When we think of nose art on American World War II airplanes, certain images often come to mind. Many people picture a P-40 Warhawk with its well-known shark mouth design. Some might think of a U.S. heavy bomber decorated with a funny cartoon character or a pin-up girl with clever text. Others may remember a U.S. Army pilot’s girlfriend’s name painted on the side of his fighter plane. These examples all involve U.S. Army aircraft, which might be because the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II was pretty lenient with such artwork. The art boosted the morale of the pilots and helped identify planes and squadrons visually. You might notice, however, that there is no mention of the U.S. Navy.
Notable Instances of U.S. Navy Nose Art: The “Cat Mouth” on F6F Hellcats
The U.S. Navy generally did not allow elaborate nose art. They typically permitted only simple lettering of a name or squadron emblem on their planes. But, strict rules often encourage some individuals to break them. A few notable cases of U.S. Navy and Marine pilots adding nose art to their planes during the war stand out. None were as famous as the case involving the “Cat Mouth” design on the F6F Hellcat.
U.S. Navy Fighting Squadron 27 (VF-27) received Grumman F6F Hellcats in early 1944. They were based at Kahului Naval Air Station in Maui, Hawaii, for training during March and April of that year. During this time, a few squadron members, including Carl Brown, Richard Stanbrook, and Robert Burnell, came up with a bold nose art design that defied U.S. Navy rules. Their artwork, somewhat like the Flying Tiger’s shark mouth, showed fierce eyes and sharp fangs of a cat on the engine cowling of the F6F Hellcat. In some cases, the eyes even looked bloodshot, giving it a more frightening appearance. This design became known as “Cat Mouth.”
VF-27 was later assigned to the USS Princeton and got ready to leave. Burnell, the main artist, took on the job of painting the Hellcats, with help from other squadron pilots. By the end of May 1944, all 24 of their F6Fs bore the “Cat Mouth” artwork as they boarded the light carrier. Initially, no superiors on the Princeton seemed to mind the unusual markings.
VF-27’s Combat Achievements and the Loss of the USS Princeton
After departing Hawaii, VF-27 took part in one of the most successful tours by a light carrier during the war. They were involved in several operations, often doing very well. For example, during the Battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19, 1944, sometimes called the “Great Marianas Turkey Shoot,” VF-27 pilots claimed 30 aerial victories against Japanese forces.
Another important moment for VF-27 came in September when they joined a fighter sweep over Manila in the Philippines, achieving 38 victories. In October, during operations on Formosa, the Princeton was part of Task Force 38 operating in the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines.
On the morning of October 24, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, which many historians regard as the largest naval battle in history, VF-27’s Hellcats claimed 36 Japanese fighters near Polillo Island. Tragedy struck when a single Japanese dive bomber attacked the Princeton, dropping a bomb that penetrated the flight deck and hangar before exploding. The ship suffered multiple explosions throughout the day, and despite efforts to save it, the Princeton was scuttled in the late afternoon. It became the only light U.S. carrier lost during the war.
The Fate of the “Cat Mouth” Hellcats and VF-27’s Legacy
The nine “Cat Mouth” Hellcats that were airborne during the attack survived and landed on other carriers within Task Force 38. The sight of these distinctively painted planes did not go over well with the leaders on these carriers. Onboard the USS Essex, for instance, Admiral Frederick Carl Sherman, unhappy upon seeing the non-regulation nose art, ordered it to be painted over that very night. Other carriers in the task force quickly followed, covering up the unique artwork according to U.S. Navy rules, thus ending VF-27’s short period of non-compliance and bringing a close to this piece of aviation art history.
During their deployment from May to October 1944, VF-27 racked up over 130 aerial kills, 100 of which happened in just three days. The squadron became the most successful light carrier air group of the war and produced 10 aces, each with at least five kills. For the rest of the war, the squadron continued to serve, this time onboard the Independence, one of the Princeton’s sister ships.
While there were other cases of nose art in the Navy and Marine Corps during World War II, none gained the same level of fame as the VF-27 “Cat Mouth” Hellcats. The design is still popular among World War II enthusiasts, appearing in museums, artworks, model airplane kits, and even in air combat video games.
