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 Magic: 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.
