Monday Morning Musings (6)

The first story that caught my eye over the w/e  was this one:U.S. soldiers upset over decision on nose art.My immediate thought was of some young soldier complaining about not having a nose stud while in uniform. But NO I was definitely wrong. This is about the art that adorns the nose of aircraft since they were first used in war. I grew up looking at the bombers and fighters sporting Pin Ups, Cartoons, messages and political warnings. This was mainly a US and British art form, Canada has a few. Currently our Canadians operating Chinooks have some US aircraft at their disposal and they received one with a Cartoon Character of a Skeleton, Canada naturally adapted and updated the cartoon/ It now has a hockey stick and a title 2 for Hooking a reference to both our hockey heritage  and to the Chinook being a Heavy Hooker with slung loads. I think that to stop this art form for political correctness is WRONG. These art forms are a sign of both Morale and of being an aircrew team, who cares what the Taliban think? As for the local Afghanis if they can’t enjoy a laugh then they should simply keep their eyes averted. When I Googled Military Aircraft Art I was shocked to find over 8 million sites. Many of them have some wonderful photos well worth the look if you are a military buff or historian. The full story is available at:  

By Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - U.S. chopper pilots are calling an order to paint over the nose art on their Chinook helicopters a blow to their artistic freedom, but their commanding officer insists it's little more than a tempest in a paint pot.

Nose art emerged during the First World War as a way to tell friend from foe during fierce dogfights, but the paintings evolved into a true art form a quarter-century later, when the noses of U.S. military aircraft were adorned with pin-up paintings, cartoon characters and rolling-dice logos.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100801/national/afghan_cda_paint_wars

The second headline is about the tenth anniversary run of the Ride for Dads.

The Motorcycle Ride for Dad’s 10th Anniversary Cross-Canada Tour Powered by TELUS is the biggest charity motorcycle ride of its kind in Canada is raising funds and awareness for two causes that affect each and every Canadian – the Military Families Fund and the fight against prostate cancer.

Hundreds of riders will rev their engines for the start of the Tour in St. John’s, NL on August 1st, 2010, and continue across Canada until the final stop in Victoria, BC on August 29th, 2010.

Anchored by Co-Chairs Don Cherry and Rick Hillier (ret.), the Tour promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Canadians to support these two causes by participating, donating, and supporting the events.

http://ridefordadanniversary.org/en/

The ride will hit the shores on PEI on August 4 at the Wood Islands Ferry and after their tour of the Island they will leave VIA the Confederation Bridge. It would be nice to see the Bridge Staff give them free access unlike the charges they charged people on the Olympic Torch Media team.

Next sadly our Dutch Allies have departed Afghanistan. They suffered a loss of 24 soldiers during their tour of duty which started in 2006.

Our Commonwealth  and SEATO allies the Aussies will take over their areas of operation. Farewell to our Dutch Brothers and welcome to our mates from Oz. Please put a drawing of “Waltzing Matilda” on a chopper.

Please show your SUPPORT of our TROOPS and give the Motorcycle riders a friendly wave and smile.

Nil Sine Labore

Robby