This recent post by Lulu reminded me of a story I saw last week. Lulu has fine taste in pinup art, and she graced her post with some wonderful vintage nose art. Nose art is a fine military tradition going back to WWI, and frequently it's pinup-themed. Cartoon characters are popular too; during WWII the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) asked if they could use a Disney character named Fifinella as their mascot. Americans are widely credited with popularizing nose art during WWII, and the Brits probably adopted the practice from them.
The Royal Air Force has now banned pinup-themed nose art, going so far as to order one unit in Afghanistan to scrub the images from their aircraft. Why? Because it might offend Muslims (in the countries they're bombing?), or women serving in the RAF.
The RAF has not received a single complaint from any of the 5,000+ women serving. I can't believe that all those truck bombers are pissed off about a Page 3 Girl.
5 comments:
i doubt the woman in the RAF would have a problem with it. I wouldn't besides its tradition
That reminds me of the part in "Apocalypse Now," where Col. Kurtz/Marlon Brando, in the course of assorted mutterings, talks about the absurdity that the pilots of the B-52 bombers that were dropping bombs on civilians were not allowed to write the word "f*ck" on the nose of their bombers, as this was obscene.
Life imitates art.
I miss the days when men were men and women were dames.
Well as long as they don't potentially offend anyone they are bombing the hell out of, I guess...
Sheesh.
I can't believe it's being banned. I didn't know that. love pin-up girls, and on the nose of airplanes, it's one of those great traditions, I'd hate to see lost.
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