"Ruff Stuff" Will Have Nose Art Applied On Opening Day

It is a practice dating back to the earliest days of World War II... when fighter pilots and bomber crews would emblazen their aircraft with personalized nose art, to identify their faithful steeds and provide a small touch of home in a hostile foreign land. 

That tradtion will be carried forth on Monday, opening day at AirVenture 2007, as Warhawks, Inc.'s latest project, the P-38L "Ruff Stuff," will have its namesake nose art applied.

On the first day of the Air Show in Oshkosh, the P-38 fighter will receive its final step of the restoration process when it will have its nose art applied by an expert painter. The nose art will depict the aircraft "Ruff Stuff," the mount of Wisconsin resident, Norbert Ruff, a P-38 lightning pilot in World War II with the 80th Fighter Squadron, based in Australia and New Guinea. This unique Oshkosh event was spearheaded by Erik Hokuf, lead restorer at Warhawks, Inc.

The idea for this event was born a few months ago when Hokuf and his fellow restoration shop workers were discussing the game plan for applying the unique nose art. In addition to displaying the shop's latest restoration at Oshkosh, Hokuf wanted to come up with a unique way in which Warbird air show enthusiasts could get involved in the restoration and experience something out of the ordinary.

"I wanted to give the crowd something new and unique to take home from the air show, something memorable to talk about when recounting Airventure 2007," Hokuf said.

The artist who will be painting the P-38's nose art is Stefan Hokuf, one of Erik Hokuf's older brothers. Hokuf has completed numerous antique car painting projects, but this will be his first foray into painting nose art on vintage fighters. One can rest assured, however, that given the quality of work that has come out of Warhawks, Inc. in recent years, the artist was chosen with care.

"I feel privileged to have been asked to put the final touch on this project, both to put my skills to use, and to honor all the men and women who served, specifically, the pilot of this aircraft," Stefan Hokuf said.

"Ruff Stuff" will be parked in the Warbirds area of Oskosh, for those interested in observing the nose art application. The event will kick off on Monday, July 23, at approximately 10:00 am in the Warbird Parking Area.

FMI: www.airventure.org, www.warhawksinc.com