Air Force fighters and bombers are soaring into the wild blue yonder with new paint jobs, quietly reviving an old tradition.
The decorative painting and designs on the noses and wings of Air Force planes may not be as racy as they were during World War II, but they are just as meaningful, Air Force Times reports.
"This is a tradition across the Air Force," Col. Jeff Smith, commander of the 173rd Fighter Wing in Klamath Falls, Oregon, told the newspaper. "This truly is a source of morale and pride, especially for the dedicated crew chief to know that they have a little mark of themselves on the airplane."
It took 31 days to transform one of the unit's dull gray F-15 Eagles into a colorful work of art, commemorating the Oregon Air National Guard's 75th Anniversary, Air Force Times reported.
"Basically, we just wanted something bold that was going to make an impact," Master Sgt. Paul Allen, the artist behind the paint job, told the paper. "The guys took a lot of pride in this. ... And people considering coming into the Guard who see this see we have a lot of pride in our unit." more
