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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.
-------------------- "B0LT" on the chat room thing.
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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!
-------------------- Jon Androsky Posts: 438 | From: Williamsport, PA | Registered: Mar 2002
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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.
-------------------- Bill Preston Fly Creek, N.Y. USA Posts: 943 | From: Fly Creek, N.Y. USA | Registered: Jan 2000
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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.
-------------------- Luke S. Luke Scanlan Artistry Ocala, Fl. lukescanlan@cox.net Posts: 249 | From: Ocala, Florida | Registered: Nov 2001
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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)
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hahahaha... the first impression I got when I saw that was nazi tic tac toe... heheheh... sorry... had to add that.
-------------------- From Kat Johnston (previously Katie Wright, for those who can remember that far back) Posts: 530 | From: Brisbane, Australia | Registered: Feb 1999
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