Not the nose ! Its the tail ! The markings on the rudder imitate the pre-war red and white markings. These became common on Pacific fighters towards the end of the war as the Americans cared less about camouflage.

On the left is Major Joe Klemovich, who was the Operations Officer for the 58th Fighter Group which arrived late in the SWPA, their first forward combat airfield being Saidor in early 1944.

On the right is Joseph Parker, Republic Aircraft Corporation technical representative. Parker was killed later in the war in an accident at Ie Shima.

This particular Thunderbolt, which never received nose-art, was destroyed during a wheels-up landing near Porac, the Philippines, on 26 April 1945. The aircraft has also previously served with the 39th Fighter Squadron of the 35th Fighter Group.

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