upset someone just before they kiss their @rse goodbye, would you?
How about rude message on bombs - guess there are out for the same reason
How about rude message on bombs - guess there are out for the same reason
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I suppose the other Bomber tradition of painting cartoon characters (Mickey Mouse, Oor Willie, etc) would now demand royalties being paid to the copyright owner. Well, can you imagine the likes of 21st Century Disney letting it go for free?
How about painting on a "mooning" Bart Simpson? It used to be in the Honington Clipart collection. At least then everybody has a chance to be offended.
How about painting on a "mooning" Bart Simpson? It used to be in the Honington Clipart collection. At least then everybody has a chance to be offended.
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Clearly, all aircraft and bomds should only have the RAF Corporate Logo, or perhaps the Olympics 2012 design (see, it does have something to do with Military Aircrew 
)
)
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RAF Corporate Logo
Saw a cracker on a B1 at Dyess once, it was some cartoon character with a large desert catus to his right. When you stepped 20m back, the context changed and it looked like he was actually offering the viewer 'The Finger'
Might be apt at this moment.
Might be apt at this moment.
If so, surely there can be no objection to a suitably covered up (you can do a lot with 7 veils), hermaphrodite (you would want the 7 veils), ethnically non-specific, bisexual, otherwise-able nose art subject.
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Will there now follow a retrospective airbrushing of all those photographs showing such from times past then ? 
.....and a series of apologies for anybody offended by such depictions over the last how many years ??.
.....and a series of apologies for anybody offended by such depictions over the last how many years ??.
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RAF Strike Command feared that having too much flesh on display ran the risk of putting off female recruits
Avoid imitations
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Once everyone looks like this, they will be happy.
