The story of the Jackpine Joe
Details about the fictional lumberjack from Wisconsin that made it on the nose of the B-24 Liberator.
Gordon MacQuarrie
For this he came up with the character Jackpine Joe, who had a dialogue with his friend. That way he could rant about anything. The Milwaukee Journal and this page also read Archie Davis. When he had to go to war a few years later and became a pilot, he named 'his' plane after Jackpine Joe. It reminds him of his homeland.
Nose Art
Placing personalized decorations on fighting aircraft began as early as 1913 when a sea monster was painted on an Italian flying boat. World War I nose art was usually embellished or extravagant squadron insignia. Nose art of that era was often conceived and produced not by the pilots, but rather by ground crews.
True nose art appeared during World War II, which is considered by many observers to be the golden age of the genre. At the height of the war, nose artists were in very high demand in the USAAF and were paid quite well for their services. USAAF commanders tolerated nose art in an effort to boost aircrew morale. The work was done by professional civilian artists as well as talented amateur servicemen.
It's quite possible that Archie Davis painted the nose art for 'his' bomber himself. Various sources indicate that he was the staff artist at the local newspaper before the war and also drew the squadron insignia of the 780th BS.
True nose art appeared during World War II, which is considered by many observers to be the golden age of the genre. At the height of the war, nose artists were in very high demand in the USAAF and were paid quite well for their services. USAAF commanders tolerated nose art in an effort to boost aircrew morale. The work was done by professional civilian artists as well as talented amateur servicemen.
It's quite possible that Archie Davis painted the nose art for 'his' bomber himself. Various sources indicate that he was the staff artist at the local newspaper before the war and also drew the squadron insignia of the 780th BS.
Based on the known information, the Jackpine Joe Noseart was drawn on the computer and then the decals are made from that.
After the war, the EAA Museum in Oskosh, Wisconsin painted the mural with various famous WW2 aircraft. Jackpine Joe can also be seen there. Mike, the pilot's son, provided a photo of it. And he added that his father Archie Davis asked for some "artistic licence" for example the squadron number (780) that you see in the picture was never painted on an aircraft.
After the war, the EAA Museum in Oskosh, Wisconsin painted the mural with various famous WW2 aircraft. Jackpine Joe can also be seen there. Mike, the pilot's son, provided a photo of it. And he added that his father Archie Davis asked for some "artistic licence" for example the squadron number (780) that you see in the picture was never painted on an aircraft.
