World War II is widely considered the golden age of nose art. With the proliferation of air forces and airpower, the presence of this unique art form grew exponentially. 

The Tuskegee Airmen National Historical Museum confirmed retired Lieutenant Colonel Harry Stewart Jr.'s death, saying he passed away peacefully at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

From the hedgerows of Normandy across the rivers of northern France and into the dense forests of the Hürtgen and the Ardennes, Royal Air Force (RAF) and US Army Air Forces (USAAF) aircraft cleared the way for the advance of the Allied ground armies. 

A young New Zealander airman receives a Victoria Cross for his daring feats. 

Technical Sergeant Garland Kerlec used the bomb fuse tags to make a sort of diary of his combat flights, recording the date, target, as well as some commentary on the nature of the mission.

When World War II began, both the US Army Air Forces and the Royal Air Force Bomber Command developed strategic bombing fleets aimed at destroying Axis morale and its ability to prosecute war.

Named for the silkworm caterpillar, which produced the silk originally used to make parachutes, the club encapsulates the precariousness of its member’s experiences with its motto: “Life depends on a silken thread.” 

Spoilers ahead for Episode 3 of Masters of the Air.