Elaine Tatro World War II Nose Art Photograph Collection
Contents of the Collection
The Elaine (Thompson) Tatro World War II Nose Art Photograph Collection is a small collection containing 11 4x5-inch black-and-white photographs of Consolidated B-24 Liberator nose art, circa 1939-1945. It is likely the aircraft were photographed by Tatro's husband during his military service in the Pacific Theater. The nose art is primarily pin-up style, including "Blonde Buzz," "Miss Anabelle Lee," and "Miss Behavin." There is one with a bull over the words "Bull o' the Woods" and another with cartoon duck wearing a hat and smoking a cigar called "The Stud Duck." Four photographs include unidentified servicemen posing with the nose art. None of the photographs include captions or contextual information.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1939-1945
Creator
- Tatro, Elaine, 1921-2011 (Former owner, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.
Conditions Governing Use
The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.
Biographical Note: Elaine (Thompson) Tatro
Elaine (Thompson) Tatro (1921-2011) served as an American Red Cross volunteer in Japan.
Elaine (Thompson) Tatro was born on September 9, 1921 to Cecil and Lorna Thompson in Portland, Oregon. She attended Oregon State University and studied home economics, textile art, and watercolor.
Thompson married United States Army Air Corps officer Winfield F. Tatro (1920-1997) on February 17, 1946. The couple had one son. They relocated to Japan and Tatro became an American Red Cross volunteer, teaching English and bowling to the local children. In 1967, the couple returned to United States, where she continued active volunteerism with the American Diabetes Association and a girls bowling league. Tatro died on July 18, 2011 in Portland, Oregon.
Biography derived from donor information, records on Ancestry.com, and obituary at https://obits.oregonlive.com/us/obituaries/oregon/name/elaine-tatro-obituary?id=26463465.
Full Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 letter-size file folder)
Language
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Materials were donated by Elaine Tatro who obtained them from her husband, Winfield F. Tatro. It is likely he took the photographs during his World War II service.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Separated Materials
A framed acrylic painting of a SPAD XIII in flight has been removed from the archival component and is kept in Objects storage. A book, Air Combat Paintings by Robert Taylor has been removed and is kept in the Library. Contact us for details.
- Title
- Guide to the Elaine Tatro World War II Nose Art Photograph Collection
- Author
- Jenn Parent
- Date
- 2025 September
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- 1st Edition
Repository Details
Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-5874
curator@museumofflight.org