Years ago I found a bunch of old aircraft aluminum in a junk yard. I had no idea what I was going to do with them, so I bought them anyway. Since then I've been painting old WWII nose art, war ads and this kill panel. I get so many comments on this piece, most people are really confused when they see it.
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Steve
A collector piece from the past.
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
Ok...I give up...what is it?
Posted by Stephen Deveau (Member # 1305) on :
Adrienne
Kills in Action. How many planes were shot down on the flight missions. (German Planes that is.)
Nine on that panel.
Some did skull and cross bones or silo of other aircrafts,Check marks,Etc.Etc.
But this one used the German Swastika.
Something they did like the Late Great Canadian (Red Baron)
[ March 21, 2002, 05:17 PM: Message edited by: Stephen Deveau ]
Posted by Jonathan Androsky (Member # 2806) on :
Kill Panel. The bit on a fighter (or bomber) where the pilot (or gunner) would keep tally of how many of the enemy he shot down with 'lil pictures. Could be a tally of successful missions too, I think.
I like it!
Posted by Bill Preston (Member # 1314) on :
Hi All,
The swastika marks or the rising sun marks were a tally of aircraft kills in combat-usually, but not always- found on fighter planes. Mission tallies were usually put on bomber type aircraft, and were shown as a silhouette of a bomb falling straight down.
Funny thing about the swastika-- it wasn't dreamed up by Nazi Germany. It has been found in ancient art, and sometimes in a reversed shape.
FWIW another bit of useless trivia from the attic of my elderly mind.
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
cool!
Posted by Luke Scanlan (Member # 2481) on :
Yes the Swastika was actually a positive symbol until the psycho Nazis ruined it for eternity. There are a few books on the market now by various authors giving the true history of the Swastika's origins. I have a great nose art book. It's titled "Vintage Aircraft Nose Art" written by Gary M. Valant. Kool stuff. Neat panel.
Posted by Robb Lowe (Member # 2121) on :
interesting tidbit on 'kills' painted on warbirds in WWII - They were for photo-op's and usually wiped off thereafter. Why? Because in the air, it would mark you as 'the man to get' or, if you crash landed with the plane, you were MUCH more apt to get a big wampum from the countrymen you so proudly shotdown.
Very cool piece Steve. I love that stuff. (WW2 era sheetmetal, noseart, hell anything WW2 in the air or sea)
Posted by Kookaburra (Member # 254) on :
hahahaha... the first impression I got when I saw that was nazi tic tac toe... heheheh... sorry... had to add that.
Posted by Felix Marcano (Member # 1833) on :
Nice! Reminds me of the marihuana leaf prints on the 50' Scarabs US Customs has here.
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