USAAF Nose Art Research Project

It Ain't So Funny
B-24J-185-CO 44-40853

43rd Bomb Group

Nose art painted by
S/Sgt Sarkis E. BARTIGIAN
43rd Bomb Group
Le Shima

In a departure from the normal girlie nose art, Bartigian created this amazing collection of cartoon characters to enliven the side of this B24 Liberator. Whether or not this mass of colourful characters was repeated on the other side of the aircraft is not known but yet again Sgt Bartigian managed to create a unique piece of art. While popular characters were often lifted from their page and used as nose art, so many placed together on a single aircraft is almost unique. Donald Duck, Popeye, Minnie, Cat Woman, Lil Henry are all there with several other favourites of the time. A wonderful tribute to, perhaps, the second most popular subject choice for aircraft nose art.