While researching the ‘river nose’ issue, I came across ‘nose art’. I had no idea what that was, but came across all manner of aircraft nose art. The art ran from WWII to Korea, Vietnam upto the Iraq conflicts. The art dynamics in recent conflicts have swung toward the non-sexual/suggestive form. I prefer the ‘girls’ of WWII. 
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator

 https://swittersb.wordpress.com/2009/01/19/alcan-higway-my-fathers-passed-ona-roadtrip-for-him/

http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/nose%20art/B%2024%20Liberator.htm

“History shows that the artwork spans almost a century, from World War I — to Operation Iraqi Freedom, but its most notable period was clearly in World War II and Korea. This was a time when the military commanders were more flexible in boosting the morale of the pilots and crew — and weren’t as concerned about ‘political correctness’ during the crew’s most dangerous and deadly war efforts.”

“To personalize their war chariots, these renegade pilots chose a variety of designs from pin-up girls, slogans, cartoons, and nicknames — to hometowns, humor, and more girls.”

 “The subject matter of the art–particularly the sexual portrayal of women–has been a challenge to nose artists. The unclothed female figure was popular with the crews, but inevitably went against commanders’ wishes. There are several obvious explanations for the sexual aspect of nose art. Combat troops are comprised of a select portion of the population–they are primarily young, unmarried males. For the first time in their lives they are separated from home and the constraints of civilian society. Additionally, under conditions of war, in which death and wounding are the prominent concerns, moral controls relax. The farther from home and command headquarters, the more daring was the art. That this art not only made its appearance, but was allowed during World War II, suggests that war alters attitudes. In World War II especially, society applied different rules to the combat troops they considered to be risking their lives for the country. Normal societal rules fell into place when an aircraft was brought home for a war bond promotion and nose art nudes were ordered clothed. Some crews, refusing to bow to public pressure, placed the stamp “Censored” across their art instead…”

http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/militarynoseart/overview3.htm