Air Force Mail Bag WWII

I know that my blog is about animation but this story will not go away and it shouldn`t. Another post from the name sake of the the radio operator and waist gunner on the Me Lei Fo.

Larry,

"The Lone Individual" has left a new comment on your post "Images of the Past":

My name sake was the radio operator and waist gunner on the Me Lei Fo. I have been researching the nose art and have desperately been trying to find a good color rendition of it. The Sgt Rock Comic book done by Mr. Ayers for July 1980 does show it somewhat but not clearly. This shot that you present here is the best I have seen but not in color. I do have a photo of the some of the crew in front of the nose art but the photo is in black and white and not much help in rendering the nose art in color.

If anyone out there has any information, pictures or letters regarding this plane please inform me. I am working with another descendent of the crew the bombardier navigator’s great niece and we both would appreciate any help you can provide us with.

Albert J. DiLuzio


Albert,

Thank you for keeping me in the loop. The black and white art is from Dick Ayers life
story in comic book form volume 1 done 60 years after the fact from memory.

As to the real colors you can ask Dick but he is color blind and did all of his painting from the labels on his paints. It short, he mixed colors in his head without ever being able to see them himself. Incredible. The guys in his unit would change the label as a joke to screw him up.

I never saw any pictures anywhere of the Me Lei Fo in Black and White or in Color and all of my information comes from the color blind genus who painted the nose art over 60 years ago.

Sorry, but I don`t think either of us can help you on that point.

. . . .

Take care and all my best

Larry Loc

Unrelated news: It`s The Cat, Mark Kausler`s killer cel animation is available on My Toons. If you missed it on Cartoon Brew Films here is your chance to pick up this great 30s style animated to the beat cartoon masterpiece from the under sung animation master. “It`s The Cat on My Toons! Just $1.99.