The Lockheed P-38 Lightning is considered by some to be the ultimate fighter created during WWII.  The sleek, twin-engine, twin-boom fighter that came from Lockheed in Burbank, CA was immortalized for many years during and following the war in media ranging from film (like 1943’s “A Guy Named Joe“) all the way down to the doodles penned by countless students in composition books as they day-dreamed about the ultimate fighter plane.

Somewhere in the middle lies the tattooed image of the P-38, like the tattoo we are featuring today.  This particular tattoo was created by Tony Honaker of Sacred Body Art in Amelia, OH.

Please click on the image above or the link below for a larger image.

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The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, affectionately known as the “Jug” by pilots and crews for its portly shape and as an abbreviation for “juggernaut” speaking to its ruggedness in battle, was the largest single engine fighter of WWII.  The P-47 was one of the first high-altitude escort fighters that could accompany bomber formations into enemy territory in the European theater from bases in England to help protect the bombers from enemy fighters.  The P-47 had a reputation as a powerful fighter, though it’s maneuverability wasn’t as great as later fighters such as the P-51 — but it excelled as a ground attack fighter and helped support allied troops in the invasions of France in 1944.

Ian Mckown of Bound by Design in Denver, CO tattooed the powerful P-47 as a memorial of a loved one on the wearer and colorfully illustrated it’s reputation as a tough fighter in the scene depicted.

Please click on the image above or the link below for a larger image.

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Over the past few weeks, we have seen an upswing in the number of tattoos featuring the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.  It’s obvious that the plane made famous by the Flying Tigers is a popular tattoo subject.

This tattoo is certainly no exception!  One of the first things we noticed as how well proportioned the tattoo is, especially considering the aggressive angle of the image.  Additionally, we also noticed how straight the wings were — not easy since the surface of the calf is so curved.

This tattoo was created by Sean Beck, an artist at Mom’s Tattoos in Wilmington, NC.

Please click on the image above or the link below to see a larger image.

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The iconic sharkteeth of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) Curtiss P-40 Warhawks are some of the most famous markings ever to be found on an aircraft.  The large oil cooler scoop on the front of the plane and large nose was nearly perfect for the snarling mouth.

This inner arm tattoo shows that famous snarl to great effect!  It was tattooed by Hawk Chait while he was at Incognito Tattoo — but Hawk currently tattoos at Oxygen Tattoo Studio in Bend, OR.

Please click on the link below or the image above to see a larger view.

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We’re approaching the 70th anniversary of the conception of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator — the most produced bomber aircraft of World War II.  The US Army Air Corps formally invited Consolidated to submit a design in January 1939 for a bomber with higher speed, greater range, and higher ceiling than the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress — the dominant bomber at the time.  With a first flight in late 1939, the B-24 Liberator was destined to become one of the most successful bombers of the war, with over 18,000 aircraft constructed from 1940-1945 — the highest produced multi-engine aircraft ever (a record that stands to this day).

The B-24 never received the public limelight that the B-17 got, mostly because of it’s rather boxy and ungainly look and the fact the B-17 was featured in several popular war films and documentaries. Still, the B-24 flew more missions, dropped more bombs, and was used in more theaters of operations than any other bomber.

In tribute of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, we present to you this fantastic black and gray tattoo of the B-24.  This particular tattoo, of a D-Model (with the greenhouse style nose) was created by artist Hector Cedillo of Skin Graff Tattoo in Worcester, MA. 

Interestingly, Worcester, MA is only several towns over from Stow, MA — the home of the Collings Foundation, operators of one of the two remaining flyable B-24 Liberators in the world.  It tours the nation annually with a B-17 Flying Fortress, B-25 Mitchell, and P-51 Mustang as part of the Wings Of Freedom Tour.

Please click on the image above or the link below for a larger image plus a second detailed shot of the nose of the bomber.

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Well, I’m finally back from the big tradeshow in Orlando, FL and am ready to get back into the swing of things — and sending you the best aviation tattoos from the finest artists around the world!

Kicking off the weekend is this fantastic early World War II dogfight sleeve project!  The smooth, vibrant color used here beautifully illustrates the vintage imagery of the era. Central to the tattoo is a Moraine-Saulnier MS.315 as well as an early Luftwaffe aircraft resembling a Heinkel HE-100 perhaps.

The artist, Nikko Hurtado of Ignition Tattoo in Apple Valley, CA did an amazing job with this piece.  Take a look at Nikko’s portfolio and you’ll see more stunning work!

Nikko is one of a host of artists using the Neuma tattoo machine — the first and only pneumatic tattoo machine that’s light, fully autoclavable, and maintenance-free. The kind of work these artists are putting out is really pushing the boundaries of the artform!

Please click on the link below or the image above to see a larger image and a second image of the sleeve!

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Our editor went off to Orlando for the National Business Aviation Association convention with his aviation artwork concealed under his suit — so we might be a bit late in getting new tattoos out for the next few days.  But for some fun before the weekend, here’s a bit of a bombshell with a background of B-17s from artist Tim Harris of Hope Gallery Tattoo in New Haven, CT. 

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The commitment required for large scale tattoo work is certainly commendable — the amount of time it takes along with the pain and cost over multiple sessions makes the completed piece not only a triumph of art, but also a triumph over various hurdles along the way.  A full sleeve project is one of these large scale projects and is one of the most visible you can get — making it important to get the right artwork from the right artist!

That’s the case in this fantastic sleeve featuring all different sorts of World War II fighter and bomber aircraft.  You can see famous planes like the P-51 Mustang, B-17 Flying Fortress, P-47 Thunderbolt, and SBD Dauntless here.

The awesome sleeve was created by artist Jason Leisge of Oddball Studios in Portland, OR.

For a larger shot, click on the link below or the image above.

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Today we’re glad to feature one of the worlds most adored and beloved airplanes — the Douglas DC-3.  Also known as the C-47 Skytrain and the “Gooney Bird”, the rugged DC-3 was one of the first successful passenger airliners as well as a popular transport and paratroop aircraft during World War II.  This particular tattoo shows a DC-3 as a C-47 with a bit of WWII-vintage nose art adorning the ample forward fuselage.

The colorful tattoo along with the propeller and wings was created by artist Shawn Willmorth at The Hive Tattoo & Piercing in Moses Lake, WA.

See a larger shot of the tattoo by clicking on the link below or the image above.

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One of the challenges of tattooing aircraft is the fact that airplanes are composed of straight lines and the human body is inherently curved. On top of that, when taking a photo of the completed piece, it’s hard to capture the tattoo in two dimensions when it exists in three dimensions.

With those challenges in mind, this tattoo of a Royal Air Force North American B-25D Mitchell done in black and gray shows some amazing attention to detail. It was expertly executed by Mark Lazio of Ground Zero Tattoo in Riverside, CA.

Click on the link below or the image above to see a larger version.

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