Aviation Art: The Lighter Side
In wartime, a customized Zippo was part of an airman's identity.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- AirSpaceMag.com, September 07, 2011
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"Snoopy the Flying Ace replaced Bugs Bunny of World War II nose art fame as the most popular cartoon character of the conflict," writes Buchanan. "The beloved delusional beagle first crawled on top of his doghouse and cursed his imaginary enemy the Red Baron in October 1965, just as President Lyndon B. Johnson increased U.S. combat troops from 3,500 Marines in March to close to 200,000 by December. "Snoopy Vs. the Red Baron," by the Royal Guardsmen, climbed to the top of the American Forces Vietnam Network charts in 1968 as GIs sought comfort in the wake of the Tet Offensive in the beagle's ability to defeat his nemesis, the Red Baron—read the Viet Cong—in the song's final chorus: Snoopy fired once / And he fired twice / And that Bloody Red Baron went spinning out of sight."
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Comments (4)
The Cowboys were next to us Taipans at Camp BearCat...we had a few brawls with them...ahh...youthful testosterone
Posted by Snake on September 8,2011 | 02:46 PM
I still have mine & will not part with it. Prior to my shipping to 'Nam' on 5 May 69, I was assigned to the Returnee-Reassignment Center @ Ft.Lewis, Wa. We processed Vets returning from Nam, got them clean Class A uniforms to travel home in, saw to it they got a steak dinner, tickets for flights, buses etc. & transportation to Seatle. Once they showered, ate & boarded trans to Seatle-Tacoma Airport, we would kick through the discarded combat fatigues they had traveled from Nam in. Kicking through those uniforms is where I got my Zippo. I took that Zippo to 'Nam' for my tour, 69-70 with the 1st Aviation Brigade in 2 Corps & that well traveld Zippo did a second tour of 'Nam'!~I watrch for them @ estate sales & garage sales.
They are treasured items from a difficult time in our National history.
Posted by MARK on September 21,2011 | 08:01 PM
The Zippo with The Association's song title, "Never My Love" on the cap, and Snoopy on the body really got to me. These are two, very personal messages on probably the one item that soldier was allowed to personalize. It's my favorite Zippo in your collection.
Posted by Mark W. on September 22,2011 | 11:45 PM
I enjoyed the pictures.
Wish that I had known that Rebecca was collecting pictures of these.
My crew had a Zippo engraved for me before I left Vietnam from my first tour in 1967-68.
It is one of my most prized possessions.
If Rebecca is still collecting photos, I'd be glad to send one.
Posted by Steve Cover on November 4,2011 | 07:23 PM