These never before seen pictures from the Vietnam War show the spectacular artwork that helicopter pilots painted on their choppers during the brutal conflict.
Images daubed on helicopters included popular cartoon characters such as the Incredible Hulk, Road Runner and the Green Hornet.
Some of the artworks are threatening, including a white skull painted on a red background, but most are playful and innocent.
Other pictures show soldiers posing next to The Good Ship Lollipop and The Magical Mystery Tour as they prepare for deployment, in what would prove to be one of the most brutal wars in recent memory.
The remarkable images appear in a new book, Vietnam War Army Helicopter Nose Art, by John Brennan.
It offers a unique insight into the conflict, which raged from November 1, 1955 to April 30, and killed nearly four million people.
Snowball, 191st Assault Helicopter Company, Can Tho, 1969. Piloted by Ken Carlton AC and Randy Hansen CP (pictured). True to its name, this white furry mascot knew nothing of war, instead, offered friendship and respite from warfare
Green Hornet, D Company, 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion, Lai Khe, 1969. Maintained by Steven Buker CE (pictured), it was named after the fictional, masked crime-fighter of comic book, radio, film, and TV fame
The Good Ship Lollipop, 132nd Assault Support Helicopter Company, Chu Lai, early 1969. Previously named Miss Carriage in 1968, the name is taken from a Shirley Temple film involving a commercial airliner. Crewed by Ron Hoggard FE (pictured), T. R. McCann CE, and Allen Cleaver DG. Artwork by McCann. It survived Vietnam from May 1968 to November 1971, accruing 1,923 flight hours
Diane, also known as ‘Ghost Rider 18,’ 189th Assault Helicopter Company, Pleiku, 1969. Piloted by Freddy Friedich AC and crewed by John Boldway CE (pictured), it survived Vietnam with 790 flight hours, serving its entire in-country tour with the 189th from November 1968 to August 1969
Snoopy, 132nd Assault Support Helicopter Company, Chu Lai, 1970. Accumulated 2,198 flight hours from May 1968 to August 1971, all with the 132nd. It survived Vietnam and is actively on flight status as a D model with the Army National Guard
Incredible Hulk, 362nd Assault Support Helicopter Company, Phu Loi, November 1971. Crewed by John Bell FE who also created the artwork. It survived Vietnam from July 1965 to September 1972, accruing 2,640 flight hours and serving in the 362nd from July 1971 to June 1972
Road Runner, 602nd Transportation Company, Tay Ninh, 1967. The painted bird on the pilot’s door identified this ship’s function as the maintenance bird attached to the 187th
Some of the artworks are threatening, including a white skull painted on a red background, but most are playful and innocent. Pictured: An unidentified pilot stands next to his craft
– Witch Doctor, 409th Transportation Company, Chu Lai, September 1971. ‘Witch Doctor’ was the call sign of the maintenance ship for the 174th. Piloted by Tyrus Manning AC and Fred Taylor CP and crewed by Mel Lutgring CE (pictured) and Harris DG, it served its entire in-country tour with the 174th from March 1971 to November 1971, recording 530 flight hours. Transferred to the VNAF and subsequently destroyed in combat during April 1972
Proud Mary, D Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, Camp Frenzell-Jones, Long Binh, January 21, 1971. Named after the 1969 hit tune by Creedence Clearwater Revival. Among the top ten names that Army crews painted on their helicopters, Proud Mary is ranked number seven. Piloted by Ed Wolfe AC (pictured) and crewed by Fred Vigil CE, it served its entire in-country tour with D Troop from December 1969 to January 1971 accumulating 1,089 flight hours
The Crystal Ship, C Troop, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, Thien Ngon, Cambodia, February 1971. Also known as Last Ride. Ten other in-country Army helicopters carried this name popularized in song by The Doors from 1967. Piloted by Walker Jones AC and maintained by Glenn McCloy CE, it served its entire in-country tour with C Troop from April 1969 to March 1971, accruing 1,890 flight hours
Peace Maker, D Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, Bearcat, 1971. Among the top ten names that Army crews painted on their helicopters, Peace Maker is ranked number four
Iron Butterfly, 45th Medical Company, Quan Loi, July 1968. Piloted by John Murray AC (pictured) and crewed by Steve Huntley CE and medic Terry Ackroyd. Says Murray: ‘Steve Huntley was the crew chief who accepted the name I suggested and let me paint it on to the nose.’
Chi-Town Hustler, 187th Assault Helicopter Company, Tay Ninh, 1971. Named after a high-performance champion dragster driven by a Chicago native. Crewed by Ralph Cassidy CE, it served its entire in-country tour with the 187th from February 1971 to October 1971, accruing 569 flight hours. Lost to inventory on October 13, 1971
The Magical Mystery Tour, D Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, Bearcat, 1972. The name is borrowed from the 1967 record album by The Beatles. Piloted by Jack Jordan AC (pictured), it survived Vietnam from October 1970 to January 1973, compiling 1,603 flight hours and serving in D Company from October 1970 to July 1972
Maverick Gunships: 175th Assault Helicopter Company, IV Corps, 1967. Pictured are four identifiable unit gunships. From left to right: Reaper, Satan’s Playmate, Morning After, and Miss Behavin
Tiger Wagon, 129th Assault Helicopter Company, Lane AAF, An Son, April 1971. This aircraft performed liaison and C+C duties for the Korean Tiger Division, who the 129th regularly supported. Crewed by Jordan CE who is seen on the ground waiting for the Commanding General. It accumulated 960 flight hours from February 1969 to March 1972